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Discovering the Oregon Trail
Students explore U.S. history by researching the Oregon Trail. In this American exploration instructional activity, students read the story On the Shore of the River and define the exact path early settlers took to find the state of...
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Let's Learn About Jobs
Students evaluate the jobs that their parents do. In this literature-based social studies instructional activity, the teacher introduces the concept of work both at home and on the job and leads the children in the creation of a Venn...
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Learning Rhymes
Students practice reading and writing in this cross-curricular lesson for the early-elementary classroom. Emphasis is placed on daily practice, individual improvements, and positive reinforcements for jobs well done during the activity.
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Wild Things - Texture And Pattern
Students implement textures and patterns in creating an imaginary Wild Thing, using the book and illustrations in Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak serve as Inspiration.
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Producer to Consumer Fun
Students explore the world of economics. In this economics lesson, students examine literature and participate in discussions to learn about production and consumption. Students are encouraged to visit a farm or tour a factory to...
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Sharing African Culture
Students investigate African American culture by reading aloud an African folk tale and illustrating the tale. They use their illustrations to create a book or a bulletin board that retells the folk tale.
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Reading Primary Source Documents: Historical Content
Why do we read primary source documents? What can they give us that other writings cannot? Provide your learners with any of the primary sources attached here (there are seven), and have them complete the graphic organizer (which opens...
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What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Conforming?
Dive into Arthur Miller’s The Crucible and determine what it means to conform in society, and discuss as a group with the thoughts and plans available in these documents. Included are multiple activities and brain targets that form the...
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"Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow"
Do you want to live forever? After reading Kurt Vonnegut’s short story, “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow,” class groups adopt the roles of an ethics committee, product manufacturers, concerned scientists, and potential users of an...
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The Red Badge of Courage: A New Kind of Realism
Is it possible to tell a true war story? Tim O’Brien says that fiction is for “getting at the truth when the truth isn’t sufficient for the truth.” To get at the truth about war, class members examine primary source materials from the...
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William Apess and the Mashpee "Revolt" of 1833
Prompt your class with the following question: What was the status of American Indians in Massachusetts during Jackson's presidency? To answer this question, class members will read a series of primary source documents (attached),...
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A New Point of View
Analyze point of view and how it affects a literary work with this lesson. Middle schoolers create a written piece that focuses on point of view. They review the literary term "point of view," and explore examples of the term in text....
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Holocaust Studies: Five Poems by Dan Pagis
Teaching a unit on the Holocaust? Consider using the personal statements of Dan Pagis’s poetry to contrast with the more “distanced” historical accounts found in textbooks. Five poems, discussion questions, and background notes are...
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Once Upon a Time...
Model for emergent readers how to write a story by interpreting picture clues. For guided practice a second book is used, and then pupils work independently or with an adult to write their own stories based on illustrations.
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Day and Night
Good Night, Moon is a classic little ones absolutely love. It's a sweet book that can be used, as in this lesson plan, to start a conversation about the difference between night and day. After reading the story, the class brainstorms...
EngageNY
Mid-Unit Assessment: Analyzing a New Narrative about a Natural Disaster, Part II
See it through my eyes. Scholars complete mid-unit assessment part II by writing an essay describing how the narrator's point of view influences how the story is told in the text In the Middle of the Storm. Pupils also complete a...
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'Song of the South' a racist tune?
Students read the information about the movie "Song of the South" and watch some of the clips. They write their reaction to the proposal to re-release the movie. Students consider whether it would matter if the studio adds an...
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Sheila Rae, the Brave
Learners read Sheila Rae, the Brave, and make predictions about the main character.
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Mark Twain
Students examine the life of Samuel Clemens, who is more popularly known as Mark Twain. In groups, they examine and read, if possible, his different books. They discuss how the same book can have different meanings for different...
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At The Firehouse With Dad
Students participate in a guided reading of the children's book "At The Firehouse With Dad" They improve reading comprehension skills with the use of independent practice. The students then answer discussion questions while reading the...
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Clifford's Big Idea: Be Responsible
Young scholars become aware of how important it is to be responsible at home and school through meaningful reading and language experiences. In this Clifford Gets a Job lesson plan, students author their own booklet regarding...
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Be a Good Friend
Students discover characteristics of a good friend. In this social skills lesson, students read Clifford's Manners and discuss ways Clifford used his manners in the story. An activity that rewards students for modeling being courteous...
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The Three Little Pigs
Students read the story The Three Little Pigs and complete language activities about them. In this The Three Little Pigs lesson plan, students research houses, draw houses, and write alliteration poems.
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Have Respect
Students learn the value of respect. For this Clifford the Big Red Dog lesson plan, students read the story, discuss respect, and experience a mini-international festival.