Minnesota Literacy Council
Introduction to Historical Thinking
Christopher Columbus: hero or villain? Prepare class members for the debate with activities that asks them to think critically about how history is reported.
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Scientific Method: How Many Drops of Water Fit on a Coin?
Young investigators conduct an experiment using the scientific method. They see how many drops of water fit on a coin; have them conduct several different trials. This involves making a hypothesis, looking at controls, and introducing...
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Think Fast
Students practice brainstorming. They discuss how brainstorming can increase their ability to "think on their feet," and assist them in preparing for the pressure of a timed test.
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Writing a Formal Thank You Letter
Learners research various formats for writing thank you letters in resource books and through a provided Internet site. They use these resources to write a thank you letter to a recent outside speaker who visited their class.
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Understanding language registers as a means to more effective communication
Students become familiar with registers of language through class discussion and exposure to examples of a common fairy tale written in two different registers. Working in small groups, students then translate a story into two different...
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Understanding and Identifying Individual Resources
Students identify their own individual resources in the categories of financial, emotional, mental, physical, role models, knowledge of hidden rules, and support systems.
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Creating a Job Resource Center
Young scholars work together to create a bulletin board display for their classroom which is a Job Resource Center containing information and ideas for job search.
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The Tell-Tale Heart
Readers listen and critically read fictional prose to answer prediction questions at designated stopping points, and then they give a summary of the short story. This lesson is ideal for English language learners developing English...
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Analyze This
Students gain practice in the analysis of various types of graphs common in daily life. These examples often use graphic images like charts, graphs, tables, and pictures to supplement learning.
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Build A Skittles Graph
Students explore graphing. In this graphing lesson, students sort Skittles candies and use the color groups to create a bar graph. Rubrics and extension activities are provided.
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Utilizing Individual Resources in Everyday Problem Solving
Students utilize their understanding of individual resources in solving practical, everyday problems that might arise in the workplace and/or in their family and home.
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The Tell - Tale Heart
Students read The Tell Tale Heart and practice critical analysis while reflecting on its underlying meanings. In this reading instructional activity, students make predictions, monitor their own comprehension and adjust their reading...
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Discovery of America
Students examine the European conquest of North America. They participate in activities which allow them to discover the indigenous peoples of the region. They also place events in chrongological order.
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Voyage to the New World
Students examine the exploration of the New World. They write a descriptive account of the first encounter between Europeans and Native Americans, analyze and label maps, plot Columbus's journey on a map, and write a chapter summary.
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Car For Sale!
Students practice their writing and editing skills by developing a plan for and then writing a grammatically correct description of an item (car or otherwise) that they would like to sell.
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Pocket Change
Students explore algebraic relationships using the coins in their "pocket." Interactive games that demonstrate the use of estimation in algebraic problem solving help them build a framework for understanding word problems in a way that...