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Counting Calories
Students evaluate the health of breakfast foods. They create and solve word problems using cereal nutrition data. They solve additional problems formulated in class and write short essay on what they learned.
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Spin Cycle
Students explore the concept of "spin" and discuss how politicians use spin to sway public opinion. A leading American politician is selected and talking points that exemplify the main idea of this lesson are shared with the class.
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The Meaning of Dreams
Students reflect on the meaning of dreams and how scientists study dreams. They read and discuss the article "Winding Through Big Dreams Are the Threads of Our Lives." They write personal summaries and analysis of memorable, vivid dreams.
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War Stories
Students explore their feelings about the United States' invasion of Iraq. Using newspaper headlines and articles as a starting point, students express their emotions through creative writing.
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Making Memories
Students write reflective essays discussing some of their most poignant holiday memories. They illustrate their writing with original artwork and photographs to contribute to a class-designed holiday memory book.
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Irish Literature Scavenger Hunt
Fourth graders locate and evaluate various books, journals, anthologies, and Internet sources that contain information that may be used in answering the scavenger hunt questions related to Ireland and Irish literature.
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Character Education: Perseverance
Students analyze and define the word perseverance as it applies to Martin Luther King, Jr. In this Martin Luther King, Jr. lesson, students discuss the book 'I Have a Dream: The Story of Martin Luther King.' Students analyze the meaning...
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Trustworthiness
Sixth graders evaluate trustworthiness in others. In this character education lesson, 6th graders brainstorm items that are trustworthy, and then list attributes of trustworthy friends. Then students read a story to evaluate the...
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Baseball, Race and Ethnicity: Rounding the Bases
Students consider Race and Ethnicity in baseball. In this American history lesson, students examine primary source images of American baseball. They then develop an original argument, pose historical questions and conduct Internet research.
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Europe's Last Resort
Students explore the statement issued by the European Union with regards to the use of military force in Iraq, and discuss it and related issues. They write a position paper supporting one of the countries or a person or organization.
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Great Leap Forward
Young scholars explore Web sites dedicated to Leap Day and leap years, create a checklist for reviewing Web sites, and write reviews of Leap Day and leap year Web sites.
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Pictures Are Worth A Thousand Words
First graders write simple sentences based on historical figures they find in pictures. In this simple sentences lesson plan, 1st graders search for pictures in Microsoft Word and write simple sentences about them. These pictures and...
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Because of Winn-Dixie
Pupils make connections with the book Because of Winn-Dixie through writing. In this writing instructional activity, students pretend to be the main character and write a letter to her mother, using very descriptive language. Pupils...
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Kid Lit Crit
Students explore different types of student literature; they then write their own fiction pieces, in either fantasy/adventure or memoir/realism style.
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Capturing the Moment
Learners create photography timelines of the Civil Rights movement and write journal entries reflecting on the capacity of photographs to evoke personal and collective historical memory.
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No New Workers Need Apply
Students explore older people's perspectives on work and retirement by creating charts to reflect statistical trends and formulate interview questions. They write follow-up articles that record and comment on the attitudes of their...
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Express Yourself
Students share opinions about the way students behave. They write letters to the editor responding to an article.
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I Like Me
First graders read the book "I Like Me" and then design a collage showcasing different things they like about themselves. They write in journals to reflect on this lesson.
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Left to Their Own (Literary) Devices
Students write scenes for stories using their own original characters. However, they write using the literary and plot devices found in the Lemony Snicket book series.
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Survey Says…
Students design surveys to help them to better understand the behaviors and opinions of their peers on issues that are important in their lives. They survey and interview peers and write articles describing their findings.
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JIP: His Story
Students are provided with a three-column chart about a fictional character named Jip: looks, personality, and situation. After chapter 1 and chapter 2, students make notes on the charts and share that information with one other. They...
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Youth Leading the Way
Students share opinions about groups or activities that give meaning to their lives. They read and discuss the article "Challenging Tradition, Young Jews Worship on Their Terms". Afterward, they investigate and write news articles about...
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A Life in Politics
Students answer a quiz about congressional leaders. They research former majority leaders and create charts about them. They write letters to the current majority leader about a current issue.
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Across Five Aprils
Students read the novel, Across Five Aprils and investigate the theme of the individual vs, community loyalties. They keep a daily journal, role-play situations, hold a mock debate, and write a research paper on "coming of age."