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Children of Yesteryear
Fifth graders go back through time to examine what would be different if they lived in the 1800s. They explore differences in clothing, leisure, communication, and access to art supplies.
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Japan: Traditions and Culture
Fourth graders explore Japanese customs and history. They create their own works that reflect these traditions. They identify and use primary and secondary sources to learn and communicate about the past.
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Primary Sources in the Classroom: A Gold Rush Perspective
Students develop and hone their historical inquiry and analytical abilities. They draw up a list of 20 essential items they would have to bring to survive one year as a Gold Rush stampeder.
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Technology as a Design Tool for self-portraits
Students create self-portraits using the technology of digital cameras mixed with other media. Adobe Photoshop is a requirement for this specific three week project. State standards for the arts are addressed.
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Technology as a Design Tool for Abstract Artwork
Students manipulate pictures using Adobe Photoshop and digital cameras to produce unique abstract works. This instructional activity can be modified to include a painting/mixed media element. State standards are addressed in this...
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Poetic Analysis
Students write a poetic analysis on a poem by Carl Sandburg. They take their previous knowledge of poetic devices and apply them to a piece of writing that displays their knowledge on a specific poem. They explain what they know about a...
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Electromagnetic Spectrum
Students define electromagnetic radiation, list major categories and uses of electromagnetic waves, identify potential health risks with electromagnetic waves, and demonstrate understanding of Plank's constant by solving quantitative...
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Passing Down Family History Through Oral Tradition: Corridos
Young scholars create and perform Corridos which are oral tradition ballads. For this Passing Down Family History Through Oral Tradition lesson, students interview family members using a predetermined list of questions. In addition,...
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Cinderella Project
Students compare and contrast the stories of "Cinderella" and "Little Gold Star." Students discuss the magic helper in both stories. Students become the magic helper by bestowing random acts of kindness on others. Students receive stars...
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Looks Like Respect, Sounds Like Respect, Feels Like
Students explore philanthropy through art. In this service learning lesson, students discuss the diversity in their community and use their senses to create tolerance posters.
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Hatching Chickens
Students observe chicks hatching from eggs. In this science lesson plan, students view a video to develop an understanding of the proper care and needs of eggs and live animals. This is a great precursor activity for hatching eggs in class.
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19th Century Settlement Houses
Students will take notes on 19th century settlement houses using a four-door book of foldable notes. In this lesson on Settlement Houses, students will analyze the Hull House through a variety of primary sources, then create a list of...
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Cooperative Comics
Students create comics identifying conflicts and their resolutions. In this conflict resolution lesson, small groups of students follow specific mapping instructions to illustrate a conflict and its resolution. Students present orally...
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Family Genealogy
Middle schoolers create a family tree. In this genealogy lesson, students research their family history and create a pictorial representation of their family tree. Middle schoolers use the computer to design the layout and scan pictures.
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Understanding Native American Culture
Ninth graders explore Native American culture. In this early Americans lesson, 9th graders will visit several stations around the room and examine native American artifacts then draw comparisons to other cultures. Students will then...
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"No, You Can't Take Me!"
Students study imitation or pantomime. In this creative drama lesson, students pick an object to imitate and state the reasons why that object should not be taken out of the room pretending to be that object.
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Bud, Not Buddy
Fifth graders read the book Bud, Not Buddy and participate in activities that generate understanding of the Great Depression. In this realistic fiction instructional activity, 5th graders read about a boy who grew up during this time....
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Confetti
Third graders complete pre reading, writing, during reading, and interdisciplinary activities for the book Confetti. In this reading lesson plan, 3rd graders complete journal entries, go over vocabulary, answer short answer questions,...
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European Cities
Students study European cities and label countries on a map, match cities to countries, and answer true and false questions. In this European cities lesson plan, students also guess the names of cities they see pictures of.
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Making Paper
Students read about the history of paper production and make their own recycled paper. In this paper making lesson plan, students follow the directions to make paper from recycled paper. Students also learn about making paper from live...
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How to Write Your 60 Second Shakespeare Newsletter
Students become playwrights. In this Shakespeare lesson, students paraphrase familiar Shakespearian scenes that they perform for their classmates in 60 seconds.
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Surreal Hands
Pupils compare and contrast various forms of artistic expression. They examine the similarities and differences of how various artists worked.
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Aztec and Mayan Mythology
Sixth graders write myths to show tolerance in creation. They read from both the Aztec and Mayan eras and develop an understanding of the similarities and differences of these two closely related cultures. They track the travels of...
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Dramatic Story Telling
Learners act out stories. In this pantomime lesson, students sit on the ground with a partner and act out a story as the teacher reads it. They discuss what they learned from the activity.