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Novel Topics Research Unit
Seventh graders use a variety of research tools to locate information about a topic that is included in a novel that they are reading. They work with a partner to research the topic, record bibliographic information, and to complete a...
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Foreign Language Dictionary Unit
Eighth graders create a Spanish or French language dictionary using online resources. They decide on a theme for their dictionary. They complete the template sheet by adding a word for each letter of the alphabet and inserting graphics...
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The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush: Native American Life
Pupils read," The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush" by Tomie dePaola and discuss the way legends are passed down orally. They then create their own legend and illustrate it on a simulated "Buffalo Skin" made from brown paper.
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Authors on the Internet
Fifth graders write a list of their favorite authors and illustrators before deciding on ways to learn more about them. They examine print and Internet resources as a way to answer questions they have. They complete an Author Scavenger...
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Second graders watch a video about Eric Carle before listening to his story entitled, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. They notice how the caterpillar eats its way through the days of the week and they examine the life cycle of the...
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SIRS Discoverer Searching
Third graders become familiar with the options on the tool and menu bar of an Internet browser and learn to identify the SIRS Discoverer to search for subject categories. They then locate and summarize an article using the SIRS Discoverer.
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The World Almanac for Kids
Fifth graders identify and compare the features of The World Almanac for Kids in the print form and in the CD-ROM/ on-line form. They predict which format is the easiest to access and the most informative, then draw conclusions from...
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Here and There: Discovering Communities Through the Olympic Torch Relay
Students compare their hometowns to the towns on the Olympic Torch Relay and complete multi-curricular activities for the lesson. For this Olympics lesson, students complete math, geography, science, and history activities to learn about...
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Make Way for Ducklings
First graders use skills to collect, organize, and interpret data. They compare and contrast two stories, Make Way for Ducklings and Chibi: A True Story From Japan. Students create a duckling.
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Fictional Biographies
Students read and discuss the fictional biography, "Strega Nona: Her Own Story" by Tomie dePaola. They compare the characters of the story to other fictional characters then choose their own favorite fictional character to write a...
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Monster Dictionary
Third graders explore several retrieval strategies to find information in a variety of sources. They organize the information they find and create a Monster Dictionary that includes imaginary monsters and their definitions.
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Native American Poetry
Fourth graders locate the poetry section of the LMC. They produce a hand written transparency based on the poem Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Students illustrate a poem from their poetry section. It is a mystery to them what...
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The Revolutionary War People and Events
Fifth graders research events, institutions, and individuals that influenced history during the American Revolution. They create a four-frame cartoon depicting the information they have studied.
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Simple Machines
Sixth graders explore simple machines. They identify tools and machines that are used in everyday life. Students examine the purpose and uses of everyday tools. They create a tool or machine that can be used to solve a problem.
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Historic Dates and Timeliner Unit
Eighth graders research a specific Civil War battle including important date, major events and outcomes of the battle. They use their notes and information to create a timeline of the battle using Timeliner software. Finally, they decide...
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Superbugs
Students research deep sea communities and discover strategies for combating antimicrobial resistance and write reports on it. They consider overprescription and prophylactic uses of antibiotics as causes for their ineffectiveness.
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Land Biomes Research and Presentation
Fifth graders work in cooperative groups to research an assigned land biome using various sources. Groups create either a book or a PowerPoint presentation of their assigned land biome.
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You Can Say That Again!
A discussion of the Supreme Court’s Opinion of Tinker v. Des Moines generates a discussion of the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment. Although the key elements of this lesson plan are based on a video that is not included, the...
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Identification of Positive Streptococci
After being introduced to the genus Straptococcus, biology buffs set up agar plates, esculin slants, and salt broth tubes with different species to test. The level of laboratory skills required to perform this activity makes it most...
National WWII Museum
A New War Weapon to Save Lives
Young historians view and analyze photos and documents from WWII that are related to blood transfusions and blood plasma. A demonstration of correct and incorrect blood donors visually shows the importance of knowing blood type. After...
Channel Islands Film
Dark Water: Lesson Plan 3 - Grades 6-12
After watching the documentary Dark Water about a traditional Chumash ceremony and reading a Chumash origin story, viewers are asked to create a coat of arms and to craft an essay that details a family tradition or their own origin story.
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Developing Writing Skills Through Japanese Folk Music
Students listen to Japanese folk songs to get inspired to create a writing piece about Japan. In this writing lesson, students use primary and secondary sources to add information about Japan.
Sargent Art
Kandinsky - Inspired by Music
Who is Wassily Kandinsky? Introduce your young artists to the wonders of abstract nonobjective art through music. They'll listen to music as they cut, paste, and paint emotional works of art. The activity suggests the use of soothing...
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The Golden Students
Scholars view the video, "Donald Duck in Mathmagic Land," and discuss examples in nature which have proportions of the golden ratio. They measure and record different body lengths from a worksheet and convert the ratios to equivalent...