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Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Words: Art, Art History, Language Arts, Creative Writing
Students write a story inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Night" and then try their hand at their own rendition of this famous piece of art. In a twist, students incorporate the stories into their paintings.
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Abstract Flowers Inspired By Georgia O'keeffe
Learners create "abstract flowers" using the artwork of Georgia O'Keefe and knowledge of warm and cool colors in this Art lesson for grades K-12. The lesson includes a short recommended book list and a biography of Georgia O'Keefe.
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Reading Meet Writing
Thinking about introducing your middle schoolers to reading log journals? Try the approach suggested by this resource. After reading to the class an article or portion of a novel, demonstrate a Think Aloud and then model how to transform...
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A Model Lesson Plan for Teaching Phonics
First graders decode words containing the letter o when it is followed by a consonant and silent e.
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Mesopotamia
Students map Mesopotamia. In this Geography lesson, students are introduced to Ancient Mesopotamia. Students use an atlas to label the defining features and areas of Mesopotamia on a map.
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Imagining China Through Words
Students create a drawing from a written description to examine images of China in European art. In this art analysis lesson, students create a visual image from a written description of an object. Students compare their image to the one...
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A Picture's Worth 500-700 Words: Neoclassical Painting Analysis and Creative Write
Middle schoolers survey Neoclassical art and create a narrative based on their analyses. Focused questions and relevant background information provided by the Getty Museum provides a great foundation for students to understand art...
National First Ladies' Library
Designing the Common School: The First Educational Reform
Middle schoolers perform preliminary research to explore education before public (common) education was in place. They design a public educational system of their own. Students construct a report outlining challenges and solutions for...
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Roll the Tape! Roll the Tape!
Young scholars explore the concept of philanthropy. For this service learning lesson, students use iMovie to create a video highlighting their middle school in order to share with incoming young scholars.
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Folktales: Oral Traditions as a Basis for Instruction in our Schools
Pupils visit their school library to read a variety of folktales. While they read, they identify the trickster or hero in each and discuss how the character represents the chaos in the real world. In groups, they write their own...
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Writing About Art: Comparing Portraits
Students write a composition comparing and contrasting two portraits. In this comparing and contrasting lesson, students will observe two portraits and compare them through their writing. They then will write a letter to the artists...
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Colonial Living: A Look at the Arts, Crafts, History, and Literature of Early Americans
Sixth graders examine the different aspects of life in Colonial America. At home, they make traditional colonial recipes to share with the class. In groups, they read a book about the purpose and act of quilting and create their own...
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Art Appreciation
Learners analyze and critique famous art prints in this introductory lesson to the appreciation of Visual Art forms. Emphasis is on classroom discussions of cultural values, prejudice, and opinions. The lesson includes possible...
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Adjective Word Art
Middle schoolers describe fathers using Word Art. In this adjectives lesson, students discuss the attributes of their fathers and then design adjective collages that feature the adjectives that describe good fathers.
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Symbols of Canada Lesson
Middle schoolers examine the most common symbols of Canada and explain their importance. In this Canadian culture lesson, students identify the beaver, maple leaf, and Inuksuk and discuss why Canada feels these are representative symbols...
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Going Greek: A Companion Lesson to Accompany the Percy Jackson Series
Students explore Greek mythology by researching a specific God or Goddess. In this children's literature activity, students read the Percy Jackson series of books and discuss their favorite characters. Students research a chosen Greek...
National First Ladies' Library
Women's Lives in the Victorian Era
The lives of middle-class Victorian women were circumscribed by strict standards that governed all aspects of behavior. To gain a better understanding of the Victorian Ideals for women, class members research the life of a middle-class...
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What is Plagiarism?
What is plagiarism? Middle schoolers create a class definition of plagiarism and examine the importance of crediting people for their ideas. They review official school policy on plagiarism and study the consequences of presenting the...
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Researching African Americans Who Made a Difference
Celebrate Black History Month with this instructional activity, in which middle schoolers create an essay about a famous African-American. Writers conduct research online, take notes to write an essay in proper format, and use ideas,...
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Personal Experience Narratives
Help your middle schoolers identify personal experience narratives in their own lives through telling stories themselves and from family members or other adults. They study personal experience narratives in Swapping Stories and compare...
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Writing Pattern Books
Have your older students assist young children with writing in this community service and literacy lesson plan. Middle schoolers become partners with a local elementary school. They assist the grade school children in writing a pattern...
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Fabulous, Fractured Fables
Elementary schoolers develop an awareness of the literary form known as the fable. They explore how authors write fables to pass along moral lessons. After reading and discussing many famous fables embedded in the plan, learners attempt...
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Tissue, Please!
Students study the proper manners to reduce the risk of spreading or catching colds and flu. They discover good cold-season manners from reading aloud Tissue, Please! They complete an art project to reinforce good cold-season manner