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What's For Dinner?
Students share their own views on eating genetically altered foods. After reading an article, they research any issues concerning these types of foods in the United States. In groups, they create a campaign slogan to help gain funding...
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Figures of Speech Review and Assessment
Identify the figure of speech in given sentences. Your seventh grade will write an eight line paragraph using the four figures of speech at lest once. By using narrative, expository or persuasive paragraphs to complete worksheets they...
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American Revolutionary War: Two Sides...Two Perspectives
Young scholars investigate the American Revolutionary War era from the perspective of Britain and the American colonists by researching causes, effects, events and people. They compare the views of the Colonists, and the British and...
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Children's Literature Across the Curriculum Ideas-Shakespeare and Macbeth: The Story Behind the Play
Students read Shakespeare and Macbeth: The Story Behind the Play by Stewart Ross. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the play and Shakespearian culture. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing,...
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Long-Term Goals
Middle schoolers set long-term and short-term goals. In this character education lesson, students determine whether goals that they write for themselves are long-term or short-term.
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Doing What's Right
Middle schoolers hold a class discussion. In this integrity activity, students discuss the definition of integrity and read various handouts about what it means to do what's right. Middle schoolers write a reflection in their journals.
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Houses or Walaloos
Investigate the legal history and application of the Fifth Amendment. Write an essay in favor of a person keeping land that has been in his/her family for decades.
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Constitution Week
Young scholars prepare one-minute broadcasts about events leading to the writing of the Constitution and current issues in the next election. Students read their broadcasts on the school P.A. system each morning during Constitution Week.
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Diverse Voices-African American Ventures
Students research African-American participation in the Civil War. In this Civil War lesson, students read the article "Fighting Rebels with Only One Hand" and write a persuasive paragraph on whether the participation of the...
Museum of Tolerance
Oral History Activity
Oral history has brought a multitude of lessons, stories, and factoids to our current knowledge of the past. Let us continue to use oral history traditions through a lesson that encourages pupils to discover and appreciate where they...
US Mint
Rename That State!
As Shakespeare famously wrote, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," but can the same be said for a state? In this elementary geography lesson, students are assigned specific states to research using the information they find...
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The Art Of Persuasion
Pupils engage in a instructional activity that is concerned with the concept of persuasion and how it is used in a writing context. They create persuasive letters addressed to the president of the United States. Students brainstorm to...
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I Don't Pay Attention to Advertisements
Sixth graders examine the eight persuasive techniques, identifying them in all avenues of media including magazine, TV, Internet, and billboards, and making them aware of how advertising already influences them. They write an essay using...
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Dispute Over Slavery in Kansas Territory
Students analyze primary sources on slavery from Kansas Territory. In this Civil War lesson, students evaluate the antislavery and pro-slavery arguments and summarize key points. Students write a persuasive paper from the antislavery...
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Exploration Across Eras
High schoolers discover the chronology of events related to the Corps of Discovery and the United States space program of the 1960s. They compare the Corps of Discovery's journey with the space exploration program.
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Personalized Postcards
Students create and send postcards to friends and family members. Using actual photographs, they write a rough draft and final draft of a paragraph and print it out to glue onto a postcard template to mail to their friend or family member.
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Freedom from Oppression
Students investigate instances of genocide and role play as reporters writing news stories and editorials.
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Heroes
Tenth graders participate in research and class discussion before attempting to write a traditional five paragraph essay. They use the examples of 16 other hero stories to consider. Students use examples and descriptive details to...
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Mardi Gras
Students explain why carnivals and Mardi Gras became a famous celebration. They reproduce some of the traditions and customs related to Mardi Gras. They write a persuasive paper on why or why not we should continue to celebrate Mardi Gras.
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"Anything We Love Can Be Saved" -- A Contemporary
Learners compare authors Rachel Carson and Mary Eliza Church Terrell. They read an introduction by Alice Walker and summarize the main points. They also identify the language she uses to persuade readers. They write their own activist...
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Mary Eliza Church Terrell -- Civil Rights Leader
Pupils examine writings of Mary Eliza Church Terrell. They role play themselves as an African American woman in the 19th century. They describe her actions and how they benefited minorities.
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Smoke and Mirrors
Students develop a persuasive peer-to-peer case against smoking. They read two scenarios, perform a skit, and prepare a factual presentation.
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A Comparison of the Celebrations of Cinco de Mayo
Students compare and contrast how Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in the United States and in Mexico. In this cultural comparisons lesson, students research holiday practices using Internet sites and then write persuasive papers that include...
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The Ballot Box Battle
Students practice note taking skills, study the life of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and write a persuasive letter. They listen to the picture book biography of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and use the information from the biography to write a...