Polk County Public Schools
The French and Indian War
Sharpen those pencils and get to writing with a series of document-based questions about the French and Indian War. High schoolers focus on maps, letters, and other primary documents from the 18th century before answering writing prompts...
Shakespeare Uncovered
Suits of Woe: Grief and Loss in Hamlet
“Thou know’st ‘tis common; all that lives must die/Passing through nature to eternity.” Grief, and the response to grief and loss, is the focus of a series of activities that uses Hamlet as a launchpad. Groups examine Act I, scene ii to...
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Cartoons for the Classroom: The Veepstakes!
Take a step back in time with this political cartoon analysis worksheet, which features editorial cartoons from the 2008 presidential campaign. Background information allows pupils to "read between the lines" in their analysis, and three...
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What Weather When and Where?
Students learn the difference between hard news and feature writing. They choose one of these news styles to write a compelling weather-related article based on interviews with local sources.
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Fields of the Future
Students investigate India's technology outsourcing, and examine their own career choices to determine what technology is required in the field. Students dermine how careers have changed over time and speculate future changes, then write...
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Separate But Equal Opinions
High schoolers examine the ways in which editorials and Op-Ed pieces respond to current events. They write editorials in response to news items from the New York Times.
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Still-Life Painting: Arranging Nature—Lesson 2
Learners choose meaningful objects for a still-life arrangement and paint it using watercolors. After reflecting on their choice of objects and composition, students begin to write an artist's statement.
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What's Significant in Today's Notes from the Trail?
For this lesson, you will need access to "Notes from the Trail." Your learners will read the day's text, and identify the most important or significant event in the journal entry. Not many prompting questions are provided, and some of...
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What's Past is Prologue
Pupils examine a picture of a Cuban billboard and discuss what the billboard signifies. Students then consider the impact of the end of Fidel Castro's rule by reading and discussing the article ¿What Was Once Theirs.¿ Pupils research...
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Power House
Students reflect, speculate, identify, research, and create a blueprint for renewable energy sources.
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Still Life Painting: Arranging Nature
Learners choose meaningful objects for a still-life arrangement and paint it using watercolors and write an artist’s statement. In this still life art lesson, students identify and analyze the characteristics of a still-life painting and...
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Prize-Winning Profiles
Pupils read a profile of Luiz Inácio da Silva, the currently favored presidential candidate in Brazil. They use this article as a model for writing their own profiles of noteworthy people recently featured in the news.
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Save the Dates
Students create annotated timelines of important moments in the history of the United States. They write a report highlighting one event and predicting how the history might have been different had the event not occurred.
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No More Freedom Fries?
Students discuss the May, 2007, French presidental election of pro-American, right-wing candidate Nicholas Sarkozy. They reflect on both the historical and contemporary relationship between France and the United States. Students work...
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Full Court Press
Students investigate the Supreme Court's role and function in the federal government and examine how Chief Justice Rehnquist's illness might affect the future of the Court. They write letters to President Bush on the Supreme Court...
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Shore is Windy!
Students consider what a hurricane is and how it impacts both land and people, explore the speculations surrounding Hurricane Isabel, research potential target sites and create maps illustrating how Isabel may affect them.
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The Stock Market and the Great Depression
How does the Stock Market work, what was Black Tuesday, and how did the Market crass of 1929 lead to the Great Depression? Have your class play this stock market game for two weeks to better explain how the stock market works.
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Saris, Kimonos, Tagas and Smocks: Exploring Clothing Across Cultures
Learners explore via the internet all types of clothing around the world. Students discuss that the way people dress is an important means of expressing identity. Learners collaborate via Internet research the social purposes of clothing.
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I Wonder Why There Is So Much Frass...
Students examine frass and try to determine what it is. They make observations and add to their growth charts on a daily basis. They make predictions and support them to end the lesson.
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Under the Collar
Students first examine different types of white-collar crimes; they then research recent individual cases to present in a student-written and produced expos?? program on white-collar crime.
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Royal Treatment
Students analyze the Nepalese King's response to pro-democracy demonstrations, and examine existing monarchies around the world. They conduct research, read an article, and present information on various modern-day monarchies.
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Safety First
Students explore safety issues and challenges related to various modes of transportation through readings and discussion. They create blueprints for technological methods to make those modes of transportation safer.
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A Date With Chemistry
Students research certain elements and then analyze their potential bonds with other elements in a dating game where the dating pool is comprised of the elements featured on the Periodic Table.
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A Tough Act to Follow
Learners take on the role of impersonators as they identify the distinctive human traits that comedians and imitators single out in order to do their jobs.