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Heirlooms
Learners design a quilt square to reflect their special memory. In this family heirlooms lesson, students read The Patchwork Quilt and discuss the importance of family involvement in creating a family heirloom. Learners write and publish...
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Myth Connections
Ninth graders present tales and myths in the oral tradition. They discuss the African method of telling a story where each member of the group tells a part of the story. They make up a composite hero and write a story that describes...
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Discovering Shoes, Step by Step
Students discuss and write about their interpretations of the art. They compare and contrast the numerous types of shoes and how they are used in a certain time and place. Students memorize the Shel Silverstein's poem, "Ickle Me, Pickle...
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Common Theme in Folktale: 900 Versions of Cinderella
Seventh graders examine various stories that have a Cinderella theme. In this Language Arts lesson, 7th graders compare and contrast stories. Students write various journal assignments in regards to the stories.
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. . .And the Answer is
Learners appreciate creative thinking and that some situations have more than one answer.
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What? You want me to read AND enjoy it?
Students appreciate independent reading through learning about authors and genre.
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Where The Wild Things Are
Twelfth graders brainstorm where they think wild things exist. Then using the same strategy they discuss natural surroundings from using prior life experience. This part of the lesson can also be done with using a nature hike. Students...
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Multicultural Holidays
Students create a cube exploring different holiday traditions. In this multicultural appreciation lesson, students research Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Kwanzaa holiday traditions. This lesson encourages the use of an individual...
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Writer's Chair
Young scholars peer edit and present a piece of writing to the class. In this writing lesson, students work in groups of three to peer edit their favorite piece of writing. Young scholars take turns sitting in the "Writer's Chair" and...
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Fifties/Sixties Musical Playwriting Workshop
Students write a coherent script based on characterization, theme, conflict and emotional tone as found in the songs' lyrics and develop an understanding of the enjoyment that comes through discipline and hard work leading toward a...
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Famous Afro-Americans Historical Sites Recognized by the National Park System
Learners use the library to find historical information about each Afro-American. They use magazines, articles from newspapers, and oral histories from video tapes and slide presentations to write biographical sketches about each...
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A Country Twice Divided
Students study biography from the 19th century. They read "The Red Badge of Courage." Students research a topic from the list provided in the lesson plan and write a 5-7 page paper. They study lyrics and melodies of the confederacy and...
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Jamestown Colony
Third graders explore cooperation between British settlers and Native Americans in the Jamestown Colony. They describe how the colonists and Powhatan Indians depended on the environment for their survival. Students write a report on the...
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Meta-Cognitive Reading
Students define the term "meta-cognitive" and explain its significance to reading strategy. They speak aloud the thoughts that pass through their minds as they are reading and write down thoughts that come to their minds while reading.
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Ugly? Says Who?
Students explore biology by writing animal poetry in class. In this animal characteristics lesson, students research the Internet for facts about an "ugly" animal such as a bug or small critter. Students complete worksheets about animal...
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Exploring Color Vocabulary
Students explore color terms and related meanings and metaphors in cultural and literary contexts. They use the main colors to explore synonymous color terms and related metaphorical meanings of color words. Students recognize the...
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Treasures Along the Silk Roads
Ninth graders examine the travels of the Silk road. In this Ancient China instructional activity, 9th graders analyze slides of artifacts as cultural and social representations of the Silk Road civilizations. Students create a word map...
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Who Needs Friends?
Students discuss how to be a good friend to others. They create a list of characteristics to use in more future lessons. They reflect on they type of friend they are in journal writings.
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All About Me
Students create a collage from magazines, and the internet that is reflective of themselves and write a friendly letter via email to a pen pal. They take their letters through the writing process and write their final draft on Microsoft...
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"How to Eat a Poem"
Eighth graders write a poem showing what they know about metaphors, and non-literal language to express ideas, convey meaning, and create images after they read Eve Merriam's "How to Eat a Poem".
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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "The Slave's Dream"
Students examine Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's contribution to the anti-slavery movement. They read and analyze a poem, identify the poem's techniques, and write a critique of the poem, "The Slave's Dream."
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Portrait of The African American Family
Young scholars examine how African American families were affected by slavery. As a class, they watch and read King's "I Have a Dream Speech" and write a paper on how this message relates to families. In their journals, they compare...
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Exploring Scientists/Presentation
Students research a scientist of their choice. They write a research paper on him or her. They select ten important facts from their research paper and prepare a PowerPoint presentation using their facts.
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Language Arts: The Three Appeals
High schoolers are able to identify and describe the persuasive techniques used in editorial writing. They are able to label persuasive techniques with the logos, pathos, and ethos terminology.