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Rubric Rating
Students develop a rubric or scoring guide to assess newpaper articles. They rate the story and write the reasons for the rating. An Essay Scoring Guide is attached for reference.
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Who Ever Heard of the Big Bang?
Learners examine the theories that attempt to explain the origins of the Universe. Some theories are based on scientific facts. Others find their source in folklore. The variety of beliefs systems are discussed as a motivating factor for...
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Biodiversity - Does It Really Matter?
Students examine biodiversity, ecosystems, and extinction. They are divided into groups to discuss why they think biodiversity is important.
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How Can We Keep Our Forests Intact and Have Our Chocolate Too?
Fourth graders explore various methods of growing and harvesting rainforest foods in order to sustain its biodiversity. They discuss the various uses for trees from several viewpoints. Students research chocolate demand and land use...
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Ecuadorian Rainforest: If the Forests Could Talk
Third graders explore the delicate balance the must be maintained in a rainforest ecosystem. In this ecosystems activity, 3rd graders learn about the importance of "little things" such as bugs or a certain plant in the rainforest. This...
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The Hamburger Essay - AKA The Sandwich Essay
Students discuss how a five paragraph essay has five basic parts. They compare this to a well-made hamburger. They create a mind map of a five paragraph essay using the graphic of a tasty hamburger sandwich.
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Writing - The Persuasive Essay
Students, in groups, work together to develop a five-paragraph essay that defends the group's viewpoint on an assigned topic. Each student in the group writes one paragraph.
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Nuclear Waste
Students identify pros and cons of nuclear power, and analyze problems surrounding nuclear waste and how to make decisions regarding its disposal.
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Weather Maps
Pupils interpret information on a weather map in order to construct a graph, and discuss how the weather impacts their lives.
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Identifying Implications
Students read a variety of reading passages and articles. They investigate how to make implications and assumptions using the information provided.
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Poetry
Students apply reading comprehension skills to poetry and synthesize the information to create a new piece of work.
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Making a Family Newsletter: Using a Word Template
Students create a one-page family newsletter about a selected person in their family. They bring in a photo or use a digital camera to take a picture of their selected family member, and use a newsletter template to write and publish...
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Shopping With Basic Math
Fifth graders utilize basic math computation on a pretend shopping trip to obtain everyday items and services such as an oil change and grocery shopping.
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Percent Box
Students examine the procedures to determine a number when the percentage of the whole is known or to find the whole number when the part or percentage is known.
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Fractions: Pie
Learners use a pie (circle) to study fractions. They create their own fraction problems and demonstrate to their classmates how to solve the problems. They discuss ways they use fractions in their daily lives.
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Grammar Football
Students explore the ruloes for the correct usage of grammar. The game of football is played by classroom teams to acquire points each time an error is corrected by a member of the team.
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Personal Information Sheet
Learners access the material necessary to complete an employment application. They produce a personal data sheet, examine the information needed for job applications, and complete a generic application.
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Dear Abby or Dear Ann
Students practice their writing skills by composing an opinion letter in response to a topic identified by a writer to Dear Abby or Dear Ann Landers. Effective communication skills form the basis of this lesson.
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Dogs vs. Cats: Pet Ownership Essay
Young scholars analyze patterns of organization used in writing to determine how and when comparisons and contrasts can be effectively utilized to identify similarities and differences or pros and cons.
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Main Idea and Supporting Details
High schoolers identify main idea and supporting details from a short reading selection using a two-column note taking process. In this literacy lesson, students work in groups of three to four, then compare their papers with the other...
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Bias, Prejudice and Propaganda
Twelfth graders examine bias, prejudeice, and propaganda in reading selections. They view commercials and print ads, discuss how the advertisers are trying to convince them of something, and keep a commercial journal.
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Reading Puzzle
Twelfth graders examine the elements of literature. They each read a chapter of a novel, sequentially list the main ideas, present a summary of the chapter to the class, sequence the events, and review the novel by summarizing the timeline.
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How to Weigh a Car with a Tire Gauge
Students calculate the weight of a motor vehicle using only a sheet of graph paper and a tire gauge. Extensions provided offer additional challenges.
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Who To Believe?
Students interpret meaning from opposing views on the same topic, and discuss that there is often so much "spin" and "hidden agendas" in the media.