Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Protesting Violence without Violence
The ultimate legacy of Emmett Till's violent death is its role in the non-violent roots of the Civil Rights Movement. A instructional activity compares contemporaneous articles with the lyrics of Bob Dylan's "The Death of Emmett Till"...
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Bat Fact Page
Third graders investigate unusual bats and draw their own interpretation of the bat. They use rhyming words to write a creative story about bats. Facial features of microbats and megabats are observed and then classfied in groups.
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Writing with Vivid Verbs
Students find vivid verbs in literature and use them in their own writing. In this vivid verbs lesson, students use a 'Thinking Thesaurus' of major verbs to study common verbs. Students then practice rewriting sentences using vivid...
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A Whale of a Tale
Students read "A Very Hungry Caterpillar" and discuss factual information in the book. They research whales and use information to write a narrative story. They take their stories through the writing process.
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Machines Help
Fourth graders review the six simple machines, and locate simple machines on the school grounds. They chart what machines are found and how they are used to make tasks possible.
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Holes, by Louis Sachar
Students use reading fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, written expression to write in journals as reading "Holes" by Louis Sachar. Some days are set aside for tests and/or food tasting.
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Destination Outer Space
Fourth graders use effective writing skills, their imagination, and their knowledge of the nine planets as they create travel pamphlets of the solar system.
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An Introduction to Computer Components
Students experience the first activity in computer servicing by observing computer components. They observe the internal workings of a computer during the lecture section of the activity before dismantling a computer to identify its...
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Food Webs
Students research rainforest animals and use that information to make a flow chart to show the order in which energy is transferred through several organisms. They label the producers, consumers, and decomposers in their chart.
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Enrichment Activities - "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH"
Fifth graders read the novel "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH." They discuss the various characters in the book, and the different types of conflict that take place within the book. They also research owls and rats to make comparisons...
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Creepy Crawlies
Second graders study the world of insects. They join Greenpatch Kids, an organization of young people who are interested in nature and want to protect our environment. In addition, the students assess use of technology as a valuable...
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A Rocky Situation
Second graders conduct experiments with rocks to observe weathering. They read books, examine websites and watch a video to examine how rocks break down into soil.
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Shared Reading: A Lesson Plan to Introduce Patriotism in the Classroom
Students learn why we say the Pledge of Allegiance through shared reading. In this shared reading lesson plan, students are shown the Pledge of Allegiance in 3 different forms. While they are exploring the pledge, the teacher explains...
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Space Science: Locating Voyager 6
Sixth graders, in groups,create fact sheets about a lost space craft. Using data charts and additional compiled information, other teams of students attempt to locate the craft based on the clues given. In groups, 6th graders compile...
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Exploring Ancient Greece
Sixth graders use play dough to create a relief map of Greece and through personal investigation and class discussion, draw conclusions about the impact of the geography of Greece on daily life and culture in Ancient Greece.
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Jim Crow Laws and The American South
Learners explore how Jim Crow laws affected the lives of people living in the south during pre and post-Civil Rights. Using a various research methods, students research various aspects of the Jim Crow south and complete a graphic...
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Adaptations
Students identify what adaptation is and to research a specific mollusk. They also identify and interpret how animals get their common and scientific name and why it is Latin. Finally, students draw their shell (mollusk) and name their...
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So You Want To Be A...
Students listen to a book about careers and occupations before they research their own career choice using a variety of resources. They complete a KWL chart and Job Research worksheet and design a Career Character Poster that shows them...
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Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza) Lesson Plan
Students create a pizza recipe based on the recipe used in The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza) by Philemon Sturges. For this early childhood lesson plan, students read The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza) and identify the ingredients...
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On Market Street
Second graders study basic facts about consumers and consumer goods. The book "On Market Street" is used in this instructional activity.
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Drawing Birds
First graders discuss what they know about birds and share picture books. They read text on the page and discuss the question and draw the flying bird on their paper by having them look at the color drawing of the bird.
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Wild Animal Investigation - Habitat Diorama
Students research wild animals in cooperative groups and use their information to construct habitat dioramas. They demonstrate competence in using different information sources, including those of a technical nature, to accomplish...
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GeoHunt
Students describe the difference between geological resources and othe natural resources. They list the rocks, minerals, and fossil fuels that are found in Illinois and their uses. They identify ways to conserve natural resources.
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Adventures on the Eastern Half of Planet Earth
Seventh graders explore a country in the Eastern hemisphere. They develop a packet that could be used by someone visiting that country during the month of December. Students explore the climate, foods, geography, customs and culture of...