Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!
Through the story, Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come, students find out about Henry and his new kindergarten class. As a class, they write about what it is like in kindergarten class.
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Better Lesson: Have You Made Your New Year's Resolution?
By using the children's book, Squirrel's New Year's Resolution, as an example, students learn to write responses to the story and explain their own resolutions for the year. Site requires registration, but it is free.
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Better Lesson: Unit: Sentence Types
Lessons and materials to teach simple, compound, and complex sentences to middle school students.
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Better Lesson: Two Mediums, One Topic
Comparing the treatment of setting in "The Most Dangerous Game" and a movie clip. RL.9-10.7 analyze 2 media
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Better Lesson: The 2 Faces of Pocahontas
Teachers will engage young learners to understand how one story can be shared more than one way. This lesson demonstrates an historical interpretation of the story about Pocahontas and John Smith with the Disney movie. Several resources...
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Better Lesson: Close Read: Casey at the Bat
Students will read "Casey at the Bat" and "Mighty Jackie: The Strikeout Queen" in order to compare and contrast the themes of these texts. Detailed activity and Venn Diagram worksheet included.
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Better Lesson: Native American Petroglyphs Close Read Compare and Contrast
Students will read an article by Byron Loosle on the meaning of Native American symbols and compare that to a video clip of an actual Native American explaining the symbols. There is a difference of opinion and students will weigh both...
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Better Lesson: Writing Equations for Arrays
Second graders will learn how to make number sentences for an array by walking around the classroom and writing number sentences for the different arrays the teacher hangs around the room. A video is included, along with examples of...
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Better Lesson: What Is an Array?
Teach a lesson about repeated addition and arrays by using this very detailed lesson plan. The author walks you through the lesson step-by-step and even includes a video of her teaching about arrays for reference. Word problem worksheets...
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Better Lesson: Geometric Sequences and Series
Students will be able to make use of structure on their way to deriving a formula for the sum of a geometric series. They will also gain more experience in finding the nth term of a sequence/series. Includes short video. [1:15]
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Better Lesson: Introduction of Text Features
Dr. Murphy shares a comprehensive lesson plan to support students identifying various text features in informational texts. Students will mentally and physically engage in active learning to know how to navigate through different types...
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Better Lesson: Those Darn Squirrels! Brainstorming Ideas
A silly read-aloud captures the attention of students who must jump right into action applying the engineering design process in an effort to stop the squirrels from eating the birdseed. To complete the brainstorming students will work...
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Better Lesson: Mars Habitat
In this lesson, students are asked to examine a model for a space station on Mars that will house six researchers studying the possibility of establishing a colony. Given the dimensions of the station and the minimum amount of space...
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Better Lesson: Engineering Solutions
Anyone who has attempted one of those "claw machine" games at local restaurants or retailers knows how impossible it seems to win. This activity will get students using the engineering design process to develop a claw that will actually...
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Better Lesson: Catch a Wave
This lesson encourages students to model a wave in a variety of ways using ropes and rubber bands. Resources included are videos of the lesson in action, a student worksheet, and examples of student work.
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Better Lesson: Mitochondria "The Powerhouse of the Cell"
In this lesson and lab activity, students learn about digestion and fermentation, and watch a demonstration of cellular respiration in yeast. Includes numerous real-world connections, e.g., how fermentation is used by humans.
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Better Lesson: Photosynthesis and Cell Respiration Foldable
In this lesson, students design and create a foldable that consolidates what they have learned about photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
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Better Lesson: Waves Performance Assessment Part 1
Students will use a variety of objects to participate in a partner activity and communicate using light and sound waves. Resources include a video, pictures and videos of the lesson in action, and examples of student work.
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Better Lesson: Waves Performance Assessment Part 2
Learners will use tools and materials to design and build a device that uses light or sound to solve the problem of communicating over a distance. Resources included are videos of the lesson plan in action, a student worksheet, and an...
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Better Lesson: Binary Code
Students will learn how to write numbers and words in binary form in order to understand that patterns can be used to transfer information. Resources include a video explanation and examples of student work.
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Better Lesson: Building the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is an excellent model for learning about Earth's rock formations. Students will look at fossils and the differences in layers to understand how the Earth changed over time. Resources included are detailed instructions...
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Better Lesson: Interpreting Live Data
Students will be using live data about volcanoes and earthquakes to look for patterns and understand why natural disasters may or may not be able to be predicted. Resources include helpful websites, a video of the lesson in action,...
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Better Lesson: Unit: The Author's Point Is
Students will focus on Main Idea, Author's Purpose, Identifying supporting details and Organizing details. Students will read a variety of Informational Text (non-fiction) to understand how stated and implied main idea effect the...
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Better Lesson: Sheldon the Sharing Sheep
A critical part of the writing process, that tends to be overlooked, is being comfortable sharing your writing with others. An easy way for students to share their writing is by creating a classroom book. In this instructional activity,...