Learners analyze a poem set in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands and defend their own interpretations of the work. They demonstrate understanding of poetic technique by writing their own poems of living on the border.

First graders go on an in-school scavenger hunt to get to know the many kinds of people that make up an elementary school community. They work in small groups and use digital cameras to take pictures of the workers they find.

Students examine the non-verbal elements of a theatrical performance. They read an article, answer discussion questions, conduct Internet research, and stage frozen tableaux based on lines from Shakespeare's works.

Investigate national unity in a month-long lesson. After creating "I am from" poems, 5th graders will construct accordion flip books, listing and illustrating reasons for settlement. Choosing illustrations, essays, or Powerpoint...

Students work cooperatively in small groups to practice note-taking and outlining skills which are applied as student create unit Study Guides for their classmates. They demonstrate critical thinking skills as they decide the most...

Students examine poetry examples in free verse focusing on their prosodic elements. After critiquing works by several authors, they write their own poems utilizing such devices as alliteration, repetition, rhyme, and stanzas.

Students discover the man behind the Nobel Peace Prize. In this philanthropy lesson, students research Alfred Nobel and the Nobel Peace Prize and create personal banners including works they would like to be remembered for.

Students investigate the concept of capitalization by reading relevant text and finding supporting details and facts.  In this capitalization lesson, students read chapter seven in Working With Words and share predictions about the...

Middle schoolers create an etiquette book for women of Medieval times.  In this Catherine, Called Birdy lesson, students discuss the setting and work in small groups to list things expected of women in the 1200s.  Middle...

Fourth graders examine a number of poems that deal with the negative side of the American Dream. In this poetry and the American Dream lesson, 4th graders work in literature circle groups to analyze the poem which they are assigned. They...

Study the characteristics of real-life heroes in your history or language arts lesson. After reading about the soldiers of World War I, kids write autobiographies from their future elderly selves, and reflect on their acts of heroism yet...

Students from the fourth grade research a solution to a community problem and converse with eighth graders via email. Eighth graders study the political process and work with the fourth graders to present information to the public to...

Students discover factors influencing their decisions after explaining their reasons for choosing favorite beverages. Working in pairs, they complete worksheets about the influences on decision-making. They write stories about...

Students demonstrate the use of rhythm in interior design. They create a sample page showing five different elements of rhythm as it is used in visual art. These elements include: repetition, gradation, transition, opposition, and...

Fourth graders discuss who likes hamburgers. Students listen as the teacher compares the hamburger to a paragraph, and the hamburger patty to the topic sentence. The class works together to write a paragraph. The teacher provides gummy...

Sixth graders research Veteran's Day and wars that affected the United States. In this research lesson, 6th graders work in small groups to create an oral presentation based on Internet and conventional research. They complete...

Students make bookmarks by cutting cardboard into strips about 5 inches long by 1 1/2-2 inces wide. In this art lesson, students then glue their pictures on the strip.

Fifth graders practice skills for writing and reading. In this independent reader and writer lesson plan, 5th graders are given tools to edit their own writing and to choose books they can read on their own. They work both as a class and...

Sixth graders complete lesson 5 of 15 about the book Esperanza Rising. For this Esperanza Rising lesson, 6th graders build on work done in the previous lesson. They complete response logs, and vocabulary posters. They investigate how...

Students explore language arts by participating in a class word identification game. In this phonics activity, students read several words in class and identify the different sounds between short and long vowel words. Students complete a...

Students are introduced to the art of Rene Magrritte and Marc Chagall. Using the internet, they discover the characteristics of Surrealist artists and write a paper. They share their findings with the class and answer discussion questions.

In this daily routines worksheet, students read paragraphs telling about two peoples days, likes, and dislikes. They work in partners to ask and answer twenty-four comprehension questions about each section.

Fifth graders demonstrate reading and active listening by examining story elements. Working in teams, each student will develop and demonstrate an understanding of story elements by answering questions related to a given story.

In this lesson, students are assessed on literary devices and plot elements in a literary work.