Use teams to encourage your learners to follow class rules and participate in learning. On this page, you can record two weeks of points for six teams, noting down points every day of the week. There's also a row for teacher points

Students create a model of a community building that contributes to a class neighborhood layout. They explain the purpose of his or her individual role and community building, and how it fits into the class model of a neighborhood.

Young scholars research their local communities and identify the founding fathers of their city and county. For this communities lesson plan, students research using the library and internet. Young scholars also interview citizens who...

Learners examine the history of Spanish in what is now the United States. They examine the current language status of the Hispanic population. Students are able to characterize Spanglish and Chicano English. They examine some features...

First graders plan a tour to give their parents on a school parent night. In this school tour lesson plan, 1st graders gather information about their school, determine how to best present information, and prepare a tour and talk to give...

Take pupils through a fitness center led by someone who can go over the equipment, use of it, individualize it (small groups). They should be allowed time to find out where they are now and time to set realistic goals of what they'd like...

Put on those forest ranger hats for an engaging and informative lesson. Eager scientists study the makeup of a local forest ecosystem and then write a forest management plan. They consider many parameters including identification of both...

A instructional activity all about Susan B. Anthony showcases the Civil Rights leader's contributions towards equality. A Susan B. Anthony coin sparks engagement. Scholars take part in a discussion that sheds light on what being an agent...

Give your Constitution Day celebration a timely slant by discussing the census! An activity that includes analysis of the Constitutional call for a census, along with scaffolded worksheets, help pupils understand the connection between...

The increase in the number of restrictions placed on smoking represents a clear shift in the understanding of the dangers of both the short term and long term consequences of tobacco use. But people still light up. Three activities help...

Two activities ask high schoolers to consider the role of alcohol culture in their lives. First, groups analyze the types of appeals used in newspaper ads for alcoholic drinks and compare those images with what they have observed....

Make those microbes warm up water. Pupils first investigate water pumps, then design a water circulation system that uses solar energy. A bioreactor in the system takes energy from compost and helps heat water.

If changing one variable can improve a design, why not try changing more? Using the results from the previous activity, scholars decide on the variables that caused the most improvement in the effectiveness of the solar heater. They take...

Four intriguing and scientific activities invite learners to explore the natural resources of their town. The activities cover concepts such as genetic traits, organizing species in a taxonomy, the differences between different species...

Explore soil, genetic traits, natural resources, and pollution in a series of lessons that focus on biodiversity. Kids complete experiments to learn more about the importance of varied genes and organisms in an ecosystem.

Biodiversity is essential for every habitat, but many species are at risk due to pollution and other factors. Explore several different species native to Illinois in a gallery walk with posters that learners have created after research...

Where does our garbage go? What is the difference between a recyclable and non-recyclable item? Pose these important, but often overlooked, questions to your class and invite them to consider the lasting and damaging effects of the...

Here is a fun and simple ice breaker in which your young learners will interview their classmates to discover which ones have had similar interests and experiences.

Here is an interesting infographic that presents information on the amount of carbon dioxide we can safely release into the atmosphere compared to the actual amount we have released to date.

It is important that class members remain confident and comfortable in their environment in order to have a successful learning experience. Help encourage an atmosphere of safety by using these learning displays in your class.

The eighth in a series of 23 life skills exercises focuses on self-awareness and respect. Groups record, on the provided worksheets, words and phrases that signal respect, and generate lists of behaviors that signal respect.

Probability, especially conditional probability, can be a slippery concept for young statisticians.  Statements that seem self-evident on the surface often require a daunting amount of calculations to explicate, or turn out to be...

Give your youngsters a comprehensive introduction to the importance of washing hands and preventing the spread of germs in three activities, which include identifying what germs are, discovering where germs live, and practicing a...

S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders is the anchor text in a unit that asks readers to reflect on their own identity, their place in their family, in groups with which they identify, and in school.