While a woman didn't invent the parasol, three women received patents for their improvements to the original design of umbrellas. In the first of a two-part series on inventive women, class members investigate the patent system to...

Here are a couple of unique ways to utilize old newspapers in school in the form of an arts and crafts project. The first is a smile umbrella made out of newspaper, the second requires learners to look through newspapers or magazines to...

Students practice using phonemes because they need to be able to recognize that phonemes and letters correspond with each other in order to become a proficient reader. The practice is done using the letter "u".

Take inventory. Scholars analyze pages 28-31 of The Most Beautiful Roof in the World and use a note catcher to model how Meg Lowman took inventory of the species in the rainforest. Learners then take a close look at the vocabulary...

Did you know that modern Chinese literature “grew from the psychoanalytical theory of Sigmund Freud”? Designed for a world literature class, seniors are introduced to “One Evening in the Rainy Season,” Shi Zhecun’s stream of...

Students identify basic weather instruments and how they are used to record weather data. Students define several vocabulary terms as stated in instructional activity. Students use basic instruments to record weather data in their area....

Using photographs and a coral reef identification key, junior marine biologists compare changes in coral cover for a No-Take Area and the surrounding unprotected area. The data that is collected is then analyzed for richness,...

As scholars are learning about letter sound correspondence use this activity to help them with the /u/ sound. Learners examine a large u on the board, identifying it if they can. They listen to you make its sound, explaining to...

Roll the dice with this multimedia math lesson on probability. After first viewing a series of three short videos explaining probability, independent events, and dependent events, young mathematicians complete a set...

Students brainstorm ideas for a teacher selected writing topic. They demonstrate seven steps for writing an academic essay. They jot down words or phrases using different colored pens. They write a thesis statement and create an outline...

It's time to write! First, lead your emerging writers in a power writing activity. It takes six minutes and focuses on creative brainstorming. The class is given two words (duck and apple are suggested, but alter the words for different...

Kindergarteners identify the long vowel sound /ai/ in speech and writing. The whole class shares the book, Daisy the Snail, then brainstorms as many /ai/ words as they can. The class constructs a word wall with the /ai/ words.

Kindergarteners and first graders discover the /u/ sound! After practicing making the sound with the funny tongue twister, youngsters use their Elkonin letterboxes to divide a set of words into their phonemes. Then pairs read Bud...

What's the difference between an accent and a dialect? Examine the difference between the two with your scholars. In groups, they compile a dialect dictionary. They interview adults to gather information about accents and ethnic words....

Do your high schoolers every wonder how to become an entrepreneur? Have them examine real-life entrepreneurs to find out. They discuss the financial needs and responsibilities of entrepreneurs then explore the reality of...

What makes story telling special? Young readers demonstrate how to tell a story to others. Kindergarteners, first graders, and second graders read biographies of "Building Blocks" characters and tell a story about a character to their...

Students practice using the letter u in order to understand letter-sound correspondence. In this letter-sound correspondence lesson plan, students write, read, and say different words with the letter u in them.

For this site words practice worksheet, 2nd graders read 6 site words and sentences using each word. Students must then use the six words to write their own sentences using a set of pictures provided for ideas. 

In this forests and people lesson, 3rd graders brainstorm what forests are used for, discuss forest habitats, and how human interventions have affected trees and animals that depend on the forest environment. Students read the books,...

Students study the dietary guidelines and what they do.  In this healthy eating instructional activity students study nutrition labels and calorie needs.

Sixth graders discover idioms. In this idioms lesson, 6th graders evaluate idioms and discover their meaning. Students read Runny Babbit by Shel Silverstein and create unique idioms. Assessment rubric is provided.

Students identify the short u vowel sound and recognize phonemes in spoken words. By orally practicing tongue twisters, they recognize how to pronounce the sounds. In a written assessment, students examine pictures, name the objects,...

Students move their streamers using as many arm patterns as possible.

Tenth graders explore why some teenagers take unnecessary risks. In this decision making lesson, 10th graders read an article on risk taking and draw important conclusions on the topic.