Middle schoolers explore the concept of democracy. They define and describe democracy and choose an issue they believe the government should care about for its people. They write a persuasive essay about their issue.

Seventh graders are introduced to and discuss the power of persuasion. After reading text, they identify the author's purpose, perspective and argument. They write their own fiction and non-fiction texts and develop a perspective after...

Eighth graders discover that literature can be a great way to gather information about the past. Using various types of text, they research its historical data and determine if it is correct. They write two papers to respond to the...

Students practice power writing to develop fluency.

Students create a class peace medal to present to another grade/class as a symbol of friendship between the two groups of students. Then they write an explanation of what the purpose of the peace medal is and how it relates to Lewis and...

Second graders write a short story about train track safety and make a train shaped book.

Pupils describe MLk's leadership of the desegregation movement. Students discuss the meaning of non-violent revolution. Pupils identify the difference between their lives and those ofcitizens in 1963. Students write a short essay about...

Students analyze the quatrain structure and rhyming in the song, "Puddles". They use this format to create their own quatrain lyrics for a song then they share their song ang revise it.

Students explore writing a cinquain. Students engage in a pantomime experience. They observe and describe bubbles. Students compose a cinquain and illustrate their work with bubble art.

Third graders choose an animal to research and write a report about. They determine the animals' habitat, animal classification, whether it is endangered or extinct, and the type of food it eats. Also, they add any special...

Young scholars research characteristics of deserts. They present their findings in small groups to the class. Students utilize information learned about desert biomes, geography of the route of the Niger, and expeditions in their writing.

Students discuss what characteristics they learned about each season through the story read aloud. They identify each season and come up with objects for each season, such as clothing, activities one can do, and describe the scenery....

Students write their own story using as much descriptive language as they can. They peer edit each other's stories and create illustrations to accompany their writings. They place their story in a booklet and give it to a needy recepient.

Fourth graders complete an attached simile worksheet. The teacher models the lesson on a LCD screen. They then open a simile template in the correct folder on Microsoft word. They insert similes, spell check their work, and then save...

In this online interactive literature worksheet, students respond to 8 short answer and essay questions about Edward Albee's American Dream. Students may check some of their answers online.

Second graders research a selected dinosaur. They hand write a paragraph about the dinosaur, describing at least one amazing fact. Students use HyperStudio software to transfer their paragraph into a multimedia presentation.

Learners participate in activities to determine their macro process and elaborative process abilities. During macro processes readers organize and summarize ideas as they read. They look at the big picture of the entire text as well as...

Students explain the process of evaporation using an activity that allows students to see the gradual disappearance of water.

Eighth graders are introduced to the tobacco planting process. Using primary sources, they identify the steps necessary to grow the popular crop. They create a flow map to organize the process graphically. They discuss the...

First graders use the internet to research a famous American. Using the information they collect, they write a paragraph noting their accomplishments. They find a picture of the person they are researching or dress up like them to...

In this number game, 7th graders work as a class to figure out a three-digit mystery number. Students use logic and the process of elimination to find the answer. It is a great time filler when there are 10 minutes left in class, and...

Fourth graders write poems using color to describe their feelings and environment. After viewing a sample student poem imbedded in this plan, 4th graders utilize The Student Writing Center educational software program to type their poem.

Students examine the process of how a bill becomes law. Pupils discuss reasons for debates and explore the use of filibusters. The class observes a video to discover procedures in the House and Senate. Students visit a filibuster...

Third graders read the book "Enemy Pie". As a class, they brainstorm a list of what they believe the ingredients are to an enemy pie. In groups, they follow a recipe to make their own pie and pudding. To end the lesson, they write...