Students explore the year they were born through interviews and research, and then weave the details into a newspaper or booklet, written from another person's point of view.
The Year I Was Born: An Autobiographical Research Project
Grades
|
Investigating the Holocaust: A Collaborative Inquiry Project
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Unit
Students explore a variety of resources as they learn about the Holocaust. Working collaboratively, they investigate the materials, prepare oral responses, and produce a topic-based newspaper to complete their research.
Grades
|
Modeling Reading and Analysis Processes with the Works of Edgar Allan Poe
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Unit
Explore reading strategies using Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" and other works. Students read Poe's works in both large- and small-group readings then conclude with a variety of projects.
Grades
|
Propaganda Techniques in Literature and Online Political Ads
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students analyze propaganda techniques used in pieces of literature and political advertisements. They then look for propaganda in other media, such as print ads and commercials.
Grades
|
Voting! What's It All About?
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Unit
Students explore a variety of sources for information about voting. They evaluate the information to determine if it is fact or opinion, and then create a graffiti wall about voting.
Grades
|
Mail Time! An Integrated Postcard and Geography Study
K - 2
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Children write and receive postcards from friends and family, and then chart where all those postcards come from on a classroom map.
Grades
|
Creating Question and Answer Books through Guided Research
K - 2
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
This series of activities is designed to teach research strategies. Students use KWL charts to guide their inquiry and publish their results in a collaborative question and answer book.
Grades
|
Inquiry on the Internet: Evaluating Web Pages for a Class Collection
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students use Internet search engines and Web analysis checklists to evaluate online resources then write annotations that explain how and why the resources will be valuable to the class.
Grades
|
Paying Attention to Technology: Writing Technology Autobiographies
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
This lesson plan asks students to pay attention to the technologies they use. They graphically map their interactions with technology and compose narratives of their most significant interactions with technology.
Grades
|
Paying Attention to Technology: Exploring a Fictional Technology
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students complete a short survey to establish their beliefs about technology. They compare their opinions to the ideas in a novel that depicts technology (such as 1984 or Fahrenheit 451).
Grades
|
Investigating Junk Mail: Negotiating Critical Literacy at the Mailbox
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students increase their media literacy skills by critically examining and revising junk mail.
Grades
|
Authentic Persuasive Writing to Promote Summer Reading
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Turn summer reading lists from a teacher-centered requirement to a student-driven exploration by asking students to create brochures and flyers that suggest books to explore during the summer months.
Grades
|
Picture Books as Framing Texts: Research Paper Strategies for Struggling Writers
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students use picture books as framing texts for research, freeing them from the language of encyclopedia sources and allowing them to focus their attention on the content of their papers.
Grades
|
An Exploration of Text Sets: Supporting All Readers
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students create text sets on a high interest topic and use the texts to practice three strategies for reading for information.
Grades
|
Book Report Alternative: Writing Resumes for Characters in Historical Fiction
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students write resumes for historical fiction characters. They first explore help wanted ads to see what employers want, and then draft resumes for the characters they've chosen.
Grades
|
Animal Study: From Fiction to Facts
K - 2
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students listen to fiction and nonfiction read-alouds and explore selected Websites to identify factual information about animals. This lesson focuses on ants, but can be adapted to any animal.
Grades
|
Martin Luther King, Jr. and Me: Identifying with a Hero
K - 2
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
This lesson provides ideas for celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by encouraging students to explore the connections between Dr. King and themselves through journaling and inquiry-based research.
Grades
|
Beyond the Story: A Dickens of a Party
6 - 8
Lesson Plan
| Unit
Students attend a 19th Century Victorian party to celebrate Scrooge's new outlook on life. They research characters from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and assume those personas for the party.
Grades
|
Ghosts and Fear in Language Arts: Exploring the Ways Writers Scare Readers
9 - 12
Lesson Plan
| Standard Lesson
Students analyze scary stories to 'break the code" of horror writing and use what they learn to write scary stories of their own.
Grades
|
Webcams in the Classroom: Animal Inquiry and Observation
3 - 5
Lesson Plan
| Recurring Lesson
Students observe animals using one of the many webcams broadcasting from zoos and aquariums around the United States and the world, with a focus on observation, discussion, questioning, and research.