Students read and discuss an award-winning book before writing their own story that demonstrates compassion.
The Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children is announced today.
Grades
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Today is World Read Aloud Day.
4 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Literacy-Related Event
Students celebrate the power of words by reading aloud to their classmates and spreading the word of global literacy to their friends and family.
Grades
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Pedro Albizu Campos leads the Puerto Rican Independence movement.
6 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
After learning about the story of Pedro Albizu Campos and his commitment to Puerto Rican independence, students research and share their learning about another nationalist figure from around the world.
Grades
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The "1984" Macintosh commercial aired today during Super Bowl XVIII.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Original advertisements are created after students review advertising techniques they've studied.
Grades
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Get ready for National Bullying Prevention Month!
1 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Holiday & School Celebration
Students create a poster to enter into a poster contest that educates others about issues surrounding bullying.
Grades
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Today is Benjamin Franklin's birthday.
1 - 6
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students discuss Benjamin Franklin's contributions to postal history, investigate the roles of the Postmaster General, and write letters to their classmates using the Letter Generator.
Grades
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In 1939, Marian Anderson was denied permission to sing at Constitution Hall.
7 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students view Eleanor Roosevelt's resignation letter to the DAR in response to Andersen being denied permission to sing. Students write a letter to a newspaper editor about social injustice.
Grades
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Black Beauty author Anna Sewell was born in 1820.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Through Sewell's novel, students explore the cruelty to animals and extend the discussion to current events, eventually presenting the information.
Grades
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The Barbie doll was unveiled in 1959.
7 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students explore body image and advertising through an activity where they bring in pictures from magazines that they read and discuss gender representations in the media.
Grades
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March is National Women's History Month.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Holiday & School Celebration
A scrapbook highlighting the accomplishments of famous American women is created as a class using the Alphabet Organizer and Bio-Cube.
Grades
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Actor Sidney Poitier was born in 1924.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students do a journal entry about barriers that have been broken,such as age, race, and gender, that might impede them in the future, and how they can break through those barriers.
Grades
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On this day in 1907, Rachel Carson was born.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students learn about Rachel Carson, explore different environmental websites, and write a Diamante Poem about a particular habitat.
Grades
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Ezra Jack Keats was born on this day in 1916.
K - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
In celebration of Keats' birthday, students write stories that include some characters from Keats' books and practice using collage techniques with the Collage Machine.
Grades
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Take part in the African American Read-In!
K - 12
Calendar Activity
| Literacy-Related Event
Students come together with family and friends to take part in a read-in of books by African American authors and report their results.
Grades
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Jackie Robinson was born on this day in 1919.
7 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students read messages sent to the White House from Jackie Robinson and discuss his role as an athlete and a civil rights activist, as well as the role of athletes in society.
Grades
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The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students interview a parent or another adult about the Challenger and hypothesize about differences. Students can also write about the Columbia disaster in 2003.
Grades
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Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in the US to earn a MD degree in 1849.
3 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
"Famous Firsts" are researched by students, followed by small group research and multimedia presentations to report research results.
Grades
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On this day in 1910, animal rights activist Joy Adamson was born.
K - 6
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
A KWL chart is used to organize information about lions. Persuasive letters are written lobbying for programs and resources to protect these animals.
Grades
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In 1929, Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on this day.
7 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students study Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and work in groups to create a mural that depicts Dr. King's vision of peace.
Grades
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Faith Ringgold was born on October 8, 1930.
5 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students use Ringgold's books as a springboard for a discussion of race, gender, and civil rights, and then write and illustrate original picture books on these topics.