Browse Lesson Plans

Advice Column

Write anonymous questions for "Dear Know-It-All," an imaginary advice columnist. Then respond to one question in the form of a letter.

Discipline: Language Arts, Writing

American Robin: A Robin's Menu Through the Seasons

Explore and write about what kinds of plants and animals robins eat.

Discipline: Biology, Science

American Robin: Build a Robin's Nest

Ask questions before reading about how robins build nests, revisit the text for details, reflect on what's learned and get Writer's Woskshop ideas.

Discipline: Biology, Science

American Robin: Eggstra! Eggstra! The Story Behind a Robin's Eggs

Read about how the way robins lay eggs is different from other birds.

Discipline: Biology, Science

American Robin: Territory Study

Read and write about the place where nesting and mating occurs.

Discipline: Biology, Environmental Science, Science

Be Direct - Oil Spills on Land

Direct variation is taught using a simulated oil spill, using toilet paper tissues (to represent land) and drops of vegetable oil (to simulate oil).

Discipline: Algebra/Trig/Calculus, Environmental Science, Mathematics

Bigger and Smaller - Exponent Rules

Use a scene from Alice in Wonderland to introduce negative exponents and the rules for dividing powers.

Discipline: Algebra/Trig/Calculus, Mathematics

Book Buddies

Book Buddies read together and write down responses. They join another pair and use their diverse responses as springboards for conversation.

Discipline: Literature, Writing

Book Clubs

These activities are designed to help pupils focus and develop their thinking about the literature which enriches the discussions.

Discipline: Fiction, Language Arts, Literature, Reading, Writing

Bouncing Ball - Function Families

Explore quadratic functions by using a motion detector known as a Calculator Based Ranger (CBR) to examine the heights of the different bounces of a ball.

Discipline: Algebra/Trig/Calculus, Mathematics

Bridge to Terabithia

See the setting through visualization and drawing. Hear the dialogue by playing "Who am I?"

Discipline: Fiction, Literature, Reading

Building Viewpoints

Use cubes and grid paper to interpret shapes in both two and three dimensions.

Discipline: Geometry, Mathematics

Causal Patterns in Density

Use brass and aluminum cylinders while controlling for mass and volume to make the property of density more obvious.

Discipline: Physical Sciences, Science

Causal Patterns in Ecosystems

Demonstrate the invisible role of decomposers in a food web, using glass worm tank and bread mold activities.

Discipline: Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, Science

Ceremony

Understand Ceremony in the context of the “monomyth,” as defined by Joseph Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces.

Discipline: Fiction, Literature, Reading

Challenges with Sinkers

Manipulate aluminum foil and clay to make shapes that sink slowly.

Discipline: Physical Sciences, Science

Civics: Civic Engagement

Define a project and meet with a community partner. Present the community problem and proposed solutions to a special session of the city council.

Discipline: Political Science, Social Studies and History

Classifying Living Things

Record student observations on the similarities and differences between plants and animals on a Venn diagram and determine the basic needs of each.

Discipline: Biology, Science

Communicating About Sports

Students learn new sports vocabulary in Chinese by using Total Physical Response (TPR).

Discipline: Foreign Language, Language Learning

Comparing Animal Skeletons

Dissect a “mystery object” – an owl pellet with bones in it. After studying the human skeleton, students can begin to identify the bones in the pellet.

Discipline: Biology, Science