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...

Use pictures and manipulatives to develop vocabulary with your beginning language learners. This plan can be used with foreign language learners (although you'll have to provide the vocabulary), English language learners, or a young...

What goes up when rain comes down? An umbrella! Activity eight in the series of 12 explores weather and climate. In pairs, participants analyze maps, watch a short video, create a weather forecast, and complete a reading to determine the...

Students evaluate the effectiveness of Internet book clubs, present their findings to the class, and design their own on-line book club (under the umbrella of a fictional television program) to encourage non-readers to read more.

Simply understanding consumer rights may not help people solve their problems. Understanding who to turn to becomes key in many different scenarios. Teach the value of various organizations that fight for consumer rights through...

A lot of people think of insects as pests. But actually, some insects are beneficial because they get rid of pests! After learning about beneficial insects, class members research given insects to find out if they are pests or predators.

Science writing follows many of the same principles as writing in language arts, but some structural details differ. Individuals read an online science handout that covers how to write with precision, choose appropriate details, and use...

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...

Students analyze different weather conditions before creating their very own first-person report from the eye of a storm. They use maps to analyze different weather conditions, record an online weather script and write a first-person...

Students identify inventions as coming from China. In this Chinese inventions instructional activity, students are given a list of common items such as cast iron, a wheelbarrow, and the decimal system, then conduct research to identify...

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

Students write descriptively and creatively after looking carefully at a work of art.

Students construct a "A Year in Pennsylvania" poster on which they creatively describe at least three examples of how the climate they live in shapes their lives during every season of the year.

Learners explore the rainforest. They listen to The Great Kapok Tree and create a web using Inspiration software. They research kapok trees and create posters to make others aware of the plight of the rainforest. They role-play the...

Learners identify the characteristics of deserts. In this geography lesson plan, students discuss the characteristics of a desert and label a map with the names of deserts.

Students examine facts about water. In this water lesson, students complete a WebQuest to study the properties of water. There is an WebQuest activity page included in this lesson plan.

Students examine the role of agriculture in everyday life. In this agriculture lesson plan, students read books such as Harvest Year and identify products which from from the farm. Students fill in a word web using the knowledge they...

Students use Robert Temple's "The Genius of Chins: 3,000 Years of Science, Discovery and Invention", to understand how much the Chinese have contributed with their scientific and technological ability.

Learners create an "animated" water cycle wheel that illustrates where water comes from and where it goes.

Students study the history of Chinese technology by identifying when and where items were invented or discovered.

Third graders observe insects in a number of habitats. They recognize which insect characteristics are adaptations to their habitats.

Students study changes that occur in geological and historical time. They place themselves in relationship to the universe, the world, Canada, and Saskatchewan.

Ninth graders are introduced to the many contributions China has made to the world. They research and choose an invention to find information on. They will have to use an internet resource tool to guide them for their presentation of...