ALEX Lesson Plan Resources

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ALEX Lesson Plans  
Subject: English Language Arts (2 - 3), or Science (2)
Title: Splish! Splash!
Description: Let's get wet and wild with this exciting unit on the ocean!  Through the use of wonderful literature, art projects, research, and much more, the students will expand their understanding of what life is like for the creatures of the ocean. This is a College- and Career-Ready Standards showcase lesson plan.

Subject: English Language Arts (3 - 5), or Social Studies (4 - 5)
Title: Native Cultures Vs. Explorers in World Court
Description: This lesson represents the end result of a project-based, hands-on unit in which children represent a culture they've researched in a World Court Hearing against the explorers they encountered.

Subject: English Language Arts (3 - 5), or Technology Education (3 - 5)
Title: Are You Down with Describing Nouns?
Description: This unit is a fun, exciting, and engaging unit that uses many 21st century tools to help students working in collaborative groups understand what an adjective is and how adjective use is vital to making writing interesting.  Furthermore, students will use technology to research and explore the use of adjectives in their daily writings, readings, and environment and determine how adjective use can influence consumers.

Subject: English Language Arts (3), or Information Literacy (K - 12), or Social Studies (3), or Technology Education (3 - 5)
Title: "What do we do? Natural Disasters in the United States"
Description: During the course of this lesson, the students will research various forms of natural disasters that occur in the United States and what someone should do in the event of that disaster. The teacher and library media specialist will collaborate during the planning, instruction, and research phases of this lesson. The students will take the information they collected and place it on a PowerPoint presentation to be presented to the class. This information should include several pictures that will be located on the Internet. The Library Media Specialist will guide the students through the process of obtaining permission for the use of various images.

Subject: English Language Arts (3), or Technology Education (3 - 5)
Title: Distance Learning Collaborative Literature Circles: Because of Winn Dixie
Description: During this lesson, two classes in different locations will participate separately in literature circles using Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. The discussion of the book will be a collaborative project using distance learning.

Subject: Arts Education (3 - 4), or English Language Arts (3 - 4), or Science (3), or Technology Education (3 - 5)
Title: Animal Environment and Adaptation
Description: In this lesson students will enjoy different activities focusing on how animals adapt to their environments. They will begin by researching two animals, their environment, and the ways the animals adapt to this environment. In small groups students will invent a new animal, including its environment and adaptations. Using presentation software, students will introduce their new animals to the class.

Subject: English Language Arts (3), or Technology Education (3 - 5)
Title: Irish ABCs
Description: During this lesson, students will have the opportunity to learn about St. Patrick's Day while navigating the Internet. Students will get to transform their research into an ABC Book to share with family and friends.

Subject: English Language Arts (2 - 3), or Technology Education (3 - 5)
Title: Wonderful Wolves
Description: In this lesson students learn about wolves through literature and research. Students learn the truth about wolves by completing a WebQuest examining wolf myths. Then students have the opportunity to locate information about wolves through a variety of print resources and the Internet.

Subject: English Language Arts (3), or Technology Education (3 - 5)
Title: Proper Noun Race
Description: During this lesson, students will review nouns and identify common and proper nouns in context. A short story will be written using both types of nouns. An interactive Internet site will be used to reinforce the lesson.

Subject: English Language Arts (3)
Title: Is Laura "Sitting" in the "Setting" of "Little House?"
Description: Using Little House In The Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder, this lesson focuses on the concept of time and place, phonics, and comprehension strategies. It is an interactive lesson with classroom dialogue and small group interaction.

Subject: English Language Arts (3), or Social Studies (3 - 5), or Technology Education (3 - 5)
Title: Settling the West: Westward Expansion
Description: During this lesson, students will have the opportunity to experience the westward expansion through literature and the Internet. By creating a brochure and a slideshow presentation, students will become aware of the difficulties people faced through their travels.

Subject: Character Education (K - 12), or English Language Arts (3), or Technology Education (3 - 5)
Title: How Do Citizens Make Government Work?
Description: This five-session unit will provide hands-on opportunities for students to explore local, state and national governments. In the process, students will use technology and print media to learn about the leaders of each level of government and explore citizenship as a way to make a difference in their communities and nation.

Subject: Character Education (K - 12), or English Language Arts (3), or Technology Education (3 - 5)
Title: Character Education - Integrity
Description: The purpose of this lesson is to identify some of the skills and attitudes that are essential for solving problems effectively. This lesson will be implemented as part of a character education unit on integrity. The meaning of integrity is investigated and discussed through the use of research skills, open-ended discussions, digital photography, and cooperative learning experiences.

Subject: English Language Arts (3), or Information Literacy (K - 12), or Technology Education (3 - 5)
Title: Do You Have a Babushka?
Description: This lesson will familiarize students with the author Patricia Polacco. Students will use appropriate resources to gather information about Polacco, categorize the information, and record it in a graphic organizer (concept map).

Thinkfinity Lesson Plans  
Subject: Language Arts
Title: Alaska Native Stories: Using Narrative to Introduce Expository Text      Add Bookmark
Description: Tradition and technology come together in this lesson in which students learn about Alaskan animals through Native American tales and their own online research.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5


Subject: Language Arts,Mathematics
Title: Numbers and Language      Add Bookmark
Description: In this five-lesson unit, from Illuminations, students participate in activities in which they focus on the role of numbers and language in real-world situations. Students discuss, describe, read, and write about numbers they find in familiar real-world situations. An emphasis on using components of language helps students build a broader vocabulary of numbers than the traditional symbolic representation of numbers.
Thinkfinity Partner: Illuminations
Grade Span: K,PreK,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8


Subject: Language Arts
Title: Cyberspace Explorer: Getting to Know Christopher Columbus      Add Bookmark
Description: Students explore multiple online sources to gather information about the life of Christopher Columbus, complete a cyber scavenger hunt, and use their notes to prepare a timeline and summary report.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5


Subject: Language Arts
Title: Webcams in the Classroom: Animal Inquiry and Observation      Add Bookmark
Description: 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.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5


Subject: Language Arts
Title: Celebrate Earth Day!      Add Bookmark
Description: In celebration of Earth Day, students research famous environmentalists and write letters to them asking for their opinions on current issues and turn their letters into a poem.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12


Subject: Language Arts
Title: Research Building Blocks: Cite Those Sources!       Add Bookmark
Description: Students learn the importance of crediting others for their words and ideas, and then learn the paraphrasing and citation skills necessary to avoid plagiarism.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5


Subject: Language Arts
Title: Charles Lindbergh began his transatlantic flight in 1927.      Add Bookmark
Description: Students consider what is meant by the phrase '' Human Hero,'' think of people who fit into the category, and read a biography of a selected hero.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12


Subject: Language Arts
Title: On this day in 1907, Rachel Carson was born.      Add Bookmark
Description: Students learn about Rachel Carson, explore different environmental websites, and write a Diamante Poem about a particular habitat.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12


Subject: Language Arts
Title: Q is for Duck: Using Alphabet Books With Struggling Writers      Add Bookmark
Description: A is for zoo? Q is for duck? The alphabet as students know it is transformed when students create a class book that contains clever associations for each letter of the alphabet.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5


Subject: Language Arts
Title: Research Building Blocks: Notes, Quotes, and Fact Fragments      Add Bookmark
Description: Students are guided through the process of taking notes while reading factual information, then turning those notes into new sentences and paragraphs written in their own words.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5


Subject: Language Arts
Title: Using Science Texts to Teach the Organizational Features of Nonfiction      Add Bookmark
Description: Students explore organizational features of nonfiction science. Students then work together to create a two-page spread using those features to present information about their local environment.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5


Subject: Language Arts - Journalism - Social Studies - Geography
Title: Seeing the World Through the News      Add Bookmark
Description: This lesson, from Xpeditions, introduces students to National Geographic News and has them find several articles about recent geographic and environmental developments. Students are probably familiar with some general news sources, such as the daily newspaper or the nightly TV news. They are less likely to know about specialty sources such as geographic or environmental news Web sites. Students map the locations these news stories describe and explain how maps can help them learn about what's going on around the world.
Thinkfinity Partner: National Geographic Education
Grade Span: 3,4,5


Subject: Language Arts
Title: Exploring World Cultures Through Folk Tales      Add Bookmark
Description: Journey around the world with students as they read a Japanese, African, or Welsh folk tale, create a visual depiction of the tale, research the tale's culture, and present findings.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5


Subject: Language Arts
Title: Biographies: Creating Timelines of a Life      Add Bookmark
Description: In this lesson students explore a number of sources to create a biographical timeline about a selected person. Students collaboratively research and resolve conflicting information they find during their investigation.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5


Subject: Language Arts
Title: Teaching Language Skills Using the Phone Book      Add Bookmark
Description: Through a series of activities using the phone book, students learn to use text aids, collect information relevant to a topic, organize information, synthesize information and use key words.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5


Subject: Language Arts - Literature - Science - Biology - Science - Geology - Social Studies - Geography
Title: Mark Twain's Cave       Add Bookmark
Description: In this lesson, from Xpeditions, students learn about the cave described in Mark Twain's famous novel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. They read a passage from the book and learn about how the cave has been used throughout history. Students explore the Internet to learn about the geology of the real cave and about animals and plants that live in caves.
Thinkfinity Partner: National Geographic Education
Grade Span: 3,4,5


Subject: Language Arts
Title: Alex Haley, author of '' Roots'' , was born in 1921.      Add Bookmark
Description: Students explore their own roots by interviewing family members and use their family history to write a fictional account of their roots.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12


Subject: Language Arts
Title: Bridging Literature and Mathematics by Visualizing Mathematical Concepts      Add Bookmark
Description: During interactive read-aloud sessions, students identify how an author conveys mathematical information about animals sizes and abilities. They then conduct research projects focusing on the same mathematical concepts.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5


Subject: Language Arts
Title: Learning About Research and Writing Using the American Revolution      Add Bookmark
Description: Students across the board will get a kick out of researching a historical figure from the American Revolution to create an acrostic poem.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5


Subject: Language Arts
Title: Question and Answer Books--From Genre Study to Report Writing      Add Bookmark
Description: After exploring several question and answer books on a variety of topics, students research a topic and create their own class question and answer book.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5


Subject: Language Arts
Title: Looking at Landmarks: Using a Picture Book to Guide Research      Add Bookmark
Description: This lesson uses Ben's Dream by Chris Van Allsburg to highlight ten major landmarks of the world. Students research the landmarks and present their findings to the class.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5


Subject: Language Arts
Title: Literature as a Jumping Off Point for Nonfiction Inquiry      Add Bookmark
Description: Students use text sets to research a topic inspired by a fiction book they have read. A text set is a collection of multiple text genres with a single focus.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5


Subject: Language Arts
Title: All About Our Town: Using Brochures to Teach Informational Writing      Add Bookmark
Description: Students explore their towns' landmarks, symbols, and people; look at brochures and other informational tools; practice writing for a specific audience and revising; and work collaboratively to create a brochure.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5


Subject: Language Arts
Title: November is National American Indian Heritage Month.      Add Bookmark
Description: Students explore Native American heritage through the study of pourquoi tales, write their own original pourquoi tales, and use the ReadWriteThink Printing Press to publish them.
Thinkfinity Partner: ReadWriteThink
Grade Span: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12