Category: Content Areas
Classroom subject areas
The Courtship of Miles Standish
The Courtship Of Miles Standish, the story of John Alden, Priscilla Mullins, and Miles Standish, is one of the favorite Thanksgiving stories, right up there with Squanto and the fish. It is found most completely in “The Courtship of Miles Standish,” a long long poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow which… Continue reading
Pilgrims, Pioneers, and Native Americans: Confusion in the Classroom
Unlike Hallowe’en, Thanksgiving is one of the holidays we are required to study in the classroom. Our state social studies standards mandate the study of Thanksgiving for three years in a row, and the relationship of Native Americans and Pilgrims for five straight years. Since there are some confusions that… Continue reading
Candy Lesson Plans
We don’t mourn the days when teachers handed out candy as bribes or rewards. Still, there are some times of year when it makes sense to have candy around, and it can always be an interesting subject of study. We suggest beginning with a book. Depending on the age… Continue reading
Bats Lesson Plans
Most of the kinds of mammals in the world are bats — they’re actually the largest group of species in the world, with 1,000 different species living on all the continents except Antarctica. We’re lucky we have them, too, since they eat insects. Online resources: Bats: Creatures of the… Continue reading
Pumpkin Lesson Plans
If you have a pumpkin, you can have a quick, seasonal lesson. And, really, at this time of year there’s no reason not to have a pumpkin. Pumpkins are a variety of squash, related to cucumbers. They are natives of North America, but now are grown on all six inhabited continents.… Continue reading
Nocturnal Animal Lesson Plans
Bats may be the first nocturnal creatures that come to mind, but actually there are lots more. Learn about some of the real creatures that sleep all day and wake up at night (links take you to informational websites): bats possums raccoons owls deer coyote fox mouse skunk weasel porcupines… Continue reading
Shake Dem Halloween Bones Lesson Plans
Shake Dem Halloween Bones by W. Nikola-Lisa with illustrations by Mike Reed is a terrific book for Halloween lessons. It works on a lot of levels. First, it’s a very fun rhythmic read aloud, with a refrain young kids can join in on: Come on, Li’l Red, won’t you dance… Continue reading
Ghost Stories Lesson Plans
Ghost stories are fun at any time of year, and they’re perfect for Halloween. You need to tell or read ghost stories aloud. This can be an excellent way to introduce some classic literature, delve into folklore, or start a study of short stories. Read a few and then let… Continue reading