Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

This interdisciplinary lesson uses writing and art as a way to build a sense of community both within and outside the school. Students write and share across grade levels, and they include images and/or drawings as additional means of expression. Finally, the resulting works are collected and added to a real or virtual library. This lesson plan was one of the winners in a lesson plan contest sponsored by TeachersFirst in 2002. TeachersFirst editors have since added technology options where appropriate.

tag(s): communities (35), creative writing (124), expository writing (31)

This lesson plan/project is a creative, engaging way to assess students knowledge and comprehension of cell's organelles and their functions. This lesson plan was one of the winners in a lesson plan contest sponsored by TeachersFirst in 2002. TeachersFirst editors have since added technology options where appropriate.

tag(s): cells (82), organelles (2)

A math and consumer science lesson that lets students build a budget and and menushop to fit their allotted funds and menu. Designed for use on-line, this unit could also be done off-line using newspaper sale advertising. This lesson plan was one of the winners in a lesson plan contest sponsored by TeachersFirst. TeachersFirst editors have added technology options where appropriate.

tag(s): money (113)

A lesson that uses the original partition of Israel in 1947 to examine the cultural conflicts in the middle east. Students use a series of role plays to understand the issues and emotions that abound in the region. This lesson plan was one of the winners in a lesson plan contest sponsored by TeachersFirst. TeachersFirst editors have added technology options where appropriate.

tag(s): character education (80), empathy (34), israel (14), palestine (5)

Here's a lesson unit that lets students design a perfect mate, then compare it with their parent's concepts. Sounds strange, but this teacher-tested lesson has proven immensely popular with teachers, parents, and students alike. This lesson plan, one of TeachersFirst's long-popular resources, was one of the winners in a lesson plan contest sponsored by TeachersFirst. TeachersFirst editors have added technology options where appropriate.

tag(s): romeo and juliet (3), shakespeare (99)

Discover lesson unit that combines music and lyrics in a study of poetry. Part of the attraction: students get to help select the music, and hence the message. This lesson plan was one of the winners in a lesson plan contest sponsored by TeachersFirst. TeachersFirst editors have added technology options where appropriate.

tag(s): poetry (193)

A writing and research project that involves gathering family sayings and working them into a student-created publications. This lesson plan was one of the winners in a lesson plan contest sponsored by TeachersFirst. TeachersFirst editors have added technology options where appropriate.

tag(s): family (51)

This unit lets students relate physical characteristics to genetic and environmental factors. Phenotypes are the physical characteristics that we develop from our genotype (our genetic makeup). Both the environment and our genotype interact to make us what we are. Any genetic unit can incorporate this lesson as an activity to introduce genotype and phenotype. This lesson plan was one of the winners in a lesson plan contest sponsored by TeachersFirst. TeachersFirst editors have added technology options where appropriate.

tag(s): genetics (80)

A lesson examining the differences between classical Greek building styles and those of contemporary architects. This lesson plan was one of the winners in a lesson plan contest sponsored by TeachersFirst. TeachersFirst editors have added technology options where appropriate.

tag(s): architecture (76), greek (47), greeks (46)

An interdisciplinary unit for second graders dealing with "blue themes" in literature. The unit uses Blueberries for Sal, Jamberry, and several other books to build "blue" connections. This lesson plan was one of the winners in a lesson plan contest sponsored by TeachersFirst. TeachersFirst editors have added technology options where appropriate.