Curriculum Guides

  • Muslim: Fact and Stereotype

    Stereotypes can affect individuals and influence a community as seen in the KidsPost article, "Muslim and American: Kids Worry About Anti-Arab Reaction." This curriculum guide provides discussion questions to use with the article, enrichment activities and a lesson. After reading the article, students discuss stereotypes, review basic beliefs of Muslims and engage in a group activity.

  • Insect Habitat

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    Introduce your students to the world of insects, their collection, display, and identification using dichotomous keys. In the Insect Habitat curriculum guide, students will read a 1992 Post Science Notebook selection, "Entomology: Ant's Thermal Window of Opportunity," and the KidsPost article "Mister Bug: Gary Hevel Found a Wild World in His Back Yard," which focuses on one man's search for insects in his own Silver Spring, Md., back yard. Questions for discussion and close reading, Web resources and vocabulary are provided for the selections.

  • Leaves

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    As students read about the changing colors of leaves in fall, they also learn about photosynthesis and the life cycle of leaves. Study questions and Web resources that provide experiments and more activities are provided to accompany the KidsPost article, "Fall Guys: Colorful Show Signals The Approach of Winter." A reproducible evaluation form can be used with the descriptive writing assignment. The Word Study looks at the etymology of photosynthesis. A reproducible gives basic information on anthocyanins, carotenoids and chlorophyll.

  • Sumatran Tiger

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    After reading about the new Sumatran tiger cub and chief tiger keeper at the National Zoo, students will research rare and endangered species. "Earning His Stripes" and "Tigers in Trouble" are stimulus for further study of the five remaining subspecies of tigers and other rare and endangered animals. Teachers are provided Web and print resources, classroom activity, research assignment and a list of 130 rare and endangered animals found at the National Zoo. The Word Study Focuses on "extinction." 

  • The Movie Review(er)

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    "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" provides the timely vehicle to introduce the basics of movie review writing. An interview with Washington Post movie reviewer Desson Howe gives a glimpse into the life of a critic. It is clear that Howe has academic training and a love of movies. Movie trivia questions get students thinking about their own knowledge of movies and the economics of the motion picture industry. Teachers are provided guidelines for movie review writers, film vocabulary and a checklist for students to use when writing their first movie reviews.

  • Backpack Math

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    Students' ubiquitous backpacks provide incentive to apply percentage in daily life. After reading KidsPost articles about the healthy weight to carry in a backpack, students are ready to complete a worksheet, engage in more math activities and participate in a week-long survey. The Word Study focuses on "carry." A crossword puzzle and a close-reading worksheet are included as well as enrichment activities.

  • Sleep

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    Through articles, activities and a sleep journal, the importance of sleep is presented to students. Students read "Eyes Wide Shut: Sleeping May Be the Most Important Thing You Do Today," "Sweet Dreams" and "Word Study: a look at sleep." Students are asked to keep a six-day sleep and activity journal. Reproducible forms are provided for this and the analysis of data. Vocabulary, Web resources, a true/false quiz and word games are included.

  • Recession Is Not Recess

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    The economic reality of recession is presented through cause-and-effect relationships. In the KidsPost article, students meet a mother and daughter who represent thousands of people affected by a slowdown in the economy. The guide presents discussion questions, vocabulary, Web resources and a causal chain activity. The Word Study focuses on the Greek origin of "economy." An enrichment activity for mathematics uses unemployment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

  • Antarctica

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    Students learn about Antarctica and its early explorers as they prepare for a scientific expedition on the coldest continent. An interview with the public affairs officer onboard the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Polar Star supplements the KidsPost article, "Deep Freeze." The student activity encourages reading about Antarctic explorers and studying the animal life of the fifth largest continent. Vocabulary, Web and print resources and a Word Study focusing on temperature are provided.

  • Research Integrity

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    Evaluating a Web site and avoiding plagiarism are the focus of the "Research Integrity" curriculum guide. After reading the KidsPost article on homework help Web sites and discussing when to use these sites, students will focus on concepts in the "But Can You Trust It?" sidebar. A reproducible, "Evaluate a Web Site," vocabulary and Web resources are provided. "Word Study: a look at plagiarism" and the reproducible "Practice in Paraphrasing" help teachers to focus attention on writing the research paper and academic honesty. 

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