Friday, February 26, 2010

Victor Hugo, the Author of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérables, Was Born

Victor-Marie Hugo (1802 – 1885) was the most important writer of the Romantic movement in France.

Best known for the novels Les Misérables and Notre-Dame de Paris (known in English also as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame).

- Wikipedia

Lesson Plan Information
Title: Martin Luther's Reformation in Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Objectives: Students will:
- Compare Martin Luther’s “95 Theses” to satirical elements in Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
- Demonstrate ways in which modern society reflects the concerns of both Hugo and Luther.
- Write a letter to the editor about contemporary abuse of power.
Grade Level: 9
Subject: English Language Arts / Social Studies
Time Needed: Four 50-minute class periods
Provided by: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Author: Nancy Webber)
Link: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/3490

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Valentine's Day - Conversation Hearts Lesson Plan

Saint Valentine's Day (commonly shortened to Valentine's Day) is an annual holiday held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The holiday is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in AD 496. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines").

Modern Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline (conversation hearts), doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid.

- Wikipedia

Lesson Plan Information
Title: Conversation Hearts Ratio Graphing Activity
Objectives:
- create a tally chart to count the different colors of conversation hearts.
- graph a ratio between two colored hearts.
Concepts / Vocabulary: Valentine's Day, conversation hearts, tally chart, ratio
Grade Level: 5
Subject: Valentine's Day / Math
Materials: Different color conversation hearts.
Time Needed: One 50-minute class periods
Provided by: HotChalk (Author: Patty)
Link: http://www.lessonplanspage.com/OMathValentinesDayConversationHeartRatioGraphingActivity5.htm

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870) Was Born

Charles Dickens is considered by many the greatest Victorian-era novelist - best known for his A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, and Great Expectations.

- Britannica

Lesson Plan Information
Title: Philanthropy in A Christmas Carol
Objectives: By the end of this lesson, students will:
- analyze Charles Dickens’ writing as a product of his personal experiences.
- identify and explain the theme of philanthropy in A Christmas Carol.
Concepts / Vocabulary: mood, theme, climax, symbolism.
Grade Level: Middle school, grades 6-8
Subject: Language Arts
Materials: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens; A Christmas Carol (video ) with George C. Scott
Handouts: 7 teacher aids regarding A Christmas Carol
Time Needed: Thirteen Forty-Five Minute Class Periods
Provided by: Learning To Give (Author: Janice Ubels, Hudsonville Christian Schools)
Link: http://learningtogive.org/lessons/unit10/lesson3.html

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Cancer Day 2010

Cancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth (division beyond the normal limits), invasion (intrusion on and destruction of adjacent tissues), and sometimes metastasis (spread to other locations in the body via lymph or blood).

These three malignant properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited, and do not invade or metastasize.

Most cancers form a tumor but some, like leukemia, do not. The branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer is oncology.

- Wikipedia

Lesson Plan Information
Title: Cancer Research
Objectives: Students will understand:
- current statistics on the incidence of cancer,
- basic information about cancer including types, causes, treatments and prognosis,
- cancer research - the need and the human and financial cost.
Grade Level: High School, Grades 9-12
Subject: Medicine
Materials: Internet access; Power Point software.
Time Needed: Two 90-minute periods
Provided by: PBS & MacNeil-Lehrer Productions
Year: 2002
Link: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/health/cancer.html