Teacher-to-Teacher Lessons

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Each Teacher's Editions from Junior Scholastic comes with a lesson plan for that issue written by a teacher like you. Use these collegial suggestions to make the most out of your subscription to JS.

"The Nez Perce"
Exploring Folklore

Commemorate Native American Heritage Month with our article about Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce (pp. 8-11). Then use the lesson below to learn more about the Nez Perce through their folklore.
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"Passport: Earth"
Using an Index

Pack your bags—or at least grab your pencils! With Junior Scholastic’s 2009-2010 World Affairs Atlas and Almanac, your students will embark on a journey around the world. Use the lesson plan below and the related reproducible available at scholastic.com/js to explore the almanac tables on pp. 20-29. As students complete an almanac-based activity for each continent, they will fine-tune their geography, teamwork, and information-literacy skills.
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"Amelia Earhart"
Creating a Chronology

Pair this issue’s American history play (pp. 10-13) with the lesson plan below to take off on an exciting journey into the life and times of Amelia Earhart. This lesson was written for JS by Karen Kellaher.
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"The Newest Justice"
Making Complex Decisions

Sonia Sotomayor will soon take her place on the bench as the nation’s newest Supreme Court Justice. Read her story (pp. 10-11). Then use the lesson below to explore the kinds of complex decisions she will help make as a member of the nation’s highest court. This lesson was written for JS by Karen Kellaher, a substitute teacher in Warren County, New Jersey, and former Scholastic editor.
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"Dorothea Lange: Eye on America"
Visual Literacy

This issue’s American history play (pp. 18-21) focuses on Dorothea Lange, whose poignant photographs captured bleak moments in U.S. history in a way that words could not. Use this lesson plan to help students “read” Lange’s photos and develop visual-literacy skills. This lesson was written for JS by Karen Kellaher, a substitute teacher in Warren County, New Jersey, and former Scholastic editor.
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"Growing Up Adopted"
Organizing Information

Between October 1, 2007, and September 30, 2008, a total of 17,438 children joined families in the United States through international adoption. Read “Growing Up Adopted” (pp. 6-7; April 27, 2009) to learn about the challenges and rewards that adopted families face. Then use this lesson plan.
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"Seeing the Big Picture"
Putting News in Context

Teacher Andrew Ragan calls articles such as “Saving Africa’s Gorillas” (pp. 6-7) “kid magnets.” Students zero in on them because of their subject matter, the images, and the dilemma—in this case, animals, extinction, and habitat destruction. He uses students’ heightened interest in such topics to generate lively class discussions, fun activities, and student action.
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"Can't We Get Along?"
Making Connections

Teacher to Teacher contributor Andrew Liss and his students are supporters of Kiva, a nonprofit microfinance organization that connects people in need with donors willing to help them succeed as entrepreneurs. For Liss and his students, that involvement brought the events following Kenya’s 2007 election close to home
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"Eleanor Roosevelt’s 'My Day' and Students' 'My Blog'"
Exploring Personal Voices

There are many ways teachers can use this issue’s American history feature (pp. 19-21) in the classroom. This suggested lesson plan comes from Lisa Arce, who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade students at Selden Middle School in Centereach, New York, and is a contributing editor to Junior Scholastic.
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"'A State of Nature' and the Purpose of Government"
Role-playing

This role-playing exercise was contributed by Lori Sherman. Sherman teaches American history, current events, geography, and reading/language arts to sixth-graders at Ute Meadows Elementary School in Littleton, Colorado.
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"Get to Know Andrew Jackson"
Honing Research Skills

This lesson plan, created by teacher Andrew Ragan, is to be used with this issue's American History Play, "Muddy Boots" (pp. 9-11). Ragan has been a reader of Junior Scholastic (1971-1973), a JS intern (1980), an associate editor and staff writer (1981-1983), and a freelance contributor (1984-present). Since 2001, he has used JS to help teach the history of the Western Hemisphere and the United States to seventh- and eighth-graders at Allendale Columbia School in Rochester, New York.
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"Top U.S. News Stories of 2008"
Reading Comprehension and Analysis

There are many ways teachers can use the January 5, 2009 issue’s top-news feature in the classroom. This suggested lesson plan comes from Lisa Arce, who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade students at Selden Middle School in Centereach, New York.
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"World Hunger and Food Aid"
Organizing a Group Effort

This lesson plan relates to the world hunger article and map in this issue (pp. 6-9). It is by Andrew Liss, a seventh-grade social studies teacher at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Edison, New Jersey. Note: If you would like to contribute a lesson plan related to one of the upcoming JS features (see our updated planning guide at scholastic.com/juniorscholastic), please e-mail a brief summary of what it would entail to junior@scholastic.com.
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"China's Move Forward"
Debating an Issue

This issue’s lesson plan calls on students to incorporate what they learn by reading “China Rising?” (pp. 8-10) with their broader knowledge of political and social systems. It also encourages students to think beyond their own points of view. The author of this lesson plan is Sharan Gwynn, a social-studies instructor and department chair at Georgetown Middle School in Georgetown, Kentucky. A 32-year classroom veteran, Gwynn has taught sixth-grade social studies (world cultures and geography) and seventh-grade social studies (ancient civilizations). She also teaches one math class.
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"Taking Part in the Process"
The Right to Vote

As far as the Constitution’s Framers were concerned, voting was a responsibility as well as a precious right. The exercises below will help students realize that voting rights are not a given—they have been hard-won. It also lets them encourage their elders to participate in the process. This lesson plan was created by Karen Kellaher, a substitute teacher in Warren County, New Jersey. Kellaher, a former Scholastic editor, has published more than 15 books for students and teachers.
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"Bringing History to Life"
Hold an Inaugural Ball

You and your students are no doubt caught up in the presidential election. But before you know it, that long process will come to an end. Why not start planning to celebrate the way the new President will—with an inaugural ball? These tried-and-true tips for a successful event are from Joyce Gerber, who teaches gifted fifth-graders at the Emerson School in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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Know Your Constitution
The United States Constitution is a system of basic laws and principles that defines the rights of American citizens and sets limits on what the government can and cannot do. Learn about America's most important document.

Election 2008: How Hollywood Does It
Fred Thompson makes his bid for President official on September 5, 2007.

America’s Spies
Explains the role of the FBI, CIA, and NSA agents in the U.S. war on terrorism.

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