Flocabulary Updates

Vertebrates: Reptiles – In this lesson, introduce students to reptiles, one of five groups of vertebrates. Students will explore common characteristics and different species of reptiles.

California Gold Rush – In this lesson, students learn about the California Gold Rush. They will learn how the gold rush began, what life was like during the gold rush, and the effects the gold rush had on the state of California

California Gold Rush – In this lesson, students learn about the California Gold Rush. They will learn how the gold rush began, what life was like during the gold rush, and the effects the gold rush had on the state of California

Persuasive Techniques in Advertising – In this new lesson, students learn several techniques used in advertising as well as some important questions to ask any time they come across an ad.

Verbs – In this new lesson, students learn about verbs and verb tenses. Students will learn why verbs are important to complete sentences, how to identify a verb, and how to write verbs in different tenses.

The Summer Recap (Grades 3-12) – From the Tokyo Olympics to protests in Cuba, a heat dome, unidentified flying objects, and more, take a look back at the biggest news stories of summer 2021 with the Week in Rap crew. Watch the Summer Recap Junior (Grades 3-5) here.

Nouns  – In this lesson, students learn that a noun is a part of speech that names a person, place, thing, or idea. They study the difference between common nouns and proper nouns, and learn how to form plural nouns.

Emmett Till – “Let the people see what I’ve seen.” In this lesson, students will learn the story of Emmettt Till and how his mother, Marnie Till, helped spark the civil rights movement. They will follow Emmett Till’s early life and final days and explore how Marnie Till’s decision to have an open casket funeral exposed the horrors of the Jim Crow South to the world.

Fannie Lou Hamer – “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” In this lesson, students learn about Fannie Lou Hamer, a leading voice of the civil rights movement. They consider her rise to activism through the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and her pivotal testimony at the 1964 Democratic National Convention.

The Skeletal System: In addition to helping us move and providing structural support and protection, the skeletal system aids in calcium storage and blood cell production. In this lesson, students will discover the structure and function of bones and the skeletal system.

The Digestive System: How does the body turn the food we eat into energy it can use? In this lesson, students will learn which organs make up the digestive system and how they contribute to the process of digestion.

The Respiratory System: How does the body get the oxygen it needs to survive? In this lesson, students will track air’s journey through the respiratory system when we inhale—from the trachea to the bronchi to the alveoli and capillaries in the lungs to the bloodstream to the heart—and all the way back again when we exhale!

Slavery in America: The legacy of slavery in America is long, enduring, and critical to reckon with. In this lesson, students trace the history of slavery in America from the first ship carrying kidnapped Africans in 1619 to the Civil War. Students will examine the economic, political, and legal factors that contributed to the institution and continuation of slavery throughout the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.

The Roaring Twenties: In this lesson, students learn about the growing economic and cultural divide between urban and rural Americans. They also learn how the trends of the ’20s led to the Great Depression.

Anger: Everyone feels angry sometimes—but it’s important to find coping strategies to deal with this emotion instead of engaging in destructive behavior. In this lesson, students learn about the physical warning signs of anger and how they can express themselves in a healthy way.

José Hernández: He used to go outside and look up at the moon. He knew his opportunity would come soon. In this lesson, students learn about José Hernández, a Mexican American astronaut. Students examine his early life and journey to becoming a NASA astronaut and consider the role determination played in his life.

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz: The Mexican phoenix, Sor Juana was a genius. In this lesson, students learn about Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, a 17th-century scholar, nun, and champion for women’s education. They learn how her life was filled with controversy, and consider how her legacy lives on today.

What Is Stress?: We all feel stress in our daily lives—but what exactly is stress? In this lesson, students learn that our bodies are biologically wired to feel stress, and stress isn’t always a bad thing, as long as we have healthy coping strategies in mind.

Forests: This lesson introduces the forest biome. Students learn about the three major forest types—tropical rainforest, temperate forest, and taiga—and the physical characteristics of each. They also learn how plants and animals have adapted to survive in each type of forest.

Land Biomes: A biome is a region of similar ecosystems characterized by a particular climate and plant and animal life. In this lesson, students will learn about four major land biomes: grassland, forest, desert and tundra.

Year in Rap 2020: The Year in Rap highlights some of the biggest news stories of the year in world news, national news, science, tech, sports, entertainment, and news related to students.

Toni Morrison: This lesson introduces students to the life and work of acclaimed American author Toni Morrison. They learn about her childhood in Ohio and career as the first Black female fiction editor at Random House. They explore the social context and universal themes that made Morrison’s work so powerful.

James Baldwin: “I am the grandson of a slave, and I am a writer. I must deal with both.” This lesson introduces students to the life and work of American writer James Baldwin. They explore his frank discussions of racism and discrimination in the United States and abroad. They also learn how Baldwin’s refusal to pigeonhole his writing and identity made him a true iconoclast.

Marsha P. Johnson: This lesson introduces students to the life and activism of gay and trans rights activist Marsha P. Johnson. They learn about her childhood, her life in New York City, and her involvement in the gay rights movement of the 1960s and ’70s. They explore her legacy and the lack of recognition she received while she was still alive.

Misplaced Modifiers: In this lesson, students will learn to identify and correct misplaced and dangling modifiers. When modifiers are in the wrong place in a sentence, they can create some confusing—and hilarious—situations!