Perkins School for the Blind
The Germinator
How does a plant grow from a seed? Observe the process with a clever idea from the PBS television show ZOOM. Watch the video, then have your young botanists create their own germinators. The instructional activity described here is for...
MCHS Early US History
Ken Burn’s Civil War, Episode 1: The Cause
Ken Burn's epic documentary miniseries The Civil War, broadcast in 1990, was the most-watched PBS program ever. A question sheet helps viewers keep track of events in the first episode of the documentary.
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Teen Immigrants: Five American Stories
Learners watch the PBS program "In the Mix" about teen immigrants. They discover the number of immigrants in America and their problems moving to this country. They answer questions as the film plays.
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Origins: Earth Is Born
Students develop a timeline of all the major events involved in the formation of the Earth and the emergence of humans. In groups, they focus on a specific topic by watching a PBS program and taking notes. After the video, they list...
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Youth Obesity: Schools Fight Back
Explore nutrition and healthy eating habits with a study on youth obesity. Learners watch a PBS documentary on the obesity epidemic which discusses government programs aimed at healthier choices, as well as more localized efforts. Kids...
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Renaissance Man Comparison Poster
Students watch a PBS video entitled Suleiman to help them identify characteristics associated with Renaissance notables. After watching the video, individually or in small groups, the students will research a notable Renaissance figure...
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International Formum on Iran's Nuclear Program
Students are explained that they are going to participate in an international forum to develop a policy addressing Iran's nuclear program. They are divided into six groups of the six countries represented. Pupils develop their policies.
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Health: Overweight Youth
Investigate the primary causes for the increase in overweight youth and discover its impact on the health care system. After watching segments from the Bill Moyers Now program, your students develop campaigns to implement in school that...
PBS
Cardboard History
A PBS clip focused on collecting sports memorabilia launches this research project instructional activity. Class members then read Dan Gutman’s Honus and Me in which Wagner’s baseball card is used to time travel. The instructional...
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Short "E" Searching
Students engage in a lesson plan which uses resources from the PBS show, Between the Lions to help identify the sound "e" in words that are written, read and sung.
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Becoming American: The Chinese Experience
Students examine the experience of Chinese American immigrants in the PBS series BECOMING AMERICAN. ESL learners investigate and explore their own identities within a multicultural context.
PBS
Act of Duty
PBS provides educators with this "Utilization Guide," a four segment program that covers the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean conflict, Vietnam, and the Gulf War. The 42-page packet includes lessons, background...
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Mystery, Myth, and Wonder: The White Elephant
Learners examine the role of the elephant in the culture of Thailand through many different class activities based on a PBS program "The White Elephants of Thailand with Meg Ryan". Students also look at the impact of technology on...
PBS
Lesson Plan: Divided Opinions
To gain a more in-depth understanding of the tumultuous 1960s, young historians examine video clips, listen to music, examine images, and interview survivors. Once they have a foundation of information about the period, class members...
PBS
Copyright and Fair Use
When is using someone else's copyrighted material appropriate? Learn about copyright and fair use with a instructional activity from PBS.org. Scholars read through a reference sheet about authors' rights and users' rights, and then...
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PBS - Scientific American Frontier:Affairs of the Heart:Teaching Guide:Exploring Vessel Physics
Students explore the relationship between pressure and vessel diameter. They are given an open-ended design challenge in which they engineer their own remote repair device. Students see a model that represents how elevated blood...
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Matricies: Meadows or Malls?
Students explore the use of matrices and graphing calculators to solve a complex linear programming problem. They test their solutions to determine the best division of land use for the city.
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Auschwitz Episode Guide: Surprising Beginnings
Students examine how the Nazis came to power and living conditions at Auschwitz. They watch and discuss a PBS documentary, read and discuss handouts, analyze a Pyramid of Hate, and assign experiences in their own lives to different...
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Steppin' Out
Students are presented with the question: "Do longer legged people run faster than shorter legged people?" Students conduct an experiment, collect their data, create box and whisker plots using a computer and graphing program, and...
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Literature: Watching Anna
Students view the PBS presentation of Leo Tolstoy's, "Anna Karenina." Prior and after each episode, they discuss plot and characterization and in one lesson, use adjectives to describe each of the main characters. Then, students create...
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The Robot Artist--Aaron
This is a creative multidisciplinary activity which will involve students in art, technology, and psychology. Students learn about Harold Cohen who created a robot programmed to create art. Students will also enjoy the sand pendulum...
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America's Stone Age Explorers
Students watch a Nova program examining the earliest in habitants of the Americas. In groups. they take notes on various topics covered in the program. Among the topics covered are: the Clovis people, Solutrean culture, migration...
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Summit Meeting
High schoolers examine various points of view regarding Muslim immigration into Europe. They view and discuss the PBS Frontline video, "Al Qaeda's New Front," read and discuss articles, and present information about their article in a...
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And Then One Night, The Making of Dead Man Walking: Classroom Content
Students examine how art and music help to define and unify a social movement and also how they can function as symbols of protest. They watch KQED program And Then One Night: The Making of Dead Man Walking and discuss what happens when...