Curated OER
The Electric Hearth
Young scholars examine popular media. In this media awareness lesson, students keep logs of their interactions with media and then write an essay regarding the data.
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Social Studies" Turning Points
Students will understand how people are affected by places and events and will communicate their opinions in an essay including historical facts.
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Going For The Gold
Students share opinions about athlete endorsements. They write articles that provide an economic profile of an athlete for submission to their school newspaper.
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Yellow Journalism
Seventh graders investigate yellow journalism and how it affected public opinion and the government during the Spanish American War. They define key vocabulary words, and take notes during a teacher-led lecture. In pairs they read...
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Opposing Views on the Vietnam War
Students consider opinions regarding the Vietnam War. In this Vietnam lesson plan, students compare Nixon and Johnson's policies about the war. Students also research the anti-war movements as well as the sentiments of the those how...
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Respect for Authority
Students examine the country of Mongolia and how it is trying to form a democracy. As a class, they participate in a class meeting about a new class rule and they voice their opinions. They read excerpts of a letter of a Peace Corps...
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Using Blogs in a History Classroom
Students blog their way through history. In this historical perspectives instructional activity, students use teacher-created blogs to log their impressions and opinions regarding the historical events they are studying. Steps are...
Channel Islands Film
Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island: Lesson Plan 3
Should researchers be able to excavate, examine, and remove Native American artifacts from historic sites? Should companies be permitted to build on sacred Native American land? After watching West of the West's documentary, The Lone...
Orlando Shakes
Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!): Study Guide
What do Ebenezer Scrooge, the Grinch, and Frosty the Snowman have in common? They're all characters from beloved holiday movies that viewers revisit in the play Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!). Scholars conduct research...
Kenan Fellows
Letter Writing to Politicians on Environmental Issues
Let your voices be heard! Pupils research local and national environmental concerns using the Internet. Class members determine an issue they deem important and draft a letter to a local politician expressing their concern about the...
Curated OER
Americas Idols
Students engage in a instructional activity that is concerned with the concept of American Idol and the controversy that surrounds the broadcast. They conduct research using a variety of resources and write paragraphs that state opinions...
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September 6, 2000 - Copyright Violation
In this writing prompt worksheet, students learn that on September 6, 2000, a popular MP3 web site was fined for copyright violation. Students write whether they think they should be able to make a music purchase and share it with...
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Using Wikis in the Classroom
High schoolers write a review of a music video. They discuss the review online about the music video. Students create a fan's webpage featuring artist news and biographical information. They discuss what types of music they like...
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The Art of Persuasion
Students practice persuasive writing by creating a travel brochure. In this creative writing instructional activity, students research a popular tourist destination they would like to visit and create a brochure enticing readers to...
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The Great Chicago Fire: Did Mrs. O'Leary's Cow Really Cause It?
Students research the Great Chicago Fire and its myths on how it started. They use their critical thinking skills to determine what really happened. They write an essay supporting their opinion on the fire.
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Christmas - A Global Phenomenon?
Christmas is a motivational and exciting topic for students to discuss. In this Christmas learning exercise, students discuss this popular holiday, and explore related issues. For example, students talk about the commercial aspects of...
Curated OER
Introduction to Deviance
In this Introduction to Deviance learning exercise, students read some background passages, then perform several exercise such as answering questions about the reading and writing about their own opinions.
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What Do You Think of a ___'s Job?
In this careers worksheet, students tell their opinions about ten popular jobs by filling out a chart. Students tell if they think the listed jobs are: exciting, boring, easy, difficult, safe, dangerous, relaxing, stressful. A check mark...
Curated OER
Come Together: The Music That Made John Lennon
Students form opinions about the notion of artistic influence. They research and present biographical information, read and share information about the artists who inspired Lennon's music, and create projects tracing the evolution of...
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What Is Hot?
Middle schoolers explore why: Schools are hotbeds of popular young opinion about what to wear, which music to listen to, and what TV shows to watch. In this activity, students extend their fascination with "what's hot" to the books they...
Curated OER
Who Participates? Identifying Diversity
Learners listen to sound bite of producer/director Nick Giannopoulos, and discuss issue of stereotypical portrayals of cultural groups presented in the media. Students then use questionnaires and view popular television shows to observe...
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Who's Better? Who's Best?
Students practice their reading and speaking skills by expressing their opinions of characters.
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The 47 Loyal Retainers -- Honor and Murder in Early Modern Japan
Students read articles about the 47 retainer group in Japan. They discuss the importance of honor and law in early modern Japan. They develop their own opinions about how a case should have been handled and share them with the class.
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Stonewall and Beyond:
Pupils examine issues that surround the quest for gay/lesbian equal rights, explore bias and negative stereotyping in the media and their effect on how gays and lesbians are treated, examine their own biases, and express their opinions...