New York State Education Department
TASC Transition Curriculum: Workshop 5
Are video games sports? Pupils investigate this question as well as various nonfiction selections to learn more about claims and the support that defines them. All of the selections mimic the rigor on state tests and encourage close...
EngageNY
TASC Transition Curriculum: Workshop 6
Is a college education necessary for success in today's world? The class investigates the question, along with others at the end of the sixth workshop in a 15-part series. The lesson has four parts with multiple activities and...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Election Central 2016: Debating in the Classroom
This link from Election Central 2016 focuses on debating in the classroom by providing several activities, lesson plans, teaching materials, and video clips of Presidential debates and how to hold classroom debates.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Independent Lens: Debate Begins
A third grade class in Wuhan province, China holds debates for the election of class monitor in this segment from Independent Lens. This is the first time education on democracy has been allowed in the city of Wuhan (most populace city...
Other
South Western Learning: Econ News: Policy Debate: Is Microsoft a Monopoly?
This essay provides a debate-style format on whether or not Microsoft is a monopoly. Previous anti-trust cases are cited, both for and against Microsoft's position. Could be used for a classroom debate or opinion essay.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Copyright Infringement or Not? The Debate Over Downloading Music
Contains plans for ten 50-minute lessons that use the issue of downloading music as the topic for persuasive debates. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to PDF handouts and sites used in the...
C-SPAN
S Span Classroom: Gerrymandering
A complete learning module provides students with multi-media information from which they examine and debate the gerrymandering process, debating who should control the redistricting process. Site includes lesson plan, vocabulary...
C-SPAN
C Span Classroom: Teaching About Standardized Testing
Comprehensive multi-media learning materials plus lesson plan on the debate over standardized testing in schools allows students to debate for themselves whether or not Congress should continue to require annual standardized tests for...
C-SPAN
C Span Classroom: Teaching About Voter Id Laws
C-SPAN learning module teaches students about the debate over voter ID laws. Students watch videos and read related articles with varying viewpoints and then participate in a classroom deliberation on the topic.
C-SPAN
C Span Classroom: Teaching About Balanced Budget Amendment
Learning resource using C-SPAN videos and related articles from which students learn what a balanced budget amendment is and whether it's a good idea for the country or not. Students join the debate by participating in a deliberation in...
C-SPAN
C Span Classroom: Social Media and Free Speech
Complete learning module with lesson plan, video, vocabulary and activities on free speech and social media. Students examine arguments through video and text and debate to what extent should social media be protected as free speech...
C-SPAN
C Span Classroom: Teaching About Fcc v. Fox
C-Span learning module asks students to examine the question of whether or not the U.S. government, FCC, has the right to ban indecency on TV. Comprehensive resources including lesson plan, background video, moot court materials, FCC v...
C-SPAN
C Span: Classroom: Should Congress Enact New Gun Control/safety Measures?
Learning module with lesson plan in which students examine the topic of gun control and then deliberate whether current laws provide enough safety. They will hear a variety of points of view and read related articles on gun safety...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Gun Control
This resource offers extensive information for students and teachers examining the ongoing debate around the issue of gun control. Resources include news articles, legal cases, legislation, audio files, etc. as well as teaching materials.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Woolly Mammoth Sparks Debate Over Cloning
CommonLit.org is a wonderful resource to use in a Language Arts classroom. Each story or article is accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. In addition, students can click on words to see...
Brown University
Brown University: Debates
Use this resource to learn how to engage in collaborative discourse and argumentation enhances student's conceptual understandings and refines their reasoning abilities. Be sure to click on the links to other resources.
C-SPAN
C Span Classroom: Teaching About Keystone Xl Pipeline
Learning materials from which students read and watch videos for and against the proposed expansion of the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline and then debate the issue in classroom deliberations. Site includes video, lesson plans,...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Affirmative Action
This resource offers extensive information on a detailed timeline for students and teachers examining the ongoing debate around the issue of affirmative action.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Death Penalty
This resource offers extensive information for students and teachers examining the issue of the death penalty and whether it is morally right, if it violates the Constitution, and whether enforcing it has had any impact on violent crime....
Virginia Tech
Classroom Inclusion: Balancing Student Needs
This well-written article provides a discussion of inclusion of students with special needs, and is written in reference to the Montgomery County public school district in Virginia. The article provides an interesting and informative...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Election Collection: Election Central 2016
This is a collection of classroom resources to engage students during the 2016 Presidential elections. These include links to news, debates in the classroom, the election process, lesson plans, historical presidential speeches, etc.
Other
Northeastern University: u.s. Political Conventions and Campaigns
A multimedia resource will aide classroom discussion or groups as they explore the campaigns and conventions of American politics throughout history. Investigate personal finances, platforms and policies, media and debates, and nominations.
PBS
News Hour Extra: Obama Overturns Restrictions on Stem Cell Research
Utilize this segment highlighting President Barack Obama's reversal of the decisions the Bush Administration regarding stem cell research in the classroom. March 10, 2009.
Orca Book Publishers
Orca Book Publishers: Sudden Impact Teaching Guide [Pdf]
When her friend is hospitalized after a soccer game, Tina helps find a donor match for his rare blood type. But then the donor himself is in an accident. This teacher's guide for Sudden Impact by Lesley Choyce includes a book summary,...