Young scholars examine the territorial issues and perspectives surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They create an outline and point-counterpoint essay illustrating the perspectives surround the Israeli land dispute with the...

For this lesson, students investigate the different platforms of each of the Presidential hopefuls for the 2000 election. Small groups each carefully research the platforms of an assigned candidate and then create a political pamphlet...

Students examine statements made by immigrants about immigration. They use the internet to research the truthfulness of these statements. They practice their decision-making skills.

Students, in groups, research and prepare a debate regarding various bioethical situations. After the debates, each student prepares a ortfolio outlining their own personal opinions.

Students debate both positions on the controversial topic of racial profiling with support for each and then develop a consensus position on how racial profiling as a law enforcement tool should be used.

Students examine and defend various positions in the argument over a book ban in the Miami-Dade school system and then write a letter to the Miami-Dade school board expressing their opinion about the issues raised in the debate.

Students discuss the Constitution of the United States and its amendments, then apply this discussion by creating a "Who should Decide What?" list, based upon their ideas about whether controversial issues such as abortion and medical...

Students identify the qualities that contribute to effective verbal and non-verbal communication. They use those qualities as criteria by which to judge an in-class political debate on education.

Students examine and discuss the concept of stage fright. They demonstrate positive debate techniques, constructively critique other speakers, and implement debate techniques for a practice debate.

If your historians are watching the History Channel documentary, Foot Soldiers during their WWI unit, this plan has some simple recall questions and one referential/debate question ("What was the worst part of the war?") to ask after...

Learners participate in a role play where they run for office and address the issues they want to fix. In this voting lesson plan, students then vote on which candidate they want to run their classroom.

High schoolers examine embryonic cell research and the controversy that surrounds it.  In this stem cell lesson students use a debate model and present and defend their positions. 

Students explore American foreign policy regarding the war in Iraq. In this Iraq debate lesson, students examine videos and documents about the pros and cons of keeping American troops in Iraq.

Third graders practice brainstorming with their classmates as they discuss a role-play situation.  In this group discussion lesson, 3rd graders must present ideas of ways to survive on a deserted island by discussing with their...

Students explore an article and discuss what gender differences.  In this exploring gender lesson plan students divide into groups and develop a social theory. 

Young scholars debate government funding of the Human Genome Project. In this ethics lesson, students use the stuctured controversy framework to research the opposing viewpoints regarding project funding.

Students discover ways to be active citizens. In this civics instructional activity, students prepare for student body elections by creating election materials an writing manifestos. Students also consider offering their services to...

Students explore the concept of nutrition.  For this nutrition lesson, students identify the benefit of eggs as a nutritional meal or snack.  Students also discover how to prepare easy meals or snacks using eggs. 

Students hold a mock trial. In this Amistad case lesson, students prepare for and participate in a mock trial regarding the Amistad case and determine the fate of the Africans recovered on the ship.

Sixth graders debate whether or not Lewis and Clark were respectful of Native Americans they encountered on their journey.  In this American History instructional activity, 6th graders review primary documents and diary entries from...

Students determine whether a hanging victim is guilty or not guilty. In this introductory law instructional activity, students use numerous documents to present their case proving Albert Parsons as either guilty or not guilty.

Students write and discuss opposing points of view. In this argument lesson, students learn to understand what an argument is and they get to argue one side of a disagreement. An alternative written assignment is provided. A worksheet is...

In this formal argument instructional activity, students learn debate skills by writing a formal argument to the given prompt. Students must be able to state their position, provide points that support their decision, and support each...

In this debate worksheet, students read and learn about the fine points of debate and persuasion. The vocabulary presented and the ideas are quite advanced; premise, conclusion, syllogism, ad homineum, and other difficult terms.