Overcoming Obstacles
Playing by the Rules
The takeaway from the "Playing by the Rules" lesson is that it is each person's responsibility to learn the rules in a given situation and that they must accept the consequences if they choose not to follow the stated rules. Class...
Facing History and Ourselves
Teaching Strategy: Contracting
The final lesson in the First Days of School series focuses on how to build a classroom community where all class members can feel safe, heard, and valued. The resource includes step-by-step directions for engaging pupils in developing...
Overcoming Obstacles
Being Accountable
Taking responsibility for our actions is the topic of a lesson about being accountable. Middle schoolers engage in a series of games and activities that ask them to demonstrate accountability as they create solutions to dilemmas.
News Literacy Project
News Goggles: Corrections and Clarifications: Accuracy and Correcting the Record
Accuracy and fairness are key principles in journalism. It is the responsibility of reputable news organizations to correct their stories when new information is found. Viewers learn to spot these corrections and clarifications through a...
Workforce Solutions
Skills that Pay the Bills
Actions take center stage in an activity that underscores the importance of non-verbal communication. Groups present skits that demonstrate the important role body language plays in any conversation.
Workforce Solutions
Thank You Letters
An important step in the job search process is sending a thank you note to any professional that has been of help. First, pupils discuss the etiquette of thank you notes, then draft a practice letter.
Workforce Solutions
Professional References
To gain an understanding of the importance of professional references, class members engage in two projects. First, individuals examine an online review site (Yelp, for example), paying particular attention to the positive and negative...
Workforce Solutions
Evaluating Your Brand
After completing an evaluation worksheet that asks learners to rate their skills honestly, individuals create an action plan that includes specific steps to improve in these areas.
Workforce Solutions
Human Knot
Employability skills are difficult to measure but are essential in the workplace. Introduce high schoolers to employability skills with the Human Knot activity. Groups of six grab hands to form a human knot and untangle themselves. The...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Be a Problem Solving Star
Encourage scholars to problem solve everyday frustrations using the STAR method. Using the acronym, learners remember to stop, think, act, and review. Participants begin with a math analogy in which they problem-solve to find the correct...
NASA
Planning Time
Ever feel there's just not enough hours in the day? Young adults explore an important part of personal development using a group of activities. After comparing how they actually spend their time with how they would like to, scholars...
iCivics
Lesson 1: Journalism
Extra! Extra! Do your pupils know what it takes to be a good journalist? Young news hounds explore the world of journalism through a series of activities that focus on ethical reporting. Learners read, evaluate, and investigate popular...
Blogger
Missing Work Report
Keep track of missed assignments by handing out one of these half-pagers to class members. Pupils must provide the assignment title and a reason for not turning in their work.
Curated OER
Class Rules: Walking Feet
Set the stage and ground rules for your classroom with this charming presentation. Young learners will love the friendly animation and sound effects that explain to them of the rules they are to follow during the school year. Note:...
Curated OER
Stop, Think, Go!
Show this presentation to your students at the beginning of the school year and they'll know just what to do when they are having a hard time making good decisions. This resource asks students to remember to use their own personal...
Curated OER
Short & Long-Term Goal Setting
Getting ready for the real word can start with understanding what you want to do when you grow up. Upper graders use the provided worksheets to consider what they'd most like to do as they leave school and enter the workforce. They...
Curated OER
Calculating Your GPA
Learners in grades 9-12 learn about their GPA. They learn what GPA stands for, how to calculate their own GPA and what it means for them in relation to their personal goals and for potential colleges.
Curated OER
Minority Graduation Rates: A 50-50 Chance
Students read the Civil Rights Project report. Students collect data from graduation rates in their school/district or city. Students compare state and local data. Students discuss and analyze minority graduation rates. Students compare...
Curated OER
Trust Circles
Students explore trustworthiness. In this character development instructional activity, students brainstorm synonyms for trustworthiness. Students consider two communities to which they belong, and compare and contrast these communities...
Curated OER
Ministerial Responsibility
Students explore the principle of ministerial responsibility in Australia. They identify ways of determining responsibility. Students identify how ministers account for their actions (denial, resignation, reassurance, confirmation, etc.)
Curated OER
Are Curfew's Fair?
Students explore and discuss how curfews are set up. They discuss how difficult it can be to define appropriate and inappropriate behavior. Students role play situations involving curfew and the behaviors they are meant to curb.
Curated OER
Reflecting on Learning Experience
Students internalize learning experience by writing about it.