Not all teacher's guides are equal, but some are pretty good. This guide for George Orwell's Animal Farm includes chapter synopses, chapter-by-chapter discussion questions, journal and essay prompts, and suggestions for various activities.

Balance and compromise. Class members come to understand the importance of these concepts as they investigate the concerns of the various stakeholders and how the format of the Constitution addressed these concerns.

The "On My Own Two Feet" School Handbook describes a carefully scaffolded, richly detailed substance abuse program designed for middle and high schools. Chapters look at approaches to prevention, suggestions for organizing and...

When we look in a mirror, we often don't see ourselves as others see us. Our mirror may be clouded, cracked, or distorted by what we see as our weaknesses. The final exercise in the mindfulness series focuses on building a more accurate...

Has your motivation disappeared? The seventh activity in the eight-part mindfulness series has participants remembering a time when they were frustrated by a situation and lacked the motivation to deal with it. They then practice...

Kermit the Frog may lament that it isn't easy being green, but the good news is that his greenness is a strength that helps him hide from predators. A mindful self-awareness exercise helps participants recognize and celebrate their...

Let it go! As part of the Mindfulness series, pupils learn a technique to manage stress and strong emotions. While doing the deep breathing exercise, they imagine a train of stressful thoughts, take a step back, and let the train pass.

Each of us is unique, with particular traits and strengths. A mindfulness exercise helps participants build self-confidence by asking them to give themselves compliments. Pupils learn how to craft "I" messages that acknowledge what they...

A self-awareness activity teaches pupils to identify their feelings by focusing on different parts of their bodies. Participants begin by focusing attention on their feet, then calves, moving up slowly to the top of their head, and...

Respond rather than react! A self-management exercise teaches pupils a Mindful S.T.O.P. activity. Participants Stop their thoughts or actions, Take deep breaths, Observe how they are feeling, then Proceed with a response that will help...

Mindful breathing or belly breathing is the basis for most mindfulness exercises. Introduce mindfulness practices with a short exercise in breath awareness designed to reduce stress and increase awareness.

Dr. Seuss' The Zax has a lesson plan to teach tweens and teens about the importance of problem-solving skills. After viewing the short video, groups identify conflicts that may occur at home, in school or in the community. They then...

Tweens and teens learn coping skills to help manage strong emotions such as anger, fear, and sadness with a lesson that asks them to generate a list of self-calming strategies they use and to consider the suggestions in a short video and...

Many factors shape the identity of persons, communities, and even nations. Tweens and teens have an opportunity to consider the many aspects of identity as they create a graphic that reflects who they are. Class members first brainstorm...

Writing a bio-poem is a great way to have young scholars go below the surface and reflect on who or what has made them who they are. Check out this richly detailed lesson that provides step-by-step directions for crafting a bio-poem.

One exercise does not necessarily work for all! A resource from the National Institutes of Health provides tweens and teens with exercises to help them cope with anxiety and stress. Participants note their stress levels before and after...

Print or block? That is the question young journalists debate as part of their study of the freedom of the press. Half the class represents the journalists' legal team, and the other half represents the government's legal team. Teams...

Provide tweens and teens with information they need to know about stress with an article that details how stress affects various organs in the body. The article also offers tips for healthy ways to cope with stress.

Equality does not equal equity and this activity explains why. Class members compare two images--one labeled "Equality" and the other "Equity." Using the provided discussion questions, they then develop definitions that distinguish...

Explore single-gene traits in humans. After viewing a video introducing genetic vocabulary, individuals identify their phenotype and possible genotypes of specific traits. They consider both dominant and recessive traits. This is the...

Be a vet for a day! Scholars test their veterinarian skills by assessing symptoms and making a diagnosis. They then evaluate biotechnology tests to verify the diagnosis. 

Urine can tell us a lot about what is happening in our bodies. In a hands-on activity, scholars administer pH, glucose, ketone, and protein tests to a sample of "urine" solution made from household ingredients. Their results lead them to...

And the beat goes on! Finding a way to connect during the isolation imposed by the Coronavirus pandemic can be challenging. This activity from the Amani Project offers a way to stay close during a time of physical distancing....

Gather the entire family (or class members) for a fun Harmony Break! A volunteer thinks of a color from their Mood Meter that they will express by singing, playing an instrument, or performing a dance. After the performance, the audience...