Curated OER
Expressing Your Views to the Letter
Analyze the motivation, purpose, and value of letters to the editor by examining letters written in response to the violence at Columbine High School. For homework, middle and high schoolers write their own letters to the editor about an...
Curated OER
Flights of Fancy?
Young scholars reflect on the dynamics of human flight and how objects fall through the air and how science principles are used in flight.
They create a How-It-Works poster diagramming the science behind one method of flying. In...
Curated OER
Strong Convictions
How can the rhetorical structure of an editorial help to develop its argument? Use this New York Times editorial to emphasize the importance of structure in a piece of informational text. Adolescent writers then use the editorial as a...
Alabama Department of Archives and History
World War II Home Front - Mobilization in Alabama
Ships, tanks, and planes—what does a military need to fight a war? An interesting lesson explains the government's military mobilization efforts in Alabama during WWII. Class members look at a PowerPoint presentation and discuss how the...
Curated OER
Un-Presidented Election
Students explore the results of the 2000 presidential election. They look back at important issues in the campaign and write newspaper articles which cover specific angles on the election.
Curated OER
I've Got Your Number
Students assess the journalistic value of numbers used in newspaper articles while learning about the significance of the Hubble telescope's new data on the age of the universe.
Curated OER
King's Dream Revisited
Students investigate the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They complete a Webquest, listen to an excerpt from a speech, take an online quiz, answer discussion questions, and read newspaper articles about current...
Curated OER
Navajo Code Talkers
Students investigate the Navajo Code Talkers and their role in World War II. They complete a Webquest, explore various websites, encode a short message, analyze maps, answer discussion questions, and read newspaper articles about secure...
Curated OER
Does Hawaiian Agriculture Feed Hawaii's People?
Students research background information about Hawaiian agriculture in a variety of resources, then read and collect newspaper ads marketing local produce. They suggest food preparation ideas using local produce.
Curated OER
On the Road
Students investigate the history of the automobile in the United States. They complete a Webquest, explore the PBS website, answer discussion questions, and locate and discuss newspaper articles about cars and travel.
Curated OER
The Sights and Sounds of Orcas
Students investigate the orca whale. They participate in an online Webquest, listen to whale vocalizations online, answer discussion questions, and locate and read newspaper articles on marine mammals and orca whales.
Curated OER
"My Hero"
Young scholars investigate heroism through the ages. They complete an online Webquest, explore various websites, compare/contrast different types of heroes, answer discussion questions, and locate newspaper articles about someone they...
Curated OER
Life Beyond Earth
Students investigate the solar system and what makes a planet habitable. They complete an online Webquest, simulate a NASA training program online, take an online quiz, answer discussion questions, and locate newspaper articles about the...
Curated OER
Presidents' Day
Students investigate George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and other American Presidents. They complete a Webquest, take a virtual tour of Mount Vernon, answer discussion questions, and evaluate newspaper articles about the current president.
Curated OER
Upgrading Hubble
Students investigate the Hubble telescope's role in astrophysics research. They complete a Webquest, watch a video, view Hubble photographs, play online games, answer discussion questions, and evaluate newspaper articles about optics.
Curated OER
Saudi Arabia
Students investigate the country of Saudi Arabia. They complete a Webquest, watch video clips, answer discussion questions, explore the Lonely Planet website, and read and evaluate newspaper articles about Saudi Arabia and foreign oil...
Curated OER
Olympic Mascots - and Mash-Ups
The Learning Network has formulated a fill-in the blank activity to go along with the New York Times article "Olympic Mascots Inspire Imitations". While the topic is not entirely about physical education, this article could be used for...
Newseum
Today's Front Pages
Take a close look at a number of newspapers with collection of lessons and activities. Using a poster (which can be found under the materials tab), learners examine the hard copy of a local newspaper. This leads into an exploration of...
Curated OER
Building on the Past
Students consider how the scientific advances of the past have contributed to the science topics reported on today in the Science Times section. After reading a current science article, they compare and contrast the way science was...
The New York Times
Kidding Around Down Under
After reading an article, "From an Alternate to a 'Miracle Kid' in a Flash," youngsters discuss the kind of commitment required for a teenager to become an Olympic athlete. A variety of activities is suggested, and the popular topic...
Curated OER
East Timor's Declaration of Independence?
Young scholars examine the significance of the 8/30/99 vote in East Timor, which determined the territory's independence from Indonesian rule, by analyzing an NYT article to explain actions/reactions.
Curated OER
"One Giant Leap for Mankind"
Students explore the significance of the Apollo 11 lunar landing by interviewing an adult for memories of the mission. They incorporate their interviews into news articles as 'journalists' in July 1969 to document this historic 'step for...
Curated OER
Getting Fired Up
Students explore first-person accounts of volcanic eruptions throughout time and use second-hand information about volcanoes. They use both types of accounts to write news articles covering the events of a historic volcanic eruption as...
Curated OER
Hey There, Sports Fans!
Young scholars discuss the impact that fans have on a sports team. After reading an article, they identify how Chicago Cubs fans are responding to their loss in the playoffs. With a partner, they develop surveys in which they give to...