National Library of Medicine
Your Environment, Your Health: The Great Debate—Bottled Water vs. Tap Water in Our School
Should bottled water be sold in schools, or should they only provide tap water? The summative unit in the six-part series encourages scholars debating this topic. The lessons teach how to build an argument, how to gain background...
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Environmental Action
Middle schoolers debate one another. In this pollution lesson plan, pupils work in teams to debate which is more serious, air or water pollution. They research their topic to come up with valid points to justify their side of the debate.
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Wild About Wildfires
Students conduct a debate. In this wildfire and controlled burning lesson, students watch the video "Legacy of Fire" and discuss the topic of wildland fires and controlled burns. Half of the class researches the arguments for these...
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Life Choices
By examining two differing perspectives on the topic of abortion, upper graders will be able to build an opinion of their own. A teacher-led lecture outlines key points in the debate for or against abortion including, the role of...
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Pig Products
How do you feel about cloning? This issue is highly debated, so educate your class before they participate in a similar debate! Read a New York Times article related to the use of cloned pig organs for human transplants. Groups develop...
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More Harm Than Good?
Students explore the controversial 'harm reduction' approach to drug use and debate the various sides to this approach.
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The Eyes Have It
Students explore the health risks associated with wearing decorative contact lenses. They research other cosmetic modes of expression that can pose health risks and debate whether these practices should remain legal.
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Stem Cells: 5 Year Progress Report
Young scholars explore different aspects of stem cells. In this human biology instructional activity, students complete numerous activities including reading an article and discussing it, watching a video on stem cells reproducing...
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Allegry Season
Students use the Internet to research allergies. They discover different companies which are involved in helping Americans relieve their allergy symptoms. They finally discover the different types of allergy causing agents.
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The Aesthetics of Activism
Students explore ways in which artistic expression has been used to promote awareness of AIDS. They create their own designs to promote awareness of a social, political, or economic issue of importance to their age group and community.
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An Investigation of the Effects of Marijuana and Alcohol
Students, in groups, research the physical, psychological and social effects of alcohol and marijuana on the people who use them. They prepare a class presentation with their research.
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Sweet or Unsweet?
This lesson challenges middle schoolers to make their own judgments about the safety of artificial sweeteners after hands-on study and Internet research, and to support those judgments with carefully considered evidence and reasoning.
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Opportunity and Danger
Students examine the Immigration Acts of 1862 and 1865. They discover how Chinese immigrants faced prejudice. They interview a first or second generation immigrant.