Students study the Orangeburg Massacre. In this social studies lesson, students discuss the Civil Rights Movement and the protest movements that took place. Students examine the events that led up to the Orangeburg Massacre at South...

Middle school classes describe the White Mountains in New Hampshire using the five themes of geography. They discuss the five themes, categorize objects into each, and develop a list of words to describe the White Mountains. This lesson...

Students evaluate their school's human rights climate using criteria derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They discuss the results and develop a plan of action to begin addressing the problems they find.

Middle schoolers explore ancient cultures. In this ancient religions lesson, students study the civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia they watch "Garden of Eden" and discuss their impressions. Middle schoolers then research...

Students use the internet to research a list of people, places and events from the Roman Empire (753 BC to 476 AD) in this lesson plan intended for a Social Studies classroom at the middle school level. The lesson plan suggests using...

Eighth graders study the radio and where it came from.  In this American History lesson, 8th graders explore the history of the radio.  Students create an invention that will be useful to them today.

Students discuss the options when finding out they are pregnant in middle school or high school. In groups, they research the history of abortion along with the complications that can arise. As a class, they discuss the reasons why the...

A video and magazine article provide the foundation for learning about Islam and why some Muslims are angry with Western society. In groups, students identify the causes of hostility and prepare a presentation that explains them. While...

It is entirely fitting and proper that Wilfred Owen’s powerful “Dulce et Decorum Est” is the poem used for an exercise in close reading, discussion, analysis, and argumentative writing. Class members discuss focus questions in pairs,...

Students create a set of rights that promote safety and tolerance at the school site. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students read the U.N. Declaration on Rights of the Child. Student presenters lead a discussion of these rights and have...

Understanding and analyzing data is a critical skill. Included here are three worksheets a list of countries with the largest oil reserves, a graph of the same, and an assignment. The class uses their data to create a bar chart then...

Young scholars compare and contrast family life today with family life in the 1830s. They conduct research on Old Sturbridge Village, read primary source documents, and develop a list of generalizations comparing/contrasting families of...

Students create a piece of art inspired by traditional African pieces.

Students examine what the word "family" means today. They identify cultural traditions that are still popular in the United States. They read primary source documents and discover how advice is passed on from generation to generation.

Learners compare and constrast life in an 1830s family verses a modern family. They role play the position of a family member in 1830 while wearing traditional clothing for the time period. They write journal entries to show their daily...

Students conduct research on 1830s families and early New England culture. They conduct research on the Old Sturbridge Village website, participate in an online chat with a costumed interpreter, and continue to develop possible plots to...

A link to a beautiful Animoto presentation is included, giving examples of primary sources that a student might want to contact when doing research. Using the Topaz Internment Camp in Utah as a sample topic, middle schoolers view a slide...

Learners create brochures on subjects they are studying in Publisher. In this nonfiction writing lesson, students use Publisher to create a brochure telling all the main ideas of a topic they are studying. Learners use text boxes, fonts...

Students gain an understanding of the U.S. Census. In this civic lesson plan, students use real-life problem-solving skills and census data to choose a site for new school.

Students analyze and perform an American social protest song. They describe its historical setting, consider the effectiveness of the music and recognize that popular music is a reflection of American culture.

Students define the concepts of terrorism and tolerance using various resources. They examine the concept of stereotype, consider stereotypes often applied to Arabs, Middle Easterners, and Muslims, and attempt to discredit these...

Middle schoolers gain understanding of economic history of United States in twentieth century by examining role of Department of Commerce. Student groups each analyze one quarter of twentieth century by researching role of Department of...

Middle schoolers gain understanding about where some of today's words originated by reviewing a list of Latin words and their meanings. They work in small groups to create dictionary pages which will then be compiled into a large...

Middle schoolers research, examine and are provided the opportunity to re-enact one of the most exciting trials of the 20th century, The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Trial. They research the history of the trial and then divide into...