British Council
Drawing Dictation
Scholars give drawing dictations to practice using prepositions of place correctly. They work in groups, taking turn dictating and drawing. Learners then receive a picture they have not seen and write directions to accompany the image.
British Council
Online Safety for Teenagers
Safety in a cyber world is complex but important. Scholars review ways to stay safe online by first writing words given by the teacher. Learners analyze the words to guess the topic of the lesson plan. They then read an online safety...
British Council
The Months of the Year
What month is it? Scholars work with a team and play a game to guess which month is described by given clues. While playing, pupils learn more about what makes each month different with a main focus being on the weather.
British Council
Plastic-Free Is Not Easy
Paper or plastic? Scholars discuss a worksheet containing grocery photos in which consumers were challenged to buy items without plastic wrapping or containers. Learners rank the food items by the need for packaging, such as a banana,...
British Council
Buy. Use. Toss.
Responsible consumption is never a waste of time. Using the engaging resource, scholars learn about the impact of waste on the planet, sorting trash into necessary and luxury piles. They then analyze their consumption habits, writing an...
British Council
Chocolate
Are you the biggest chocoholic? Scholars read text about people eating chocolate and sequence the text by putting them in order of who ate the most to least chocolate. They quiz classmates to discover who is the biggest chocoholic in the...
Newseum
'The Press and the Civil Rights Movement' Video Lesson
Scholars watch a video featuring journalists who covered the civil rights movement, then respond to questions on a viewing guide. The video features interviews with participants and original news footage from the 1950s and 1960s. In...
Newseum
Photo Ethics: What Is Newsworthy?
Do not try this at home! At school! Or any other place! Groups of young journalists discuss the ethics of publishing photos of school peers performing dangerous stunts. They share their decision with the class and explain their reasoning.
Newseum
The Making of Fake News: A Case Study
"Fake News" (stories that are entirely fabricated/fictional) is the subject of a case study of the search for Jestin Coler, the creator of some of the most famous fake news stories. After reading NPR's investigative report, scholars...
Newseum
Civil Rights: Your Stories of Change
Young activists examine local civil rights issues presented in news media sites to determine what elements make these stories attention-grabbing and trustworthy. Using this information and their worksheets from the first two lessons in...
Newseum
Civil Rights: The Five Freedoms
After a close reading of the First Amendment and the five freedoms it guarantees, class members examine the civil rights timeline to see how civil rights groups applied these freedoms to create change. Using the issue the class chose in...
British Council
Upcycling
It's time for a new life! Scholars learn what it means to give products new life by upcycling. They complete a crossword puzzle, read and discuss an article, and play a game about upcycling ideas.
British Council
Fast Fashion
Fashion Facts! Learners analyze a worksheet about fast fashion in which clothes are made cheaply so people purchase more. Pupils discuss the effects this type of fashion has on the environment before exploring the benefits of upcycling.
British Council
Sports in (Climate) Crisis
Can sports affect the climate? Scholars read an article about the effects sports have on the enivronment. They then complete a problem tree sheet to brainstorm solutions for the issue.
Newseum
Photo Ethics: Diversity
With the advent of photo manipulation software, it is possible to digitally edit a photograph in a way that is virtually undetectable. The question asked of young journalists in this lesson is whether such manipulation is ethical. Groups...
Newseum
Getting to the Source
Reliable news stories are based on facts from reliable sources. Young journalists learn how to evaluate the reliability of news sources by watching a short explainer video. Teams apply their new source-digging skills to a current news...
Newseum
The Tools to Persuade
After reviewing persuasion techniques, young historians examine how a specific technique was used in the pro- or anti-suffrage messages. They then examine how that same technique is used in modern-day media messages.
Newseum
Fake News — What's the Big Deal?
In a time of fake news and alternative facts, young people must have the ability to identify it and its role. Scholars watch a video of teens reflecting on the concept of fake news and the impact of sharing fake news stories. They then...
Health Smart Virginia
Effective Communication Skills
As part of a review of concepts taught in the Health Smart unit, individuals fill out a chart contrasting passive, assertive, and aggressive behaviors. They then practice their assertiveness skills by craft "I" messages and responses to...
Health Smart Virginia
TED Talk Reflection
Here's a activity that encourages listeners to pay close attention to a presentation and encourages them to reflect on what they have heard. Participants identify ideas that touched their emotions, new ideas, and ideas they found memorable.
Story Corps
The Power of Active Listening
Listen up! The game of Telephone launches a study of active listening. Class members watch a short video that demonstrates active listening and tips on practicing active listening. Pairs then interview each other and practice their...
NPR
Teaching Podcasting: Interview Practice
Step aside, Barbara Walters! Using an interesting resource, pupils practice interviewing one another about something they are most proud of. As individuals listen, they record their partners' responses and then upload them onto a computer.
NPR
Teaching Podcasting: Recording Practice
Time to record and upload! Working in small groups, scholars use recording devices to practice recording their voices, conversations, and sounds in the classroom. Pupils then upload their recordings onto a computer.
NPR
Teaching Podcasting: Brainstorming Sounds
Making a podcast requires a sound mind. Pupils listen to a variety of radio stories, making a note of the sounds they hear. Then, in small groups, learners devise a list of sounds they want to include in their podcasts.