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VH1 All Access Spotlight: Josh Groban, Lesson 2: Standing Out Above the Rest
Young scholars, through class discussion, identify the characteristics of musicians and their music that help make them successful. Josh Groban is used as an example. They list positive adjectives to describe themselves and then their...
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John Wanamaker and his "New Kind of Store"
High schoolers study John Wanamaker's department store and its attractions to 19th century consumers.  For this Civil War instructional activity students compare the different styles of shopping pre department stores and evaluate...
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Working for a Living: Child Labor Laws
Learners research the working conditions in the late 1800's and the evolution of child labor laws. They discuss how the laws affect them today and if they are fair. They write a paper summarizing the laws and the view of the laws.
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Muckraking Literature
High schoolers complete a unit of lessons on Muckraking literature. They listen to and discuss a teacher-led discussion, read and analyze examples of Muckraking literature, conduct Internet research, and write a report on the attitudes...
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The Sense of Hearing
Students study the cycle of how we listen and hear our own speech. They examine sound waves, and the role of the nervous system in hearing. They investigate the cues besides lipreading that deaf people rely on for comprehension.
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Trade Impasse
Students examine the concept of free trade. They watch a video clip about this topic and write an essay comparing the opinions of the guests on the show. They research a country and role-play their decisions in international trade.
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Debate: Is Cheerleading a Sport?
Students research how women are perceived in sports. They debate the issue of whether cheer leading should be considered a sport and are scored on student made rubrics.
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200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons
Students discuss style and characteristics of musical time periods as well as the definition of "pop culture." They compare and contrast modern-day popular icons to music icons throughout history.  This lesson requires a video,...
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Title of Segment: Balance of Trade
Students take a closer look at the balance of trade. In this current events lesson plan, students watch PBS video clips about American trade with China. Students research Chinese production and consumerism in order to determine...
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AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Students debate the pros and cons of affirmative action. In a small group role play, students act as university admissions officers, making recommendations on admissions policy.
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Jazz it Up!
Students research the history and contributions of Jazz in their local environments. They then design and create a wide variety of presentations to share with the class using as many mediums as possible.
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Nureyev: After Petipa
Students examine dance and choreography in Russian history. In this Russian history lesson, students discover details about Russian ballet and the work of Marius Petipa as they conduct independent research and present their findings to...
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Great Thinkers and Accomplishments of Islam Fact Cubes
Students research great thinkers and accomplishments of Islam.  They watch and discuss a PBS video, "Islam:  Empire of Faith," conduct Internet research, and create a fact cube that presents their findings.
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The French Revolution
French Revolution lessons can help students explore the political, social, and economic issues of the time.
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Education Reform
Students identify problems and potential improvements for U.S. public school education. They research and debate the pros and cons of the "No Child Left Behind Act".
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Government Policy and Its Impact on HIV/AIDS
High schoolers examine "President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief", identify important U.S. policy events related to AIDS/HIV from the last 25 years and hold a policy debate on the funding for AIDS/HIV programs.
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The Declaration of Independence
Students empathize with the colonists. In this lesson on the Declaration of Independence, students collaborate to problem solve a school dilemma that enables them to understand the issues and difficulties that occurred in the creation of...
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JFK, LBJ, and the Fight for Equal Opportunity in the 1960s
Students examine the presidencies and John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. In this American history lesson, students specifically analyze the civil rights support of the 2 presidents and their support of civil rights legislation....
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You Be the Judge
Students research and evaluate a case considered by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act.  They watch a Bill Moyers video, conduct a debate, and write about the decision they would make if they were a...
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The Conquest of the Aztec Civilization
Students use the classroom atlases, the Internet or textbooks to draw a freehand map.  They work in groups using the maps in the book The Broken Spears (Portilla) and The Conquest of New Spain (Diaz) to draw a freehand map identifying...
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200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons
Young scholars discuss the style and characteristics of the Classical era and the genre of opera. They compare and contrast modern day popular icons to musical icons throughout history. They write original librettos to modern entertainment.
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Geographic Luck
Students examine why some countries are rich while others remain poor. They view a video on the website, Guns, Germs and Steel, analyze primary sources to conduct research about plants and animals, and create a game based on their research.
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Through the Lens of Robert Capa
Young scholars use Guided Reading techniques to learn about Capa's style and to discover the techniques that made him a great photographer. Students examine the basics of telling compelling stories through photos and each student creates...
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Civil Services
Students investigate important themes, figures, and events of the Civil Rights Movement. They create a class mural that demonstrates their understanding of the continuing impact of the movement on American society.