What is family? Challenge your scholars to write an encompassing definition of what this word means to them. After reading "It May Be a Family Matter, But Just Try to Define Family," class members discuss the emotional issues surrounding...

High school freshmen craft their own definition of honesty. They provide an example from their lives and reflect on the outcomes of their honest behavior. They also identify a time when they may have been dishonest in a relationship and...

Students examine world history by writing an essay in class. In this World War II instructional activity, students identify the attack on Pearl Harbor, the response from the U.S and the effect it had on Japanese-Americans. Students...

Refuse to alienate your scientific-minded young scholars during your creative writing unit. Learners explore how literary writing can reflect observable fact, and be based in actual science. The links include examples of fiction and...

Make fast food restaurants even faster. Groups consider trade-offs when maximizing efficiency in fast food restaurants. Restructuring schedules and floor plans, as well reassigning job duties, all fall under this directive.  

Students describe environmental interrelationships using list of criteria. They are able to explain organism interaction, based on definitions provided. Also, students can use references and worksheets, to describe effects of pollution...

Young scholars search for ways to prevent stress. They conduct self-assessments, plan a stress clinic, research community resources, and write a reflective essay. Students may wear electronic heart rate monitors to demonstrate stress...

Students examine the differences between the definitions of race and ethnicity defined by the United States government. After reading an article, they discuss the possiblity of the elimination of some races from the 2010 census. They...

Students work together to develop a classification system for planets. They take a class vote and read an article about an astronomer's classification system. They write an essay on how scientists make decisions for the general public.

Students take a field trip to a local estuary and analyze water samples. They analyze and graph the data results, write an essay, and create a food web of their field site.

Students are introduced to the definition of a hero. As a class, they compare and contrast the difference between non-fictional and fictional hereos they have read about. They read a story, create a story map of one of the heroes and...

Students research Canada's political history by analyzing the country's constitution. To display their understanding, students write essays.

Learners practice the proper lab techniques of coring, seining, taking temperatures, and salinity. Students analyze and graph data. Learners write a 3 part essay and correctly draw and label a food web of their field site.

Students analyze the reasons why groups build monuments and memorials. Using the Holocaust as an example, they reflect on issues that are addressed in monuments related to it. They create a monument of their own and write an essay about...

Students read stories from a robot journal.  In this robot lesson students complete definitions and several activities, including a short essay. 

Students watch slides of other countries to identify and discuss factors that make a country developed or developing. They create a product that shows their view of developed and undeveloped.

Learners view a film about Shakespeare and his poetry. They complete a worksheet while viewing. They discuss how to properly read a poem and practice reading his sonnets.

Students discover the different types of disabilities. They examine the stereotypes and stigmas associated with them and hear from a person who lived in an institution.

Middle schoolers describe the word community as it applies to Fairfax County, Virginia. In groups, they brainstorm a list of words that are needed to have a strong community. They use the internet to assess the quality of life in the...

Learners discuss the purpose of county ordinances and view actual examples. In groups, they take the ordinances and describe how they are to protect the citizens of the county. They also discuss how interest groups affect policy making.