The work of Langston Hughes opens the door to research into the origin and legacy of the Harlem Renaissance and how the literature of the period can be viewed as a commentary on race relations in America. In addition, groups are assigned...

Students examine the concept of kindness to others. They define kindness, listen to various stories about random acts of kindness, and create an e-mail chain describing their own acts of kindness that is sent around the world.

High schoolers examine the New York Times review of the film adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and explore the elements of scriptwriting. They read the article about the film adaptation screenplay and examine a...

Learners explore melodram as a form of theatre. They write about lucid and factual news accounts and about sensationalism. Students gain experience in relating one time period with another and with doing historical research.

Young scholars analyze Shakespeare's Macbeth by completing the creative activities. In this Macbeth lesson, students discuss the timeline for William Shakespeare and identify the characters for Macbeth. Young scholars read Act One,...

Students research and promote one local action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their community through an integrated unit project. Students evaluate possible ways to reduce emissions and review major and local contributing factors....

Young scholars research the social context of Elizabethan England for Shakespeare's "Hamlet". They identify cultural influences on the play focusing on the theme of revenge and then analyze and compare film interpretations of the play.

Sixth graders investigate peer pressure, gangs, drinking, and using drugs. In small groups, they conduct research, develop, edit, and write a three-minute script, and perform the script for the class.

Learners edit scenes from Shakespeare's The Tempest in documentary fashion and perform their edited scripts. In this play analysis lesson plan, students read through Act 2 and 3 and discuss how and why to cut lines in a play. Learners...

Students watch various interpretations of Shakespeare's Macbeth in film. In groups, they examine the setting, characters, music and sequence. They compare and contrast the various films and discuss the differences. They write an essay on...

Young scholars write a news feature or editorial about students paying money to participate in high school athletics. Young scholars interview members of the school community to find out the situation in their school.

Students analyze piece of literature by looking at it from one perspective and then by re-evaluating what they have discovered when other layers of meaning are added.

Learners analyze Shakespeare's Macbeth. In this Macbeth lesson, students read Act Two Scene iv and Act Three Scenes i-vi in the play and complete the test from the given link.

Students are introduced to Quaker beliefs about slavery and actual statements of conviction about slavery by Levi Coffin. They explore the federal laws about returning escaped slaves, specifically the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

Second graders engage in a lesson that is about the sharing of following rules to follow the law. They concentrate on the making of safe choices. Students use the examples to have class discussion. They also role play scenarios of making...

Choosing an issue from a play or novel, researchers find two primary sources from different time periods to compare how people's views have changed. Many questions are listed to guide young writers. In the end, learners produce a...

Tenth graders examine and identify how to avoid time conflicts in their own personal time schedules. They participate in a role-play about a time schedule conflict, participate in a class discussion, develop a list of their four most...

Students examine Constitution and what it says about war-making power, contrast roles and responsibilities of executive and legislative branches of government when it comes to making war, become familiar with important 20th and 21st...

Students conduct research to determine the operating costs and considerations for a Major League Baseball stadium. They act as consultants and formulate recommendations for ticket prices, player salaries, rainy day play and stadium...

High schoolers examine the opposing arguments of the isolationists and internationalists in 1941. For this debate lesson, the students are divided into two opposing groups representing a position in a live, in- class debate. After the...

High schoolers examine unauthorized immigration in the United States. In this current issues lesson, students examine 4 letters written to the editor regarding unauthorized immigration. High schoolers act as editors and analyze the...

Students examine the play Julius Caesar.  In this literature analysis lesson, students work in groups to identify changes in various characters from the story.  They examine various aspects of the character's personality and...

Students take a closer look at the political side of the American Civil Rights Movement. In this 20th century American history lesson, students research the contributions of President Johnson, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and J. Edgar...

Eleventh graders have a basic comprehension of transcendentalism and a familiarity with the principal propenents of the philosophy. They recognize of the unique role played by Concord, MA in the dispersion of transcendentalism. ...