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Landscape Design
Students create a landscape plan and keep track of their costs. They present plans to a visiting contractor and designer.
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Children's Literature
Introduce the students to basic economic concepts and types of economic systems and develop the an understanding of how economic choices involve costs and consequences; provide introduction to rural America circa 1920 and compare to our...
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Working on the Slant
Compare and contrast a major news story from various newspapers. How does the perspective change? Are certain things included in some of the stories and left out of others? Have pupils complete a graphic organizer to compare how...
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The First Jews in America
Students investigate how Jews established roots in America. Students determine the difference between religious tolerance and separation of church and state. Students participate in a role-play activity using primary and secondary...
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Photographs of Lewis Hine: Documentation of Child Labor
Students use the Archival Research Catalog to complete assignments and activities about Lewis Hines and the National Child Labor Committee.
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A River Runs Through Our Town
Learners conduct an interview with a town resident, asking them to describe the history, use, and their memories of a river common to their community. They create a drawing of the river using information from the interview, and write...
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Bill Irwin: All in a Day's Work
Pupils research and examine the various roles needed to put on a major drama production. Using this information, they role play one of these different responsibilities. As a class, they perform a play of their choosing and receive...
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Tracing the Roots of Modern Cities
Students identify several key inventions and other forms of technology that were part of city life during the classical Roman and Greek periods. They report on one characteristic or invention that is shared by modern and ancient cities.
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Settlers: Creating Family Trees & Historical Plays
Students conduct research about the founding families of their communities. They compile historical contexts for the era and develop a family tree and historical skit with their findings.
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Forestry, What's in It for You And Me?
Students examine the usefulness of every part of trees in a variety of activities in this unit.
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The Dip Felt Around the World
Students share their opinions about a story about a sudden decline in China's stock markets. After reading an article, they identify the global impact of China's falling stock markets. They create a cause and effect map about the fall...
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Life in THE JUNGLE
Students discuss problems immigrants may have when coming to a new country. They take on the role of a law maker from the era and create an action plan and policy based on samples they read (links provided). Students discuss ways their...
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Greece Adopts the Euro
Young scholars examine the European Union and how it adopted a single currency, the Euro. They research a number of websites to explain the Euro and its current value.
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Social Entrepreneurship
Students define the term "social entrepreneurs" and research several examples of this concept in action. They, in groups, research and discuss several questions.
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Homonyms
Students brainstorm a list of words and identify a homonym for each. They write definitions for each of the words and a sentence that uses each word. A list of common homonyms is attached.
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Managing Your Money
Students use the internet to gather information on saving money. They describe the history of money and the responsibilities of the United States Mint. They list their own personal goals and keep a journal as they operate a lemonade...
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Fairness in Taxes
Students identify and describe two criterion of tax fairness: benefits received and the ability to pay and distinguish between wealth and income as measures of ability to pay.
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Quinceanera
Eighth graders study the Hispanic celebration known as the quinceanera. They research the quinceanera of two Hispanic cultures using print and digital resources. They compare the two celebrations and create a Power Point slide show to...
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What Does a Philanthropic Organization Do?
Students explore the work of a local nonprofit organization and define "nonprofit" and "profit" organizations. They identify examples of three local philanthropic organizations and work together to draw conclusions about a non-profit...
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Compare and Contrast Culture
Fifth graders compare and contrast the cultures of American culture with that of the other cultures of North America. Using traditional and Internet research, 5th graders gather data on one element of culture for comparison. Data...
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Print Advertising: Past and Present
Twelfth graders identify the way advertisements are constructed to influence out lives and our values. They review advertisements from the 1800s and 1900s and how they may have influenced people living in that time. Using this ad, 12th...
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Pandemics
Learners examine the potential threat of a Bird Flu outbreak. They write letters to representatives advocating policy in case of a bird flu outbreak.
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Advocacy Through Letter Writing
Students develop an advocacy plan to address a health-related need for a local, national or global health problem. Students write a detailed letter as part of their advocacy plan.
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Using Multimedia to Teach Core Democratic Values
Students produce multimedia presentation to fellow class members on one of the Core Democratic Values, such as patriotism or civilian control of military, that is part of State of Michigan Social Studies Framework.