Curated OER
A New Generation of Fighters
Students discuss the reasons why people are less likely to take a stand on issues today than they were in the past. In groups, they research the efforts of Kings, Parks and others to end discrimination and racism. They read excerpts of...
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Kaffir Boy
Students explore the concepts of intolerance and racism in the autobiography Kaffir Boy written by Mark Mathabane. The activity reveals the story's depiction of the terrible toll of apartheid on the lives of individuals.
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"Here's much to do with hate, but more with love": The Prologue in Romeo and Juliet
Students participate in a guide close reading of the Prologue to Romeo and Juliet. They write a prologue sonnet to another piece of literature they have read.
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If They Had Lived
Students explore the impact on society when a person dies prematurely from gun violence. They develop research and critical-thinking skills
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Security Guards: Are They Needed?
Students discuss the need for some school districts in their area to hire security guards. Using the internet, they identify the severity of the problem in the other districts and discuss what else could be done to make schools safer....
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Administering the Survey
Students administer Media Violence Survey to family and friends locally, and to students in remote locations.
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Mystery and Mayhem
Learners use literature to examine the violence and loss of innocence during the 1960s. In this U.S. history lesson, students read Robert McCammon's Boy's Life to investigate the social unrest, violence and loss of innocence in the...
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The Popular Bully
Fifth graders investigate bullying and nonviolent ways to deal with bullies. In this conflict management instructional activity, 5th graders discover the definition for the word ahimsa and examine ways to incorporate that philosophy...
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Implementing a Civic Action Project
Young scholars are provided with a six-step process for empowering students to plan and implement civic participation projects in the community. They look into solutions to community problems and seek ideas for actions project in...
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Live By the Gun, Die By the Gun
Students view a PBS "In the Mix" video about handgun violence and gun safety laws. They participate in a discussion about the video, speculate about the causes of gun violence and its prevalence in the U.S. and identify current gun laws.
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Virtual Reality
Learners consider the implications of playing violent video games. In this current issues lesson, students visit selected websites to research virtual violence and video game censorship.
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Conflict Resolution
Students examine ways to resolve conflicts. In this conflict resolution lesson, students define conflict resolution and write down situations where leaders deal with conflicts. Students work in groups to create a PowerPoint on ways to...
Smithsonian Institution
Conflicting Voices of the Mexican War
Americans wanted to fulfill Manifest Destiny, and this pattern continued with the Mexican War. The resource specifically teaches about the Mexican War through a variety of exercises including a research project, group work, brainstorming...
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Peace and Non-Violence: the Teachings of Gandhi
Students study the Gandhian philosophy. They define certain elements such as power, beauty and discuss what they know about the struggle for independence in India. Finally students collaborate to discuss Gandhian principles to extend...
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Can We Live in Peace? Middle East: A Region in Turmoil
Seventh graders analyze three monotheistic religions as an appreciation of the Middle East. In this world religions lesson, 7th graders analyze the beliefs and the leaders of the three major religions. Students research a topic and...
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Non-Violence against Women Day
Students examine International Non-Violence Against Women Day in relation to the Mirabal Sisters from the Dominican Republic. They watch a movie, answer discussion questions, and write an essay.
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Respect--The Data: A Closer Look
Students explore the steps in the scientific method process. In this science lesson, students identify warning signs that someone is in an abusive dating relationship. They evaluate the credibility of information sources.
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Great Books: Kafka's Metamorphosis
Students discuss the central image of Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis and use a strong symbol in a piece of writing. For this Metamorphosis lesson, students focus on the central image of the novel in a class discussion. Students create a...
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Lesson: Skin Fruit: Propaganda of the Deed
Art can express acts of injustice and move society to action. Upper graders analyze contemporary art relating to specific moments in history. They discuss propaganda, anarchy, sociology, and violence as activism. After researching and...
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Dorothy Day and Mohandas K. Gandhi: Catalysts of Social Change
Students explore how Dorothy Day and Mohandas Gandhi were leaders for social change. In this history lesson plan, students analyze the impact of these two leaders through several activities and group assignments.
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Who Invented Religion?
Students explore religious controversies with the release of the film "The Passion of the Christ." In this current events lesson, students discuss religious beliefs and the place for violence in religious and historical films.
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Abolitionists in U.S. History
Learners read and discuss excerpts from the writings of Henry David Thoreau, Frederick Douglass and Sarah Parker Redmond. They compare and contrast the views of the three abolitionists concentrating on the experiences and reasons for...
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Nonviolence as a Way of Life
Students investigate the example Gandhi set for others to not engage in violence when being oppressed. In this rebellion lesson plan, students identify violence and discuss how it is used and often ineffective. Students create a visual...
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How Do Respect and Humiliation Shape Conflict?
Students explore the feelings surrounded by humiliation, resentment and retaliation in the context of school violence. In this character building lesson, students examine possible reasons for school violence and focus on possible ways...