Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Live from Ancient Olympia!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study online resources to examine the ancient Olympic Games and athletes. They investigate the qualities of ancient Olympic athletes and role interviews with the athletes.
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Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary

Franklin’s Fair Hand American Journalism

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Scholars know him for his role in the American Revolution, but Ben Franklin was also a journalist and printer. Learners investigate his standards for what was fit to print using primary sources—including writings where Franklin explains...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Walter Cronkite: Witness to History

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students brainstorm a list of news sources. They interview people about today's media and discuss their results. After watching segments of a film about Walter Cronkite, they role play as reporters and subjects from an historic period...
Lesson Plan
Facing History and Ourselves

The Nazi Party Platform

For Teachers 7th - 11th Standards
Not all party platforms stay democratic. A resource covers many political issues in Germany during the time of World War II, and teaches pupils about the Nazi party platform and what went wrong. Individuals participate in a warm-up...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clear and Present Danger

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students assume identities of lawmakers, judges, writers, and protestors during times in American history when freedoms of speech and press were limited because country was on the brink of war or fighting one. Students use primary source...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

on Trial: Anonymous Sources, Promises of Confidentiality And Privacy

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Pupils research the case of Matthew Cooper and Judith Miller, two reporters found in contempt of court for failing to divulge their sources. They participate in a mock trial as they consider the case from various points of view.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analysis of Newspaper Articles

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students investigate journalism by researching a list of articles. In this story analysis lesson, students read several current event articles and answer a list of study questions as a group. Students summarize the article and share the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Special Report: Flood of the Great River

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students work together in groups and role play the role of television crews. Using the internet, they research specific events of the Mississippi River flooding and report their findings to the class from different angles. They are to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Mayan Adventure - Special Assignment

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students role-play the role of a reporter for their school's newspaper. Pretending they are visiting Mexico and Central America, they research the answers to questions given to them by their teacher. They discuss their answers and the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prize-Winning Prose

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students develop criteria for 'Kids' Pulitzers,' awards in categories of writing determined by Students. Each student then bestow a 'Kids' Pulitzer' upon a piece of writing which they deem to be distinguished based on the established...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Debate

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students watch tapes of televised presidential debates dating from 1960. They analyze debates and participate in mock debates.
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Curated OER

Simulating a Middle East Peace Summit

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders explore the issues in the Middle East.  In this World History lesson, 10th graders research the problems between Palestine and Israel.  Students write a speech on their point of view of the peace process.
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Curated OER

Teaching about the First Amendment

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students defend the Constitution against a group of Senators who decide that all media must be approved by the government, all Americans must take a loyalty oath, join an official U.S. religion and subscribe to approved clubs.
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Curated OER

Social Studies: Presidential Mock Interviews

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners, working in pairs, conduct mock interviews of American presidents, highlighting personal and political details. They research their chosen president on the Internet prior to their role-playing presentation. Students publish...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Choices in War: What Would You Save First?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners read and discuss articles about the current condition in Iraq. In groups, they role play as field generals for the coalition forces and they must create and present a visual defense plan for assigning 20,000 troops to protect...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Mambo" from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students encounter and study "Mambo" from "West Side Story," by Leonard Bernstein. They practice utilizing musical elements (instrumentation, tempo, and dynamics) to create a certain mood for a scene with music. Each student interprets...