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Fishing For The Future
Students participate in a simulation using M&M's that highlights Garrett Hardin's concept of the "tragedy of the commons." They use the activities to study sustainability issues in the fishing industry.
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Land Use Decision
Students identify social and ecological considerations where human uses of land and trees conflict with each other and ecosystem needs, and describe importance of land-use management and planning through role play.
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The Jessie Jackson Campaign
Students explore an African American's presidential campaign. In teams, students create a campaign for their presidential candidate. They create political ads and plan campaign strategies. Students are simulate jobs such as a campaign...
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A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION: A SIMULATION
Learners discuss two computerized options to change the current U.S. government. In this Constitutional Convention lesson, students write a statement advocating for one of the choices and participate in a mock modern Constitutional...
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Finding Our Place in the Community
Third graders search TDC database for images of our hemisphere, continent, ocean, country, state, and city. They identify their place in the hemisphere, continent, ocean, country, state, and city.
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Letters from the Plains
Eighth graders read and analyze primary source documents dealing with Nebraska history. In a role-play, they present the information they gathered to their classmates. They examine what live was like for people settling in Nebraska.
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Common Good
Young scholars identify assumptions they may have about government and research to determine whether they are accurate. They support or refute their assumptions in a presentation to the class.
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How to Buy and Sell Stocks and Bonds
Eighth graders review the stock market and what it means to invest in the stock market. They act out a play about stockbrokers and investors which shows how a transaction is made in an organized stock exchange, such ans the NYSE.
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Reorganizing the Bill of Rights
Eighth graders look critically at the 26 amendments to the United States Constitution.
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Personal Reflections
Students culminate and extend the Museum visit back into the classroom. They consider the choice Telemachus made to continue searching for his father. They relate the moral dilemma to their own personal experiences.
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Finding Common Ground
Students examine conflicts between different groups of people from clips of television shows. They complete a worksheet about finding common ground in conflicts. They analyze other conflicts and try to develop a solution and role-play...
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The Structure of Virginia Local Government
Students explain origins of Virginia's unique local government organization,
define numerous terms essential to understanding local government, and
evaluate impact of Dillon's Rule on local government in Virginia through debate.
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Fairfax County Board of Supervisors' Meeting
Middle schoolers research the roles of the Board of Supervisors in Fairfax County, Virginia. In a role-play activity, they practice making decisions for the county as if they were members of the Board. To end the lesson, they discuss...
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Issues Close to Home
Students discuss their role in their local government. Individually, they use various types of media to examine and take a position on a topic important to them. To introduce their position, they write a letter to the Board of...
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Writing a Class Constitution
Students view a short play and explore the United States constitution relating it to the importance of rules in the classroom and in the community.
National First Ladies' Library
Government: Defending the Bill of Rights
Pupils examine the proposition of a country without the Bill of Rights. In a role-playing activity, teams of students gather information to build a case for retaining the Bill of Rights and present it before their congressperson.
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It's So Sticky Outside That...
Students examine the phases of the water cycle and water's different forms it can have. They work in groups to create pantomimes to illustrate the water cycle to their classmates.
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Preliminary Reflection on the Death Penalty
Young scholars discuss the death penalty. They explore specific cases and form an opinion of whether or not they agree with it. They share their opinions, pro or con, in the form of a debate.
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The Refugee Rights-Pack Your Bags
Learners participate in an activity/simulation in which they are forced to "pack their things quickly and move." They have only 2 minutes to write what things they would take and then they discuss the activity and how it made them feel.
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Sterotypes
Students participate in a variety of activities in order to explore the concept of a stereotype. The concept of diversity is also mentioned to contrast a stereotype. The goal of the instructional activity is to create an understanding of...
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GNP simulation using foods in the Americas
High schoolers gain a better understanding of world food supply, the impact of inequality of the distribution of wealth, and get a taste of traditional foods.
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United Nations: A Jewish State
Students role-play as members of the United Nations and debate the formation of a Jewish state. They create national flags, research their nation's stance, create proposals, and form voting blocks. Students hold a two-day meeting of...
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Model European Council Simulation
Young scholars participate in a simulation on a European Council meeting. Using the internet, they must research given topics to prepare for the simulation and organize it before beginning. They follow specific instructions for the...
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Do Dams Affect the Paddlefish Population?
Students study why dams are built and what is affected by them. They build model dams and explain how dams can be a detriment to paddlefish population.