How are elections really run and won? Learn about special interest groups, super PACs, and lobbyists with an engaging lesson about the caucus process. Young voters research specific interest groups and analyze their part in previous and...

Discover how to find the value of an interest-bearing account. Individuals watch a video to learn how to use exponential functions to model compound interest. After the video, they complete a worksheet of problems on compound interest.

Money motivates! Help young bankers understand how math plays a part in investing. Give learners math practice while instilling real-world financial literacy skills.

Unauthorized immigration is a complex and hotly debated topic. Class members read an article that examines the issues that motivate unauthorized immigration. Teams then assume the role of special interest groups and present their...

After completing an interest survey, peers group together based on similar likes. They work collaboratively to create a poster that highlights their interests. Groups share their finished products with the class. 

S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders is the anchor text in a unit that asks readers to reflect on their own identity, their place in their family, in groups with which they identify, and in school. 

Let the journey begin! Fifth graders take their first steps down the road of self-discovery during the first of five career and college readiness lesson plans. After taking an interests inventory, groups create a graphic representation...

When you buy a home for $100,000, you pay $100,000—right?  On the list of important things for individuals to understand, the lesson presents the concept of interest rates and loan amortization using spreadsheets and online sources....

A penny saved is a penny earned! Scholars research the different ways to save money over a lifetime. They investigate the Rule of 72, compound interest, and sub-prime loans to gain an understanding of how banks aid in the saving process....

As an introduction to monetary policy, groups investigate and evaluate the effectiveness of current monetary and fiscal policies on promoting full employment, price stability, and economic performance. They then apply monetary tools...

Scholars read excerpts from the story, Heidi, in a three-part assessment that focuses on comparing and contrasting characters. Each part contains three tasks that challenge learners to discuss, answer comprehension...

The fourth installment of the seven-lesson unit focused on African Americans elected to and serving in the US Congress looks at the period from 1971 through 2007. Class members read a contextual essay that provides background information...

How do interest groups try to influence elections? As part of their study of the election process, groups view 30-second advertisements produced by advocacy groups and use the provided worksheet to evaluate these ads. They then craft...

What features do scientists use to classify animals into groups? Class groups examine a series of paired images of vertebrates (a bass and a trout, a toad and a newt, a crocodile and a tortoise, an owl and a robin, a tiger and a bear)...

For 13 days, the United States stood on the edge of nuclear War. The Soviet Arms buildup in Cuba is the focus of an activity that asks groups to analyze how the governmental role each of John F. Kennedy's advisors played went on to...

What are the three most important items for survival? Readers of Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning, ponder this question individually and share their list with a group, that must then reach consensus on the three most...

You're never too young to learn about banking and personal finance. Use a set of seven banking lessons to teach middle schoolers about checking and savings accounts, interest rates, loans and credit cards, and safety deposit boxes.

Imagine the United States is experiencing an unusually high unemployment rate. What options does the federal government have to kick-start the economy? Learners consider the question with a structured prompt. Other questions examine...

The European Union has had a profound effect on world economic dynamics. A structured inquiry investigates its impacts on global interest rates. Other authentic testing materials from College Board explore banking reserve requirements...

If a country is facing rising unemployment, should the president ride out the trend or decrease income taxes? Scholars confront two competing policy recommendations and must decide what to do in a practice exam from College Board. Other...

The Federal Reserve guides banking policy for the country. Learners consider the effects of its force using authentic materials from College Board. Other practice problems examine the connection of national savings rates and interest...

While inflation is an expected part of the economy, how does it affect other factors, such as loan and interest rates? Learners consider questions such as these in authentic College Board materials. Other practice questions include...

"We, the People of the State of Alabama. . ." Did you know that the Alabama State Constitution has 357,157 words while the US Constitution has only 4,400? And that it has 798 amendments while the US Constitution has...

In the 1950s, how did the Red Scare and the actions of Senator Joseph McCarthy affect the American people? Your young historians will analyze primary source documents on the Red Scare, participate in a "find the...