Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Voting

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students participate in a role play where they run for office and address the issues they want to fix. In this voting lesson plan, students then vote on which candidate they want to run their classroom.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stem Cell Research

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine embryonic cell research and the controversy that surrounds it.  In this stem cell lesson students use a debate model and present and defend their positions. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lost on a Deserted Island

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders practice brainstorming with their classmates as they discuss a role-play situation.  In this group discussion instructional activity, 3rd graders must present ideas of ways to survive on a deserted island by discussing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gender Disparity on Display

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore an article and discuss what gender differences.  In this exploring gender lesson plan students divide into groups and develop a social theory. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Came First, the Chicken or the Egg?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the concept of nutrition.  In this nutrition lesson, students identify the benefit of eggs as a nutritional meal or snack.  Students also discover how to prepare easy meals or snacks using eggs. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Were Lewis and Clark respectful to the Native Americans they encountered on their journey?

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders debate whether or not Lewis and Clark were respectful of Native Americans they encountered on their journey.  In this American History lesson plan, 6th graders review primary documents and diary entries from the Lewis...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Albert Parsons

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students determine whether a hanging victim is guilty or not guilty. In this introductory law instructional activity, students use numerous documents to present their case proving Albert Parsons as either guilty or not guilty.
Lesson Plan
Education World

Human Nature- Good or Evil?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the philosophical nature of good vs. evil. In this literacy/philosophy lesson, students read and discuss media articles that illustrate human nature as inherently "good" or "evil." Students practice debating skills and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Argument

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners write and discuss opposing points of view. In this argument lesson, students learn to understand what an argument is and they get to argue one side of a disagreement. An alternative written assignment is provided. A worksheet is...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Making a Formal Argument - "The Most Important Word"

For Students 10th - 11th
In this formal argument worksheet, students learn debate skills by writing a formal argument to the given prompt. Students must be able to state their position, provide points that support their decision, and support each point with...
Worksheet
Curated OER

How To Argue Without Cheating

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
In this debate worksheet, students read and learn about the fine points of debate and persuasion. The vocabulary presented and the ideas are quite advanced; premise, conclusion, syllogism, ad homineum, and other difficult terms.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Are Travellers?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students visit specified websites to research zoning information in Essex. They participate in a role play to present a zoning request to a city council. Groups of students prepare their side of the case and create their proposal to be...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Kapok Tree Debate

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars participate in a read aloud of the story, "The Great Kapok Tree" in which a logger decides not to cut down a tree. In small groups, they discuss and write about their opinion on the logger's decision. Each group then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Suspect Sources at the Republican Debate

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore and analyze statements made during a televised presidential debate. In groups, they research and test the validity of the statements made by the presidential contenders. Students examine sources and draw conclusions on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Does School Work?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify and interpret what their school is like and how it works. They watch animations and slideshows on the government website. Students also develop thinking skills by examining the way voting and democracy works through...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

National Debate Over Treaty Ratification

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students review the main points of the Versailles Treaty. In groups, they analyze a variety of political cartoons about Wilson and the treaty itself and share their findings with the class after completing a worksheet. To end the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Holocaust's Legacy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate contemporary hate groups and then participate in a debate on tolerating their existence of the Holocaust. They work in groups to conduct research. Students use print and Web resources to identify one or more...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Debating Teenage Rights

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students deal with 'real world' questions in settings that resemble Congress or the courtroom. They identify a problem, find causes, research possible solutions, determine the best solution, and plan a means of implementing the best...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building a Better Argument

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the major components of arguments. They deconstruct several arguments in order to relate the differences between premises and conclusions. Students review several documents and identify the way arguments can be...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taming the Mighty Dragon

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars incorporate the five themes of geography to study the Yangtze river region. They analyze the possible effects of the three rivers gorge damn project on this area and role play a float the entire length of this dangerous...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Growing Voters and Election 2004: Classroom Debate

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the issues and platforms of candidates and separate propaganda from process in order to choose a candidate to support. Students examine political parties and their contributions to shaping the foundation of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Sunk the Titanic

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students discuss possible reasons for the Titanic sinking. They are split into small groups to research a historical figure involved in the sinking of the Titanic. They formulate a way to prove their characters guilt or innocence....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Kapok Tree

For Teachers K - 7th
Students read The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry. After reading the story, they center on the controversy of destroying the rain forest or conserving it. Students have to make an informed decision about rain forest destruction.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Debates

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct research using multiple sources to support a position in a debate. They put information from multiple sources into correct debate format. Students participate in a debate arguing one position in a focused manner.