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The Whale Trail
Students research the Gray Whale. In this Gray Whale lesson, students use KWL charts to organize information. Students do Internet research to gain information about the whales. Students get into groups and create a mock news...
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The Mayflower Compact
Fourth graders explore the events leading up to the Mayflower Compact. In this government activity, 4th graders have a teacher-led class discussion on the importance of government, then complete a worksheet on the topic.
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Nonfiction Lessons That Motivate
Incorporating nonfiction lessons into literature instruction can be interesting and engaging for all students.
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Story Sequencing Lesson Plans That Promote Creativity
Explore new ways to enhance students' comprehension skills with creative story sequencing lesson plans.
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Think Small
Learners explore current applications of nanotechnology in various industries, including medicine, space development, environmental protection, and defense.
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Faces Behind the Guns
Students use the New York Times article profiling ordinary citizens who legally own guns as the basis of a role-playing exercise in which they explore the types of people who own firearms and their personal reasons for doing so.
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Space: NASA's Frontier
Students research the history and accomplishments of the American space program and ponder its role in the future. They gather research on NASA and make small group presentations to the class on their findings and assessments.
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"A Voice of Moderation and Civility"
Students read about, discuss and reflect on the life of retired Justice Lewis Powell, investigating major court decisions he influenced and the impact of his 'voice of moderation and civility to an increasingly polarized (Supreme) court.'
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The Threat of Bioterrorism
Students assess germ warfare and debating related ethical issues in the social studies classroom
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Moving Out of the House?
Students review the past events of the impeachment proceedings against President Clinton and examine the impending steps of Congress if the House of Representatives approves impeachment and the issue moves into the Senate.
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Has Peace Finally Settled in the Middle East?
Students evaluate the changes made in the Palestine National Council charter and their potential impact on the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations. They write a brief essay focusing on an article from an Israeli or Palestinian...
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A Community Responds
Young scholars explore the recent case of police brutality in Inglewood, California. By exploring the case in detail and discussing possible responses, students examine how such events can be transformed into learning experiences.
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Riot, Revolution and Reform
Students examine the student protests and subsequent massacre at Tiananmen Square in 1989 and the current petition by victims' family members to open a criminal investigation of the responsible officials.
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A Free and Open Press: Evaluating the Media
Students compare and critically evaluate the different media as sources of news, develop criteria for defining "news", experience the editorial process of selecting news stories and detect bias in news reporting.
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It Comes In Waves
Students investigate the behavior and different origins of tsunami waves, and they then research and chart the path of certain tsunamis from recent history using the Internet, maps and firsthand accounts.
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The Object Is Objectivity
Students search for and read articles about the initial United States strike on Afghanistan from non-U.S. news sources, then describe the journalists' perspectives and reflect on how difficult it might be to maintain an objective wartime...
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Too Free, Or Not Too Free?
Students create a survey that examines what level of electronic surveillance might be acceptable to members of the school and community. They poll the community, and analyze the results in the form of graphs and a written news article.
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I'm The Taxman!
Students develop an understanding of how federal revenues are gained by taxes. This foundation enable students to decipher changes in federal tax policy. Groups of students study different types of taxes and prepare presentations on each...
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Know The Code
Students explore how codes of conduct guide our daily lives. After learning about specific codes of conduct, students write articles exploring aspects of different codes and how they affect people in their community.
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Down to the Wire
Learners reflect on their computer use and explore various perspectives on the growing role of technology in schools. They develop a stance on the issue to write a position paper.
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One China, Two Systems
Students study the term 'peaceful coexistence' and the role it plays in the Chinese process for reunification with Taiwan. They research and assess the political ideologies, economic stability and national identities of the countries...
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Running (Check) Mate
Students consider qualities that the public seeks in a vice president, then analyze statements made by the vice presidential candidates and multimedia commentary on the debate by a Times reporter. For homework.
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It's Just a Game?
Students consider their attitudes toward concrete and abstract violence in the media before developing hypotheses that assess the effect of gender and age on people's attitudes toward such violence and designing a survey to test those...
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Justice For All?
Students study about President Bush's nomination of federal appeals court judge John G. Roberts to the Supreme Court. They compare coverage of the nomination in different sections and articles in The New York Times.