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Democracy Sense
Students define democracy and distinguish representative from direct or pure democracy. Then, with the focus on representative government, students will discuss and trace voting patterns in the United States.
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Poetry In the World Around Us
Students engage in a lesson which is designed as a literacy connection to science lessons on the effects of water on plants. This lesson uses an excellent Reading Rainbow episode on the effect of drought, and then rainfall, have on the...
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Picky Pyramid
Students learn the food pyramid and compare their meals with suggested guidelines. Students graph their lunches, discuss the results and how their choices affect their level of energy.
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Follow The Road to Riches
Students examine the various events occurring at the time of the Gold Rush. They see archival photographs and hear historians talk about this era. They create a time line in order to facilitate thinking about this region during the...
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The Wilderness Concept: Our National Parks, History and Issues
Middle schoolers examine the history of the National parks. In groups, they discuss the concepts of conservation and preservation. They discuss the use of natural resources and how some are renewable and non-renewable. To end the lesson...
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Urban Renewal
Eleventh graders write down their best guess at the meaning of "urban renewal." students stage a Mayor's press conference announcing a new urban development plan for the Fillmore.
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Citizen Participation
Students compare and contrast political parties and interest groups. They examine the role citizens play in how to improve the community. They develop a survey to determine the needs and services opportunities in their community.
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The Testing of the Feebleminded Immigrants
Students examine the intelligence testing of Henry Goddard during the early 1900s. They discover criticisms that are still occuring today. They analyze how science and technology is contributing to this practice.
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Is London Bridge Really Going to Fall Down?
Students discover what forces work together to hold up a suspension bridge. They see various bridges around the world, and learn the basic principles that enable each bridge to support itself. Groups design their own bridge, testing how...
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Electoral Politics
Students formulate their own opinions about the issues in an election campaign through a critical examination of political advertisements, candidate debates, and political cartoons.
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History: The Lessons of Vietnam
Students examine the influence of U.S. involvement in foreign wars on Smerican society. They develop interview questions to ask veterans of the Vietnam War and write letters of introduction to them. Following the link interviews,...
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Louisiana Purchase
Students explore U.S. territorial expansion. In this Louisiana Purchase lesson, students investigate how the purchase was funded and determine how diplomatic actions were part of the land transfer. Students analyze several primary...
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Paul Conrad's Perspective on Civil Rights
Students review a political cartoon and discuss desegregation. In this cartoon analysis lesson, 11th graders discuss the impact of a political cartoon and its relation to a Supreme Court case. Students read additional information and...
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Reviewing the Election Process by NOW Classroom for PBS
Students take a closer look at presidential elections. In this election process activity, students discuss the roles of the primary, caucus, polls, Electoral College, delegates, and lobbyists in the process. Students then access the...
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Sow the Seeds of Victory!
Young scholars use the National Archives and Records Administration's records to research the history of the U.S. Food Administation.
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Photographing War
Students examine the role of Matthew Brady photographing the Civil War and compare it with the role of photographers embedded in the War in Iraq.
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Store Wars: When Wal-Mart Comes to Town
Students watch video clips about the effects of Wal-Mart coming to towns. They develop a cost-benefit analysis related to the proposed store. They write their mayor listing their recommendation for the new store.
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The Struggle For The Right To Vote
Students identify historical figures who helped lead others in the voting rights movement, and research historical struggles for voting rights. They develop plans to involve young voters in the election process.
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To War or Not To War!
Ninth graders examine the various types of propaganda used during World War II. In groups, they make notes on each example and determine why they believe the opinion of the United States involvement in the war changed. They share their...
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Selling Warfare - Propaganda Posters
High schoolers examine the use and purpose of propaganda posters during World War I. They work in groups to create a propaganda poster supporting a nation's war effort.
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World War II History Textbooks Project
Young scholars, in groups, research and compare how events of World War II are treated in various countries' school textbooks through linking with another classroom from that country.
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Store Wars: When Wal-Mart Comes to Town
Students research the impact of Big-Box Stores on local merchants and government. They view the program, "STORE WARS," and discuss the role big-box stores play in their lives. They complete an information form.
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Labor Pains
Fourth graders research the Chicago Haymarket Riot of 1886. They read an account of this incident and brainstorm further details they want to know. Groups of students research and present the answers to their questions.
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The Life of Dona Felisa Rincon De Gautier
Learners identify Puerto Rico and discuss its relationship and proximity to the United States. Next, students identify significant events that occurred during Dona Felisa's term in office and how if may have affected her popularity. ...