Facing History and Ourselves
A Scene from a Middle School Classroom
Citizens in the modern world can't imagine making the same social choices made by many Germans in the 1920s and 1930s, but they don't realize that they actually do it every day by ostracizing others. A case study of middle schoolers...
Curated OER
The English Roses
Students explore psychology by reading a children's book in class. In this bullying lesson, students read the story The English Roses and discuss the main characters, story and setting. Students identify the moments when the main...
Curated OER
The Gay '80s, '90s and '00s
After reading and discussing a news article from the New York Times regarding gay and lesbian issues of the last thirty years, students engage in several activities to explore current events. They create a timeline, either electronically...
National Literacy Trust
Mark The Bard!
Commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death with a packet of cross-curricular literacy lessons and activities centered around two of the Bard's most popular plays, Macbeth and The Tempest. Class members look for evidence of...
Museum of Disability
Rolling Along
Kindness and empathy can be as important as reading comprehension skills, especially for younger learners. Reinforce both with a instructional activity based on Rolling Along: The Story of Taylor and His Wheelchair by Jamee Riggio...
Curated OER
Anti-Semitism Throughout the Ages
Learners investigate the implication of anti-Semitism. In this prejudice instructional activity, students compare anti-Semitism to bullying as they research the propaganda techniques employed during the Holocaust and throughout history.
Museum of Disability
Can You Hear a Rainbow?
Teach your class about compassion and empathy with Jamee Riggio Heelan's Can You Hear a Rainbow? As kids read about Chris, a boy who is deaf, they discuss the things he likes to do, as well as the ways he communicates with the world.
Museum of Disability
Stand in My Shoes
Stand in My Shoes, a story by Bob Sornson, is an effective way to teach young learners about empathy and making friends. Once pupils read through the story, they answer a series of discussion questions and complete reading activities...
Curated OER
The "Be Kind Kids" Project
Students create a visual display that highlights friendship and kindness. They read and discuss a poem, and design and create a large poster or banner that emphasizes kindness, anti-bullying, and friendship.
Curated OER
Full Court Press
Students watch a video clip about bullying, discuss the video, and help develop an anti-bullying policy for their school.
Curated OER
Sticks and Stones
Students explore bullying. In this character development activity, students discuss verbal and nonverbal bullying. Using the "sticks and stones" adage, students write a sentence describing a hurtful act on a gray piece of paper, crumple...
Curated OER
Adrian Mole - Diary
Students read a passage from the Diary of Adrian Mole in their groups and then discuss the different characters of the story. They bring the scene to life by setting the scene, selecting who in the story would be involved in their scene,...
Curated OER
Should Hate Be Outlawed?
Students investigate hate crime legislation. In this hate crime lesson, students examine the St. Paul city ordinance that outlawed hate crimes. Students explore the fine between hate crime legislation and First Amendment rights.
Curated OER
Man's Continuing Inhumanity to Man
Students explore social justice issues. For this human justice lesson, students examine the meaning of words associated with minority groups and investigate genocide throughout history.
BBC
Conflict - Part Two
Middle schoolers engage in a discussion about bullying. They list the many forms bullying can take, and how much of a problem bullying is at their own school. Then, learners plan their own campaign to eliminate bullying at their school....
Curated OER
Getting Down to Business
Three lesson plans are shown on this site, two of which pertain to Read 180. Start the year with the first instructional activity by having your learners create a brochure about themselves. In the computer lab, they find clip art and...
Curated OER
Photo Quilt Square
Build creative thinking and organization skills with a beautiful quilting project. Young photographers use a digital camera and computer to create photo transfers, which they will use to create a photo quilt square. They sew or embroider...
Curated OER
Courage to Be You: King Day
Students define discrimination and what its like to be a stranger.In this discrimination lesson, students research the lives of Vivien Thomas and Hamilton Naki. Students produce a wall display showing how they've overcome discrimination.
Curated OER
Peace Doves
Students explore ways to obtain world peace. In this character education lesson, students read the book Peace Begins With Me and brainstorm a list of ways students can create a more peaceful world. Students use included dove patterns to...
Curated OER
Courage of the Heart
Middle schoolers research discrimination and how people fought against for the common good. In this discrimination lesson, students watch a movie about Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas. Middle schoolers generate a list of words about...
Curated OER
Choice of Media
Students view artwork that address issues of representational politics and political campaigns. They journal to describe political and social issues that are important to them. They create art work that represents an important issue in...