National History Day
A Clever War: Scientific and Technological Advances in World War I
Technology—changing lives and transforming war. Your tech-loving historians examine photographs and primary documents to explore how technology changed not only World War I, but also how it moved society forward. They apply their...
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Empowered Barbie
Students access prior knowledge of vocabulary on feminism and psychoanalytic theory, and gender schema. In this Empowered Barbie instructional activity, students recreate a Barbie doll. Students write a reflection on how they changed...
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Applying KWL Guides to Sources with Elementary Students
What is a KWL chart? Here is a well thought-out lesson that has learners use KWL charts to gain historical perspective. Your class examines primary sources about historical events and identifies what they know, want to know, and,...
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Terrible Things
Students reflect on the Holocaust in two lessons. Using prior knowledge, they investigate and make decisions dealing with human behavior before beginning their studies on the Holocaust. After examining different aspects of the event,...
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President's Day
Students access prior knowledge about the branches of government to explore foreign policy. In this conflict resolution instructional activity, students reflect on foreign policy decisions and participate in scenarios based on foreign...
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Safe Passwords
Students brainstorm synonyms for security. For this Computer Skills lesson, students compare the home security to password security. Students read an article and review strategies for creating strong passwords. Students apply their...
NEST Family Learning
Christopher Columbus
Reinforce historic knowledge of Christopher Columbus with an activity book compiled of a variety of coloring pages, puzzles, questions that spark discussion, and learning games.
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What can money tell us?
Students study the physical presence, imagery and written text on a reproduction of colonial currency. They apply their research to a modern day quarter to compare and contrast two coins. In addition, they design their own colonial...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Debate: Islam & Democracy
World religion or social studies classes studying Islam may find this debate-based lesson useful for exploring Islam and its compatibility with democracy. The final assessment is a five-paragraph persuasive essay. Some information on the...
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Education is the Meaning of Life
Students explore the teachings of Confucius. In this Korean culture lesson, students watch segments of the A and E video "Confucius: Words of Wisdom." Students read handouts regarding the Asian education system and discuss their...
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Gaining Familiarity With Haitian Creole
Young scholars investigate the concept of Haitian Creole. They first fill out a worksheet asking for prior knowledge. Then students compare and contrast the languages of English, French, and Haitian Creole. They define Creole and discuss...
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Paleoindian Hunter
Sixth graders utilize their prior knowledge of the Woolly Mammoth to hypothesize what life was like for the Paleoindians. They write a story about a day in the life of a Paleoindian hunter.
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Weapons of Mass Destruction
Students share their prior knowledge of WMD, discuss how the U.S. has responded to this threat and what changes, if any, the US should take for the future. They role-play as national secruty advisor while participating in a fictional WMD...
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Storytellers: Pearl Jam
Students examine the concept of freedom of speech as it applies to music. They watch and discuss the video, "VH1 Storytellers: Pearl Jam," participate in a class discussion about free speech, conduct research, and conduct a debate.
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Olympics (Grade 4)
Students research information about the current Olympic research. In this Olympic research lesson, students take a pre-test to determine their knowledge about the current Summer Olympics. They choose one of three areas to research and...
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Community Quilt
Second graders use prior knowledge about the community to create a quilt. They use complete sentences to explain their block and also use oral language skills to tell about their caption for their quilt piece.
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The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Middle schoolers discuss their prior knowledge of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Using the internet, they research the personal, political and economic influences that made an impact on the expedition. They also discover how the...
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Making Sense of the World Economy
Learners apply the economic principles of supply and demand, market economy, competition, unemployment rate, exports and imports and currency exchange rate to China's present economic success and Russia's economic strife.
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Globalization: Darfur
Students examine the conflict in Darfur. In this global studies lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture about how history, geopolitics, and international law have contributed to the conflict. Students read a case...
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Exploring The Everglades
Fifth graders apply basic Internet navigation and computer skills to complete a scavenger hunt about the Everglades, after reading the book, Everglades, by Jean Craighead George.
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"Where Do The 'Fungi's' Hang Out?"
Tenth graders engage in a lesson looking for the ideal conditions for microbial growth. The lesson is to be given once they have background knowledge about microbes. Students set up a lab in order to grow cultures over a period of two...
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Interpersonal Nonviolence: Using MLK to Teach Conflict Resolution
Students develop conflict mediation and resolution skills by applying the nonviolence philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King. In this conflict resolution lesson, students watch a video about Dr. King and review quotes from him. Students...
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The "State" of ABC's
Fifth graders apply the ABC format to write books about various states. They identify important people, places, and events and include title. copyright, and dedication pages. They have items for all letters and createcovers and "about...
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Who Where They?
Middle schoolers associate explorers with specific discoveries. They apply research skills to inquire about the explorers. Students switch roles with the instructor for the class to demonstrate what they have learned.