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Bioethics: Where the Future May Take Us

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students analyze ethical issues related to technology, medicine, and reproduction. In this ethics lesson, students research selected bioethics issues and discuss their risks and benefits. Students present their research findings to their...
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Utopian Visions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine Sir Thomas More's Utopian vision. In this philosophy lesson, students read Utopia and determine the pros and cons of Utopian societies. Students then create and present monologues of residents of the Utopia.
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Whitewashing History

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars revisit issues of civil rights in the U.S. They use the recent national discussion of retiring Senator Strom Thurmond's 1948 Dixiecrat Presidential campaign as a starting point.
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The Surreal World

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the concept of Surrealism and how it can be expressed in various art forms. They next create a Surrealist collage, and engage in a Surrealist process to invent a title for their work. They critique a class exhibition of...
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Separate But Equal Opinions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the ways in which editorials and Op-Ed pieces respond to current events. They write editorials in response to news items from the New York Times.
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Freedom Fighters

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars research different branches and special units of the United States military. They create and present performances that synthesize their research and demonstrate their understanding about the roles that these groups play in...
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Troubled Times

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students address their questions, anxieties and other feelings about the changes in American society since the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001 and the subsequent reactions around the world.
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A Tour of Saturn and Uranus

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders draw and label each planet, Saturn and Uranus, showing 2 specific individual characteristics of each.
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Buoyant Boats

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students design and construct a boat out of aluminum foil and a few other simple materials. The boats then be tested by floating them in water, then adding mass until they sink. They explore the various shapes of boat construction.
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Do Ask? Do Tell?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore debates regarding gay rights following the Supreme Court's Lawrence v. Texas decision. They participate in a fishbowl discussion, exploring questions on marriage, adoption, custody, employment, and military service.
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The Writing's on the Wall

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine a job-training/violence reduction program that removes gang graffiti in East Los Angeles. They discuss issues confronting their own communities and propose community service programs to address these issues.
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A World Torn by Drugs

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore different drug issues that have affected international relations.
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Laser, and Pagers, and Cells - Oh My!

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the use of various new handheld electronic devices in schools, and assess the appropriate use of each. They present research to school administrators for possible use in the development of new school policies.
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A Civil Action

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners explore the roles of law enforcement officials, the news media, and civilians in crime prevention and criminal apprehension. They envision ways to build and strengthen community partnerships to address concerns about crime.
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Community Building

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars explore the issues of urban and suburban sprawl. They work in small groups to create their own planned communities.
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Words of Deep Meaning

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students create their own poems to express a deep feeling or transformative experience, then write imaginary letters to people in the article, responding to their poetry and sharing their own creative process.
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Ad Nauseam

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the role of special-interest groups in American campaigns. They create their own political advertisements.
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Two's Company; Is Three a Crowd?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the history of third-party politics in America. They research the impact of one third-party or independent candidate for president and develop a poster and stump speech representing that candidate's motivation for running.
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The Will to Drill?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read a New York Times article about plans for oil drilling in the Arctic. They examine and debate both sides of the plan to explore for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
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Immigration in the United States

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore how recent immigration and migration patterns impact social and political issues. They apply affective learning techniques
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Government Policy and Its Impact on HIV/AIDS

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine "President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief", identify important U.S. policy events related to AIDS/HIV from the last 25 years and hold a policy debate on the funding for AIDS/HIV programs.
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Alicia Keys, Songs in A Minor

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students watch a video about Alicia Keys and discuss the business side of her career. Groups role-play producers for her new album taking on the responsibility for all aspects, including budgets, contracts, song production, and advertising.
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Mayflower Compact

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students explore the Pilgrims and the Mayflower Compact. They practice these concepts by examining the school rules.
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Global Women and Poverty

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine poverty and women in Senegal through a video. They work together to gather research about economic prosperity in different countries. They share their information with the class.