Curated OER
Charting the Course
Ninth graders explore the meaning of the term philanthropy. In this Social Studies lesson plan, 9th graders research examples of people that represent good citizens. Students create a skit that demonstrates a specific...
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Conspiracy Theory: Lincoln's Assassination
Students determine how the Lincoln assassination impacted the United States. In this conspiracy theory instructional activity, students examine selected primary sources and chart the information they gather from the sources.
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Can I Feel Your Pain? A Sculpture Project
Students conduct research dealing with some aspect of human rights in Latin America. They create a sculpture as a response to an instance of repression that touched them from their research. They give a brief oral report on their country.
Curated OER
Fly, Fly Away
Students use materials from their own environment to design a kite. For this kite design lesson, students research the history of kites and obtain a formal mathematical definition of a kite. Students sketch kite designs after discovering...
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Spanish-American War
Middle schoolers view a video called Battling Beyond the Borders about the Spanish-American War. They discuss the role of newspapers in the war and then analyze political cartoons of the time, writing explanatory sentences about them.
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Suspect Sources at the Republican Debate
Students explore and analyze statements made during a televised presidential debate. In groups, they research and test the validity of the statements made by the presidential contenders. Students examine sources and draw conclusions on...
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Examining newspapers
Students compare and contrast tabloid and broadsheet papers. In this journalism lesson, students examine how techniques and form differs from one type of publication to the other. The culminating activity is for students to take what...
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Bill of Rights -- Texas v. Johnson, 1989
Learners examine the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. During a visit to the George Bush Presidential Museum, they watch a video about the Texas v. Johnson flag burning case. In groups, they discover the role of the Supreme Court...
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The Study of the Spanish-Speaking People of Texas: Understanding Primary Sources
Students analyze Russell Lee's photo essay as a sign of segregation in Texas. They consider the differences between primary and secondary sources and how historians use these sources.
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We Need Cash
Middle schoolers describe charitable, religious, and civic services in their community, and argue for the value of these services. They write a one-page explanation as to why this service is important to the community and why it deserves...
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The Artist as Entrepreneur: Are You Listening?
High schoolers study non-verbal communication through appearance, movements and voice. They evaluate the non-verbal communication of television reporters and then participate in role-play scenarios using non-verbal communication.
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Tolerance: Gender Issues
Learners explore why some professions have been gender-dominant in the past. In this lesson, students identify some professions that have typically had one specific gender employed in the past, then research that job to see when it...
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Broadcast from the Past
Pupils will be responsible for presenting (either performing live or videotaping and playing) a newscast dealing with an aspect of the Civil Rights Movement that connects to the unit topic of media and social justice. During the...
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A Tale of Two Schools
Learners create different photographs using photographic techniques of camera angles, lighting, and composition. They write non-fiction stories about people they interview and create two school newsletters that portray a fictional...
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Whose Buffalo?
Seventh graders examine how the Plains Indians vied with white commercial buffalo hunters for the millions of Great Plains buffalo. They create an illustrated broadside supporting the interests of either the Indians or the commercial...
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THE LION AND THE MOUSE
Students listen to a story about different types of animals and explore how they all need each other, just like people do.
Curated OER
Letter to the Editor
Young scholars analyze and interpret letters to the editor, and use this information to write their own. Groups of students analyze letters, then submit one of their own design to an actual newspaper.
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Effective Photojournalism
High schoolers determine what makes a quality photo and take and edit appropriate photos that relate to their assigned articles. They select good pictures for their publication.
Media Smarts
The Media Awareness Network: Bias
Slant, or bias, can be found in virtually every news outlet. Use this online lesson plan to help students understand how word choices and other factors can intentionally or unintentionally affect the audience's understanding.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Politics and Media 3: Selling the Prez
Using electronic and print resources, this tutorial explores media bias and how political candidates are portrayed in the news. [2:42]
NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: Can Health Care Be Cured of Racial Bias?
Article reports on the history and current status of racial bias in the health care industry. Includes an audio version of the story.
University of Michigan
News Bias Explored: The Art of Reading the News
Real-life examples, interactive headline and image games and brief explanations make this an attractive site for learning to recognize media bias.
University of Washington
Bias in the News
This handy page clearly explains various ways in which bias can creep into news reports. Examples of each method are given.