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Getting To Know the Activists Among Us
Students discuss what it means to be an "activist." They identify various types of activist organizations and brainstorm the names of local people and organizations that might fit these categories. They research one of these...
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Civil Society in Iraq
Learners use core questions to learn about the concept of a civil society. The dynamics of the war in Iraq serve as an example of a society that is in turmoil. They also develop an imagined society organization that would help promote...
National First Ladies' Library
Government: Defending the Bill of Rights
Pupils examine the proposition of a country without the Bill of Rights. In a role-playing activity, teams of students gather information to build a case for retaining the Bill of Rights and present it before their congressperson.
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Rosa Parks
Students complete a variety of written and discussion activities regarding Rosa Parks and the Alabama bus boycott and how they changed an accepted way of life in America.
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Happy Birthday Martin Luther King
First graders listen to the book Happy Birthday Martin Luther King and sing a song about him. In this reading lesson plan, 1st graders develop listening skills as they listen to the book. They also discuss their feelings about the laws...
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What do they want? Critical Perspectives on the 1960's in the United States
Students determine that history is a field of study that can help them understand themselves and the people around them. By reading sources by and about people with many of the same interests and concerns that they have and learning to...
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Experiencing Tiananmen Square
Students investigate the Tiananmen Square demonstration and massacre in China. They watch a video clip, in small groups conduct Internet research, present their findings to the class, simulate a demonstration, and create an art project.
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Ratification & Review
Students work with their parents to decorate strips of construction paper in primary colors to represent one family member per link on the chain. They sing a gathering song and all share their family chains. They read the story of the...
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Citizenship participation
Students explore responsibilities of citizenship. They discover the importance of individual and collective action in responsible local and global citizenship. Students identify and assess social issues facing Canadians. They explain the...
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What Must Be Done To Achieve Equality?
Learners evaluate various statements about what must be done to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons, students consider the responsibility they have to end discrimination. They also explore the relative...
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Defining Moments From the Past: Japanese American Internment
Students conduct a mock Congressional Hearing to decide whether or not Japanese Americans who were sent to internment camps during World War II should be provided financial restitution. They research and create a time line of events...
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Darfur Now Lesson One: Introduction to Darfur Now
Students view a brief film and define vocabulary terms related to genocide. In this civics instructional activity, students discuss motivations of people to take action against the crisis in Darfur. Students write responses to the film...
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The Senate by a Senator
Students examine their Canadian citizenship by participating in a number of multi-disciplinary lessons.
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Anne Frank: Everything Changed for Us
Young scholars write about a time they were made to feel different, and when they were on the other side of the equation. They read other first hand accounts of times in history when people were made to feel like outsiders.
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Sectarianism racism
Students investigate the concept of sectarianism and racism within the context of becoming a citizen. They develop the understanding that this is not acceptable social behavior through classroom discussion that involves many examples to...
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Create a Magic Lantern Show; Freed People in the Reconstruction South
Engage your scholars by having them create "magic lantern shows" inspired by the film Dr. Toer's Amazing Magic Lantern Show: A Different View of Emancipation. As they study the South's Reconstruction through primary...
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Making Binding Agreements
A verbal contract can be legally binding under the right circumstances. Upper graders are assigned verbal topics to study and present. They prepare and deliver a 2-3 minute talk about their topic. Each topic relates to an aspect of...
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Hit the Trail
Students read about the history of cattle trails and complete language arts, math, social studies, and more activities about barbed wire. For this barbed wire lesson plan, students read poetry, research changes over time, draw cattle...
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The Power of Our Stories
Students compare violence to nonviolence. in this peace lesson plan, students tell stories from their own life that show the difference between violence and nonviolence. They listen to examples of Gandhi and Martin Luther King.
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Give Peace A Chance: Nonviolence as a valid strategy for social change
Students analyze how people solve conflicts. In this conflict resolution lesson, students look at Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King's nonviolence movements. They see the reasoning behind nonviolence and how it works.
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"i Have a Dream" As a Work of Literature
Students read and analyze Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. They answer discussion questions, and write and compose a speech that addresses an injustice in society.
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A Raisin in the Sun: Vocabulary Bingo
Students study A Raisin in the Sun. Students study new vocabulary through a game of bingo. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech "I Have a Dream" as a supplementary text. Students create their own bingo cards.
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Students Speak Out: A Discussion Activity
Young scholars read a collection of student essays addressing racism and racial disparities and discuss them. For this racism lesson plan, students discuss the essays and talk about their impact.
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The American Indian Movement
Twelfth graders examine the civil rights movement of the Native Americans. They read the provided multicultural reading passage and answer the questions that follow. They chart which cultural groups fought for equal rights during the...