High schoolers discuss the differences between living during the mid-19th century and today and then debate which would be better.

Second graders pretend they have just watched a presidential debate and cannot decide which one to vote for. In groups, they also pretend they go back in time to compare and contrast former presidents with the candidates. They use...

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...

Pupils debate ownership by researchers and commercial dealers of fossils found on public land. They research and collect information on collecting, buying, and selling fossils from public land. They suggest ways to enable the competing...

Students explain how Hubble telescope captures images from space. In this space science lesson, students use the internet to view space photos. They debate on an issue raised by the teacher.

Should wilderness areas be preserved or managed? Class members examine primary source documents, including lecture notes, articles, essays and congressional records to better understand the Hetch Hetchy controversy that created a split...

Students consider the plight of immigrant food industry workers in the United States. In this social justice lesson, students identify the pros and cons of being an undocumented worker in the U.S. and discuss labor laws.

What are the essential differences between primaries and caucuses? As part of a study of the process by which Americans select their candidates for US president, class members examine the nominating process, the changes that have...

Students reflect upon traditional, cultural, or ritualized events. They research and document the evolution of a familiar tradition or ritualized event and creatively represent the changes to the tradition.

Students review the Bill of Rights on Aquademics and list the rights that are guaranteed to United States citizens. In groups, they role play the role of important leaders whose rules would make a difference for the lives of fish in...

Students explore how Harry Truman became President and in what ways was Truman an atypical President. They examined World War I changed Truman's life and what opportunities World War I gave certain people and how World War II affected...

Much like the methods of group work, the writers of the Federalist Papers worked together to advocate for their viewpoints against the anti-federalists. The resource enables learners to break into small groups and conduct research before...

Students form definitions of the greenhouse effect based on prior knowledge, class discussion, viewing diagrams, and participate in group brainstorming sessions and class discussions related to the impact of the greenhouse effect and...

High schoolers explore how recent immigration and migration patterns impact social and political issues. They apply affective learning techniques

Learners study Presidential Reconstruction during the Civil War years. They examine the role of the Executive Branch of government, especially in wartime. They investigate the complex issues of how Congress took on the role of...

This lesson plan enables students to explore and measure the distance between blacks and whites in the past and present United States. By thinking about the intersections of whites, blacks, and others around the blues, students will...

This lesson shows how the blues can be used to enable students to explore gender divisions in the United States, both in the past and the present. Most blues songs are about the relationships between men and women, as are many songs in...

High schoolers examine the topic of immigration reform. They conduct research on groups representing various viewpoints on immigration, write and perform a role-play, and write a persuasive essay or letter to a state senator on their...

Students explore tessellations and the artwork of M.C. Escher. They view and discuss a video about M.C. Escher, create a slide template out of cardboard, and create a poster with their tessellation pattern.

This project provides students the opportunity to investigate parasites as a possible cause of the observed frog deformities. It asks students to view web-based evidence and interpret whether it supports the parasite hypothesis. Students...

Young scholars go through the process of creating and passing a federal law. They select an environmental issue, research related policies for the issue, draft the bill, discuss it among committee members, bring it before the class and...

Students explore the purpose of the Lecompton Constitution.  In this United States History lesson plan, students read several articles then complete several activities to reinforce their reading, such as a cause and effect...

Students evaluate how the impact of building of towns affected slavery.  In this United States History lesson, students work in small groups to construct a map, then they participate in a role-playing activity.

Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students examine and analyze primary sources regarding the plan for U.S. government.