Set your environmental studies class up to debate a current topic regarding your choice of six suggested statements about energy use in the United States. Teams read material that you have gathered and then form their arguments. The...

How smart is your home? Middle and high schoolers write a journal entry describing the types of technology found in their homes. After reading an article, they are introduced to "smart" home technology. In groups, they identify and...

Students research controversial Internet technology issues concerning security, privacy, and intellectual property. They formulate and present various perspectives on these issues in a mock television panel discussion.

Students consider the accuracy of the Web sites they regularly use, then prepare for a formal debate on the reliability of Wikipedia and similar Web sites. For homework, they prepare note cards and practice delivering their orations.

Tell me what you really think. The class reviews articles related to wind energy to see how the author uses words, phrases, and images to sway the reader. Through a class discussion, individuals share their feelings from the media...

Twelfth graders investigate how to analyze, question and debate the validity of the information given to them from teachers, text books, the media and their peers. The purpose of this lesson is to foster a true understanding about the...

Students use telecommunications and online resources to participate in activities that develop solutions outside the classroom. They use email attachments and FAX to send their finished letters describing why people should or should not...

Students explore their own attitudes and practices regarding energy use, and then examine the perspectives of others in order to develop their knowledge of the current political debate on energy policy. Students reflect on their own...

Discuss and share opinions on violent computer games. After reading an article, your class will discover the controversy surrounding online games. They analyze the suitability of computer games and write their own letters to a developer...

Should we continue to spend money on nanotechnology? Groups engage in a problem-solving unique process around the newly emerging research field of nanotechnology. In order to propose a solution, the groups must research nanotechnology...

Introduce middle schoolers to the issue of video game violence with a multifaceted approach. Learners complete a gaming survey, as well as read and discuss a news feature about violent video game sales and a handout on stimulus...

Students explore links on the Internet to collect facts about cloning then prepare an essay on their findings. In this research writing lesson students examine how to include their opinions on what they have found in their research. 

Students examine the issues of privacy and security as they relate to computer monitoring. In this privacy protection lesson, students carry out a round table discussion and write a persuasive essay pertaining to whether citizens must...