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Through the Eyes of a Child

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore how documentaries can present realistic and sometimes difficult perspectives on events in our world. They choose current issues that interest them and create their own documentaries.
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Safety First

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore safety issues and challenges related to various modes of transportation through readings and discussion. They create blueprints for technological methods to make those modes of transportation safer.
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The Reel World

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the ways in which the New York Times column 'Taking the Kids' analyzes whether or not current movies are appropriate for different ages of Students. They explore past articles from the column and create movie posters.
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Master of His Domain

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the basic elements that comprise the Internet. They create illustrated posters demonstrating their understanding of how the Internet works and develop maps of their personal Web communities.
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The Killing Fields

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explore ethnic divisions in the West African nation of Ivory Coast and research instances of ethnic cleansing in nations throughout history. They create global history textbook entries that explore, compare and contrast...
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All Mixed Up

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the emergence of bootlegs, also known as 'mash-ups' (the combination of two songs into one), on the Internet. By researching the musical origins of songs and creating and performing their own bootlegs, students gain a...
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Wanted: A Breath of Fresh Air

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the causes and effects of air pollution, as well as ways in which various industries and government organizations are aiming to control it. They research the topic on the Internet and create posters based on their research.
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Kashmir in the Crossfire

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students, in groups, research specific decades and then create multi-tiered timelines representing Indian and Pakistani relations and politics during those decades.
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Constellation Prizes

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study meteors, meteorites, and comets by reading and discussing a related New York Times article about the Leonid meteor showers and the methods that scientists are using to study from these meteors. They create a comet in the...
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Look on the Bright Side!

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore solar eclipses by participating in a number of hands-on activities. In class, students work in teams using tennis balls, grapes and flashlights to model partial and total solar eclipses.
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Answering the Call of the Wild

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore wildlife conservation by investigating the reintroduction of species into their natural habitats and species near extinction. They create a poster and a position paper that explains the importance of preserving this...
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Mapmaker, Mapmaker, Make Me a Map!

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students evaluate the different types of historical and geographical information that one can gather through close study of historical maps from the 16th through the 19th centuries. They create their own maps.
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You've Got Infected Mail!

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students use New York Times articles to trace the causes, effects, and predicted impact of the Melissa e-mail virus. In small groups, students create diagrams of the information about the virus that serves as ongoing timelines of this...
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Survival of the Fittest Microbes

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the harsh conditions of Spain's Rio Tinto River and research the microbes that nonetheless manage to thrive there. They synthesize their knowledge by creating a reality television show set in the Rio Tinto with microbes...
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Nothing to Sneeze At

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore allergic reactions; they then synthesize their knowledge by creating informational pamphlets that help new allergy patients research the nature of allergies.
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Freedom Fighters

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students 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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Branching Out

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the causes and effects of the spread of tree diseases in the U.S., and research certain American species of trees and the diseases that commonly threaten them. They create pamphlets to help identify healthy and...
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Making The Holidays Special

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine ways in which holiday television specials reflect some of the religious, historic and cultural themes of the holidays on which they focus. They create their own holiday television specials in groups, each focusing on a...
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Stories That Really Add Up

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students, in groups, develop math lessons for younger students that each stems from a popular student story. Group members individually develop lessons for other subject areas based on their group's story, creating interdisciplinary units.
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On the Attack

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore how government restrictions and over fishing impact the ecosystems of sharks and contribute to or curb their danger to humans. They synthesize their understanding of the issues by creating board games in groups.
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Saving Private Pensions

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider the importance of financial security after retirement, examine current problems with pension plans in the private sector, research different retirement options, and create a "How it Works" poster.
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Monkey See, Monkey Do

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners consider the influence of bullies and map the social ecosystem of their schools. They create lifelines that compare baboon and human development and write an essay that considers the relationship between psychosocial development...
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Unionized We Stand

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students compose a statement of basic rights to protect their own health and well-being. They research the history, power and purpose of unions in the United States before creating their own union to promote the interests of students.
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"I Cannot Tell a Lie"

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine and debunk historical myths, using the American Revolution as a starting point. They create and play a game of "American History: Fact or Fiction?"