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Haiku
Students study various forms of poetry and the culture of Japan. They are introduced to a haiku- a traditional form of poetry and an art form in the Japanese culture. They write a haiku and create a student haiku booklet with the classes...
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My Country, My Country: To Vote or Not to Vote
Learners view a film about elections in Iraq. They examine the story of a doctor and his decisions to vote. They work together to complete a worksheet about voter turnout.
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Nature Superfish
Students study the behavior or ocean animals called billfish. In this life science lesson, students create their own documentary about a local animal. They share their videos with the entire school.
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Video Biographies
Who was Alexander The Great? How did Abraham Lincoln’s early life influence his political life? Learners select a historical figure to use for video biography. After developing research questions and collecting information, pupils search...
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Exploring Heroism
High schoolers examine the concept of heroism in this lesson, through personal reflection, group activities and a thoughtful analysis of the documentary, HEROES OF GROUND ZERO. They explore their own understanding of what it means to be...
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Cloud in the Classroom
Students describe the relationship between animals and humans. For this biology lesson, students research about the history of horses in America. They present a mock news broadcast about their research.
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"Jazz is About Freedom": Billie Holiday's Anti-lynching Song Strange Fruit
Working in small teams, learners analyze a variety of primary source materials related to lynching (news articles, letters written to or written by prominent Americans, pamphlets, broadsides, etc.) in order to assess the effectiveness of...
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"Escuela" Debate
Students observe a documentary on "Escuela" to explore the life and education of migrant families. After discussing the related topics in the movie, students share their conclusions migrant farmworkers. Using the Internet and other...
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Corner of the Carpet
Learners examine the socioeconomic conditions in Montgomery, Alabama in the late 1950's including the poverty and living condition of the blacks during this time by watching a documentary. They determine how these living conditions lead...
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Jazz and Math: Rhythmic Innovations
Learners compare and contrast the rhythms of marches and jazz. They watch an excerpt about Buddy Bolden from the PBS Ken Burns Jazz documentary, compare/contrast march and jazz rhythms, complete a worksheet, and notate and perform jazz...
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"Jazz is About Collaboration": Jim Crow Laws And Segregation
Students explore development of jazz music in the 1930s by forming imaginary jazz bands which tour several cities in Depression-era America. Jazz band members create imaginary identities for themselves, develop publicity for their tour,...
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Nature Superfish
Students examine the billfish as a predator in the ocean. In this ocean, creatures, and tides lesson, students view video clips and discuss the sea creatures and scientists in the videos. Students create their own videos. students...
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Jazz and Math: Improvisation Permutations
Students explore the various rhythmic combinations in jazz and blues music. They watch a video segment, apply a mathematical formula to calculate the number of possible rhythmic combinations, and perform a combination of notes and...
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The Photographs of Dorothea Lange
Students research social-documentary photography using Dorothea Lange’s documentary projects. In this photography analysis lesson, students analyze examples of photographs by Dorothea Lange and research one or more of Dorothea...
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Haring Art Truck
Students are introduced to the work of Keith Haring and graffiti art in general. They work together to design and paint a car imitating Keith Haring's style.
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What Make Good Reality Television?
Students brainstorm what they believe makes a good reality TV show. Students compile a set of attributes that they feel distinguishes the best of the reality TV shows from the others. Using the attributes that the class agrees determine...
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Origami Paper Fun
Learners explore the art of Origami. They listen to various stories about Japan, create Origami shapes by following step-by-step directions, sing Japanese songs, locate Japan on a map, and take a quiz.
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Ivanov Goes to Moscow
Young scholars complete a unit on the play, "Ivanov" by Chekhov. They read and analyze the play, write a short story, watch a film of the play, complete a data sheet, and conduct a debate.
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Alexander The Great
Learners investigate the historical person of Alexander The Great. They view a video in order to create the context for the lesson. They read some biographies and conduct research using a variety of resources. Then students create their...
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I Had To Tell This Story
Tenth graders analyze the video "Berga: Soldiers of Another War." In this World History lesson, 10th graders read a quote and discuss the meaning of the quote. Students read and answer questions based on a video
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The Other Drug War
High schoolers view the film "The Other Drug War" and discuss its content. They participate in a class debate over prescription drug pricing and complete a worksheet to use a discussion guide after viewing the film.
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KS3 Citizenship: Cathy Come Home (1966)
Students view, critique and analyze a moving drama that offers a way into looking at housing problems today. They become aware of the issues, conditions and emotional side of sliding into poverty, debt and homelessness through the eyes...
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Sources of Information
Students review information from a previous instructional activity about JFK and his assassination. As a class, they identify sources they believe historians use and describe the difference between a primary and secondary source. In...
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Chicago Rhythms, Chicago Roots
Students view a video about different types of music. They examine the history of jazz, big band and rock back to the city of Chicago. They discover Chicago's music scene today and compare it to the past.