Eighth graders explain the meaning of the Declaration of Independence. They view a political cartoon of the period, then do a writing assignment for homework. They write about how they would feel if the British were calling them traitors.

Learners examine the historical attitudes towards slavery in Pennsylvania. They read transcriptions from two Pennsylvania newspapers and compare/contrast the county's Republican and Democratic Parties' positions on slavery.

Students analyze and discuss illustrations of the New World by John White. They examine the images, answer questions about each one, and write an essay.

Students examine a video in which people want to change the city of Oakland, California. They decide on the best course of action.

Learners study excerpts from Sinclair Lewis, "Babbitt" for its accuracy and socio-economic point of view. They rewrite a portion of "Babbit" using the point of view of a Maine guide.

Young scholars simulate the quarters aboard a ship. They write a letter to Joanna Colcord or Alice Drinkwater that shows an understanding of the experience of being aboard ship, and asks further historical questions about the experience.

Learners examine the life and reform efforts of Dorothea Dix on behalf of people with disabilities. They discover how her efforts resulted in the passage of legislation. They also examine the care people with disabilities receive.

Students conduct research on a historical site in preparation for a field trip. In small groups, they conduct research, and present the information to the class in the form of a PowerPoint presentation or poster.

Students investigate an attic or basement to "discover" family artifacts. They develop a grid map using string, create a naming system for the grid, and analyze items of interest.

Students are introduced to the various museum functions. In groups, they create a traveling exhibition based on Gutenberg's invention and the first printed book. They share their exhibition with the class and answer any questions presented.

High schoolers identify and discuss the issue of sustainable fishing. Students research a seafood product available in their community. High schoolers assess and defend a position about whether a seafood product for sale in their...

Fifth graders identify great Americans to nominate as the "Greatest American Who Ever Lived." They examine several sources, print and non-print. Students use gathered information to explain why some sources are used more than others....

Students explore the definition and derivation of the popular word "cred." Using worksheets and lecture materials, students provide meanings for the word when used in varying contexts and when used as a phrase. They also consider the...

Students simulate newspaper critics in the topics of heat and temperature. They write a scientific critique of evidence and claims used in a newspaper article and research using KIE software. They write notes on the letter to the editor...

Students research the political context of the Winter Olympics in general and within certain countries in particular. They read authentic, published articles on the topic from the Internet and add this information to the spreadsheet as...

Young scholars read and discuss articles relating to the theme "How should we deal with the growth of towns and human populations into wilderness areas?" Based on the class brainstorm, each student generates a research topic. They are...

Fifth graders discuss different aspects of web sites to determine what makes an appropriate one. They complete a web quest before evaluating a number of web sites based on Dr. Everhart's, Web Evaluation Worksheet.

Students research various sources to learn about global warming. They then create a multimedia presentation about global warming. They take a stance on the issue and present that as well.

Students determine, based on their knowledge of coal pollutants, the effectiveness of clean-coal technologies. They state and defend a position on whether power plants in the United States should be required to upgrade to available...

Learners, in groups of two, choose a politician of interest and research that person. They each assume the role of either the reporter or the politician and write a "mock" interview that they later present to the class.

Middle schoolers engage in a lesson that focuses on the influence of American values placed upon the Indians. Students use primary and secondary documents in order to explore the indoctrination. They create a project that reflects...

Students access and evaluate authority of electronic resources. They synthesize data from multiple sources. Students compose a Works Consulted page. They prepare and deliver an informative speech on a disease or medical condition.

Ninth graders assess the accuracy and reliability of current survey data and how it is represented. They design a survey, collect data, and use technology to analyze the data and present the results. Students examine scatter plots and...

Ninth graders read and evaluate current events of East Asia. They select an article, read and summarize the article and identify the key people, places, dates, and events in the article. As they summarize, they write a personal...