Curated OER
Au Revoir to All That
Students take a close look at the president of France, In this French history lesson, students visit selected websites to take in French culture, investigate the 2005 riots, and predict what President Sarkozy's leadership may resemble.
Curated OER
Comparing Good and Bad Character Traits of Historical and Current Figures
Students create a chart with two columns. In one column include good and bad character traits of historical figures in biographies and historical fiction. In the second column include good and bad character traits of current famous...
Curated OER
Ball in Play
Students conduct weekly research on three to five current events. As a ball is tossed around the room, the student holding the ball presents to the class the who, what, where, when, why, and how details of their selected current event.
Curated OER
Political Parties
Twelfth graders give their current events presentations to the class today. After completing the "T" exercise on classifying certain individuals as Democrats or Republicans, they pair up to figure out where the political parties fit into...
Curated OER
Who's in the News Bulletin Board
Learners are introduced to current events through the use of a class bulletin board. They choose a person from current events to study and follow an outline to produce one or two notecards of information. They present their information...
Curated OER
Organization of Nations Project
Students research the priorities and needs of an assigned country. They come together and debate current events from the point of view of the country they are representing.
Curated OER
Extemporaneous Speeches
Students analyze current events and write and deliver extemporaneous speeches to the class. They define and discuss extemporaneous speeches, conduct research and deliver their speech, and participate in a peer evaluation of students'...
Curated OER
The European Union
Students gain knowledge of the EU through current events and map skills. They review and increase their ability to use maps. Students work in groups to find current events about the EU in the available magazine and newspapers.
Curated OER
A Personal Journey
Learners will share ideas about class mobility. They create a timeline that chronicles milestones in their own lives, and synthesize their learning by writing personal essays about their class status and aspirations for the future.
Center Science Education
Plugged In To CO2
Watt is going on here? Middle schoolers are learning about energy use and carbon dioxide emissions! In the first part of this activity, learners measure how much energy different appliances consume and calculate the amount per day....
Anti-Defamation League
Exploring Solutions to Address Radical Disparity Concerns
The deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice, and the protests that followed the 2014 shootings, are the focus of a current-events activity that asks class members to brainstorm and research possible strategies to address the...
Curated OER
How to Write a Biography
Looking for a great lesson on how to write a biography? Here, middle schoolers draw from magazine articles, novels, historical figures, and current events to choose a person, or character to write about in a biography. They follow a...
Curated OER
Sacco and Vanzetti: “The Case That Will Not Die”
Studying this case within its historical context can help us better understand urgent current issues of today.
Echoes & Reflections
Contemporary Antisemitism
Despite the recognized atrocities of the Holocaust, anti-semitism continues. The 11th and final installment of the Teaching the Holocaust series explores the long-term effects of the Holocaust on modern anti-semitism, asking pupils to...
Whitewater Valley Railroad
Teaching and Learning with The Polar Express
Use a series of extension activities to enhance your class reading of Chris Van Allsburg's holiday classic, The Polar Express. From a biography of the author to filmed book reviews and research about the railroad, kids can take...
Museum of Tolerance
Oral History Activity
Oral history has brought a multitude of lessons, stories, and factoids to our current knowledge of the past. Let us continue to use oral history traditions through a lesson that encourages pupils to discover and appreciate...
Brown University
Considering the Role of Values in Public Policy
Strong opinions come from deeply held values. Young citizens explore the values that are most important to them in a class discussion and activity. As they prioritize a list of values cards that include freedom,...
School Improvement in Maryland
Affirmative Action
Do the government's affirmative action policies promote equity in the United States? The Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution and affirmative action policies come under scrutiny in an activity that asks class members to...
Curated OER
Bridge to the Future: Enlarging the European Union
The political, social, and economic challenges the European Union faces as it enlarges is the focus of a six-lesson unit. Class members investigate and craft a presentation about a member country, the treaties member states must...
US Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Day
Teaching class members all about the importance and meaning behind Veterans Day with an informative resource. Pupils complete a classroom activity guide and individual research to learn more about the brave men and women who defend the...
Curated OER
Putting a Spin on Current Events
Students examine the symbolism on a 17th-century cabinet. In this symbolism lesson, students view samples of a 17th century cabinet and identify it's symbols. Students create their own cabinet by using various art supplies and paint...
Curated OER
Breaking News: School Bans Hugging and High Fives
Students explore current events by analyzing a news article in class. In this school ban lesson, students read a story about a high school in London that has banned physical contact between all students. Students answer study questions...
Curated OER
Breaking News: International Coalition Attacks Libya (March 20th, 2011)
Students explore current events by completing a list of worksheet activities. In this Libyan history lesson, students read a news article discussing the problems with Gaddafi in Libya and the effect it is having in the Middle East....
Curated OER
Breaking News: OMG, LOL, FYI Now in Oxford English Dictionary (26th March, 2011)
Students explore vocabulary by analyzing the current events. In this dictionary addition lesson, students discuss a news topic about word additions into the Oxford Dictionary. Students complete a list of activities about the story...