Curated OER
Sixteenth Street: Civil Rights at the Crossroads
Students study the Civil Rights movement constructing definitions of discrimination, prejudice and racism. They use varied media to study the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, write a newspaper and complete a mock trial.
Administrative Office of the US Courts
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
Freedom of speech is not always free. Scholars investigate how the First Amendment provides for the right to express opinions. Through the court case Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier, they analyze free speech using primary documents—and hopefully...
Curated OER
Symbols from History: Mesopotamia Today
Students identify the various symbols different nations use to represent themselves. As a class, they discuss the recent events in Iraq and identify the needs of its people. They use print resources to research various Mesopotamian...
Curated OER
Civil Disobedience Action Plan
Learners investigate incidences of civil disobedience. In this civil disobedience activity, students watch a video and read a newspaper article on civil disobedience. Then, in groups, they search a current newspaper for examples of civil...
Curated OER
It is Our Right-Don't Waste It!
Pupils explore the basic rights granted to all American citizens by the U.S. Constitution in the light of women's issues. The women's suffrage movement, the role of Susan B. Anthony, and the timeline of events on voting rights are...
Curated OER
The Nile
Students recognize the Nile River played an important role in the lives of ancient Egyptians and still does today. They prepare a newspaper written in English and produced with advanced technology centered around researched information.
Curated OER
Media Literacy Discussion Guide
Students examine and analyze visual media and its messages critically. They determine whether specific media messages inform, entertain, or persuade and what factors influence the media. Using primary sources, they participate in peer...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Mosque Debate
In this current events worksheet, students analyze a political cartoon about the New York City Mosque Debate and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Curated OER
It's Debatable!
Students examine the basic elements and vocabulary of debating. They research an issue and write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper, and role-play a Parliamentary debate on a particular bill.
Curated OER
Canada's Press: Making a Historical Newspaper
Students examine several colonial-era editorial cartoons. They evaluate the effectiveness of the techniques the cartoonists used to display their messages and share one editorial cartoon with the class emphasising what message has been...
Curated OER
Afghanistan: A Rich History
Students study events in Afghanistan in the 1980s and 1990s. They discuss the role of the international community in the rise of the Taliban to power, and consider what can be learned from our country's involvement in Afghanistan.
Curated OER
The Right to Remain Resilient
Learners examine the Civil Rights Movements in the U.S., both current and historic. In small groups students investigate a specific civil rights group, create an illustrated timeline, noting key events, people, and state and federal laws.
Curated OER
Making Headlines
Students identify acts of kindness in the news. In this random acts of kindness lesson, students discuss kindness, find a news article about an act of kindness that took place in another country, locate the country on a map, and write a...
Smithsonian Institution
Giving Speeches: George Washington's First and Second Inaugural Addresses
Students discuss the purpose of the President of the United States giving an inaugural address. They describe their impressions of any inaugural speaches they have heard or read. Students research events leading up to Washington's first...
Curated OER
Un-Presidented Election
Students explore the results of the 2000 presidential election. They look back at important issues in the campaign and write newspaper articles which cover specific angles on the election.
Curated OER
Democracies in North America: Canada, the United States, and Mexico
Students examine democratic values. In this democracy lesson, students research the political systems of Canada, Mexico, and the United States in order to compare and contrast them. Students also discuss domestic and international events...
Curated OER
The Environment In The News
Students explore environmental issues. Using a newspaper, students scan headlines for articles related to environmental or sustainability issues. From the article title, students predict the article's intent and then read the article for...
Curated OER
War, Peace and Judaism 1
Students describe the conflict discussed in class, identify the groups involved in the conflict and their various interests, and define the term ethics. They analyze a current news story from an ethical point of view.
Curated OER
News Flash
Students research each year from 1933 to 1945 and come up with a newspaper headline to hang up for the rest of students to see.
Curated OER
American Revolution
High schoolers review the events leading to the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence. Using the internet, they examine many different political cartoons from the time period and discuss the political atmosphere. In...
Curated OER
Introduction to Canada
Ninth graders investigate the country of Canada by examining their media in this geography lesson. They use the Internet to research Canadian newspapers and analyze a topic covered by both US and Canadian media sources. After comparing...
Curated OER
Bill of Rights
Students work in collaborative groups to research an amendment of the Bill of Rights. They then design and present a skit that demonstrates and communicates the core values and concepts of the amendment to the class.
Smithsonian Institution
Solomon G. Brown: Letter Writing
Personal correspondence in the form of letters is not as common as it once was. This resource presents an opportunity for you to introduce your class to letter writing and cover topics in social studies. Learners read a letter written in...
Curated OER
Project-Based Learning: Community Service
Community service is the basis for a project based learning experience. Your class participates in four weekly activities that require them to research community issues and contribute their time and talent to assist those in need. This...