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What Difference Does A Name Make?
Pupils view the film The Persuaders that discuss the perspective and spin of language use for a variety of issues. They discuss the career of Frank Luntz, a man that runs focus groups to determine how to advantageously phrase issues in...
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No Friends but the Mountains: A Simulation on Kurdistan
Students read background information on the people of Kurdistan and explore the geographical, political and ethnic history of the region. They participate in a debate where they role-play various points of view in the conflict.
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The Land of Immigrants
Students access information and data about US immigration using the Internet and other sources. They identify from research data the countries from which the largest number of immigrants to the US come from and create a database of these...
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Clearcutting: Sustainable Forestry?
Students explore the conflicts between the economy and the environment by focusing on forest management in Maine. They read pamphlets on siliviculture and clear-cutting as well as those by environmental groups then conduct a debate on...
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From the Classroom to the Ballot Box
Students examine British voting rights. In this current events lesson, students listen to a lecture about the proposal to drop the British voting age to 16. Students create and distribute surveys about the proposal and debate voting rights.
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Sand Dollars
Learners debate the issues of economic prosperity, cultural preservation and environmental preservation by examining the development of land in the Bahamas.
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Was the Dred Scott Decision Judicial Activism?
Students debate the validity of 4 different foundations of judicial decision-making. They describe Lincoln and Douglas's adherence to any of 4 different foundations of judicial decision-making in their analysis of the Dred Scott decision
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The Chinese Rites Controversy: A Case Study in Cross-Cultural Exchange and Cross-Cultural Conflict
Young scholars examine the various groups involved in the Rites Controversy of China. They participate in a simulation of representatives involved in the Rites Controversy, conduct research, write a persuasive paper, and participate in a...
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Making Sense of the Employee Free Choice Act
Students examine the Employee Free Choice Act. In this workers' rights lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details of the legislation. Students work in pairs to discuss questions and...
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The United States and the MDGs (10/20)
Learners research the U.S. role in furthering and funding the MDGs. IN this U.S policy lesson, students read a speech by Andrew Natsios about the topic. Learners debate over the topic after they complete research and related...
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San Ignacio Lagoon: Economy or Ecology
Students debate over the development in the habitat of gray whales. In this role playing lesson, students will take on various roles in a debate over the development of a salt production facility in the San Ignacio Lagoon concerning the...
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Who is Allowed into the EU?
Twelfth graders investigate whether Turkey will join the European Union. In this government structures lesson, 12th graders prepare for and participate in a debate over expansion within the European Union.
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A Burning Desire: A Focus Group Turns Its Attention To Old Glory
Students explore the issue of a Constitutional amendment to ban flag burning. They simulate the role of a Senator's aide, conduct Internet research, write and prepare an oral and a written response based on research,
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What is Meant by Returning to Fundamental Principles?
Students explain in what ways the American experience in self-government can be called an adventure in ideas. They evaluate positions on a number of issues related to the fundamental principles and values of government and individual...
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The Aesthetics of Activism
Students explore ways in which artistic expression has been used to promote awareness of AIDS. They create their own designs to promote awareness of a social, political, or economic issue of importance to their age group and community.
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Persuasive Writing Lesson Plan: Dress Codes
Students examine the pros and cons of the implementation of public policy matters and the specific issue of dress codes. They develop a list of pros and cons of a school dress code, examine and discuss a local editorial newspaper page,...
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Lesson Plan: Global Warming
Students explore the concept of global warming. In this climate change instructional activity, students explore the provided links to PBS NOW sources and research the greenhouse effect and the effects of global warming. Students...
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Class Eco-war
Students debate environmental issues. In this global issues lesson, students listen to lectures and conduct research on global climate change and discuss methods to sustain the global environment.
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Problems in Pollutia
Fifth graders, in groups, pretend as if they live in the imaginary kingdom called Pollutia. They make recommendations about environmental issues and give short speechs on how each problem should be solved.
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The Rights of Bike Riders
Young scholars write a letter to the editor of a newspaper about the bicycle helmet safety issue. They gather statistics about bicycle helmet use and discuss the statistics as a class and explain how to interpret the numbers accurately....
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Making Good Decisions
Students examine the "Little Planet Times" and discuss how to solve the town's problem. In this literature/problem solving instructional activity, students record the opinion of each of the council members and role play their position....
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Lincoln: The Constitution & the Civil War
Students examine the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. In this Abraham Lincoln instructional activity, students analyze the political and constitutional issues that Lincoln dealt with during his time in the White House as they play an...
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Them and Us
Students consider social class issues in Great Britain. For this current events lesson, students visit selected websites and participate in a classroom discussion regarding social justice issues and segregation of social classes in Britain.
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Citizenship in Action
Learners discover citizenship at work. In this current events lesson, students visit selected websites to discover information about animal testing and discuss how to solve some of the issues associated with animal experimentation.