Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Contemporary Mexican and Puerto Rican Immigration

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students in an ESL classroom compare and contrast Puetro Rican and Mexican cultures. In groups, they research the reasons why people leave one country for another and how to obtain a visa. As a class, they brainstorm a list of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Man's Struggle for Environmental Preservation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the way all living things are connected to one another. In groups, they participate in experiments in which they analyze the chemical processes through the biosphere and explain the role of energy. They also brainstorm...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Preparing Arguments

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students review the information from the previous lesson on persuasion essays. In groups, they brainstorm a list of arguments to use to support their trip to Six Flags. They also develop counterarguments and gather information to put...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

John Muir in Yosemite

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore different ways to value the environment and participate in a simulation of a historical debate to protect Yosemite as a National Park. They are assigned various roles in the debate in which they must research and present...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Debate: Should we cull animals?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Pupils examine arguments for and against culling animals. Students, in groups, read news stories. They create a list of arguments, for and against, the culling of animals. Pupils debate, supporting their opinion. Students create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Children Living on the Street - Debating the Fundamentals

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders identify issues related to the rights of children who live on the street. Using the internet, they research topics of interest to them. In groups, they develop arguments supporting their point of view and debate them in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Debating Women's Rights

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders, in groups, debate Women's Rights and compare women of the past to the women of the present.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Debating Fundamental Issues of Child Prostitution

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students in college identify issues related to the rights of children involved in prostitution. Using the internet, they research a specific issue of interest to them. In groups, they develop arguments which support their point of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biodiversity Debate

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders debate the positive aspects of dam construction. They discuss how a dam changes the ecosystem. In groups, 9th graders research and gather information for a debate. They state their position and write a report supporting it....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Debate Lesson Plan: Slavery in the U.S. Constitution

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine the U.S. Constitution to see what has been writte about slavery. Then, students, in groups, research the Constitutional Convention of 1787 to explore slavery compromises.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Smacking Debate

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers compare and contrast the United States laws with other countries laws on spanking children. After reading an article, they discuss how adults and children are treated differently within the law. In groups, they compare and...
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Superhero Science

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scientist explore the various positions in the debate on stem cell research and then discuss these perspectives before formulating their own positions. They must research the topic and beliefs that others have. They will also look...
Lesson Plan
Will Steger Foundation

The Carbon Cycle - What are its Implications for Climate Policy?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The carbon cycle isn't a bike which produces carbon and this lesson explains why. Through reading and discussion, groups of pupils create visual explanations of the four parts of the carbon dioxide oxygen cycle. Activities...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

That Is Not My Opinion!

For Teachers 12th
Being an informed citizen requires distinguishing fact from opinion and understanding persuasion methods. Secondary learners evaluate newspaper editorials. They read opinion pieces, identify the writer's purpose and position on an issue,...
Unit Plan
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Nature: Friend and Foe: Challenge Activities (Theme 6)

For Teachers 4th Standards
The teacher doesn't always have to be the expert in the classroom. The first in a series of three supplementary activities Nature: Friend or Foe uses hands-on research tasks and projects to enhance readers' understanding of non-fiction...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Religion: Great Schism Debate

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine the Great Schism in the Roman Catholic Church and research the positions of the three popes. The three groups research their popes' positions and then hold a debate. Students write position papers about the Great Schism.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Debate over Guest Workers Programs

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine various immigrant stories.  In this American History lesson, 11th graders discuss the different proposals for the guest-worker programs.  Students debate this system as a whole class. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Violence in the Media

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students consider the impact of violence on television. In this media awareness lesson, students keep track of violent acts on television and write letters to network executives regarding violence on television.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native American and Colonial Literature Debate

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare the tone, purpose, point of view, etc. of traditional Native American poems and creation myths to traditional Colonial American literature. they debate which is the right way of thinking/living.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colonialism in India / The Sepoy Revolt of 1857

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Pupils examine the factors dividing colonial India. They examine the motives of the colonizers. They research colonial India. They participate in a debate on major controversies surrounding the revolt in colonial India.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Debate--Hellenism, Judaism, and Luke 10:27

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Young scholars work in teams to establish the viewpoint of Biblical characters and debate aspects of the Hellenistic view versus the views of the Christian and Jewish people.  In this Hellenism and Judaism lesson plan, students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Timber Harvesting: A Civic Debate, Day 1

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders develop an understanding of the strategies used in the sustainability of forests.  In this timber harvesting lesson students identify and analyze the importance of forests and their management techniques. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Evolution: The Great Debate

For Teachers 8th - Higher Ed
Students discover how research and questioning are things that must be done in order to form a valid opinion.  In this critical thinking lesson plan students answer questions and provide evidence to support their argument. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gangs and Clicks... Are They One In the Same?

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students compare gangs and cliques. In this comparison lesson, students prepare to read the book, The Outsiders, by making a Venn diagram comparing gangs and cliques. They brainstorm ideas about the two groups which they add to the...