Facing History and Ourselves
Defining Our Obligations to Others
Introduce young learners to the concept of a Universe of Obligation, a term coined by sociologist Helen Fein, with a instructional activity that asks learners to consider the extent to which they feel a responsibility for others. Class...
Curated OER
Defined: The Different Types of Government
The world is a big place, so it only stands to reason that different forms of government exist. Democracy, autocracy, oligarch, monarch, and dictatorship are all defined. An extensive explanation of US government system is also included....
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Defining Democracy and Freedom
This is a simple but effective introduction to democracy. It requires the class to generate working definitions of key terms (provided) and to determine the degree of democracy in various geographic locations today. After they conduct...
Curated OER
Defining Success
The class defines what it means to be successful by examining the achievements of Rich Wilson. They create headlines for a mock paper, discuss achieving personal goals, and create a scrapbook of his journey. Tip: Use this resource when...
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Capitals, Designers & Common Fashion Terms
The importance of fashion on society is identified and new vocabulary associated with fashion is defined. Using the internet, your class will identify the major fashion capitals of the world and write about one. To end the instructional...
Curated OER
Budget Busters
Use this economic activity to focus on writing summaries of informational text. First, middle schoolers define common economic terms used to describe news about the economy. They closely read news about the federal budget deficit and...
Curated OER
Rhetorical Devices in a Primary Source
Analyze Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous and powerful "I Have a Dream" speech as a primary source document. After reading up on rhetorical devices and working in small groups to define terms, class members identify and explain the use of...
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Just-Us and Kindness: On Our Terms
Learners consider their citizenship responsibilities in the world. In this philanthropy lesson, students define civic virtues as they consider how to be fair, just, and tolerant to promote human rights. Learners complete a graphic...
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Defining (Gay) Marriage
Students explore current events by researching the topic of gay marriage. In this equal rights lesson, students define the term "marriage" and read pro and anti-gay marriage opinions and articles. Students participate in an class...
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The Industrial Age in America: Robber Barons and Captains of Industry
Young scholars define terms "robber baron" and "captain of industry," list positive and negative actions of one or more captains of industry/robber barons, and take and support stand as to whether particular financier/industrialist is or...
Federal Reserve Bank
The Car Deal Package
Buying a car is no easy task, and can have major long-term consequences if done without proper financial knowledge. Ensure your learners are prepared with the information and criteria for comparing different car deals and signing contracts.
Smarter Balanced
How the Brain Works
Cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, pituitary gland, and spinal cord. Prepare your class for a performance task assessment on the brain and how it works with a scripted plan that defines these terms and identifies the functions the parts...
Curated OER
Geographically Speaking
Students play a matching game to reinforce the retention of vocabulary words. In this geography lesson, students watch a PowerPoint to define vocabulary words associated with geography, play a memory game with the words, and write an...
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Mean, Median, and Mode
Students find the mean, median, and mode for a set of data. They define terms and find examples, as well as complete practice exercises. They work cooperatively to analyze real data from a variety of websites provided. To...
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Let the River Run
Learners explore the environment by reading a story in class. In this water formation lesson, students define environmental terms such as rivers, streams, gulf, oceans and lakes. Learners read the story A River Ran Wild and discuss the...
Washington State University
Defining Bullying
How can you recognize bullying? How is verbal bullying different from physical or social bullying, and when has a joke gone too far? Learners use their own experiences and ideas to inform the discussion.
Media Education Lab
Defining Propaganda
21st century learners live in a media world. Help them develop the skills they need to be able to analyze the barrage of propaganda they face daily, with a resource that introduces them to the type of persuasive appeals found in news,...
Judicial Learning Center
Law and the Rule of Law
We hear a lot about the importance of the rule of law, but most people do not really know what those words mean. The lesson is a webpage that defines the rule of law, explains why it is important in a democratic society and provides...
Curated OER
ADULT ESOL LESSON PLAN--Level 5--Time and Money
Students, after defining and reviewing the extensive list of vocabulary words on the board, examine various banking systems and terms (loans, interest rates, investments, mortgages, etc.). They also show mastery of this task by...
Curated OER
How Can Children Make A Difference In Their World As Human Rights Activists?
Students define term activist, identify and analyze contributions of activists of the past, realize that students can make a difference in their world, identify personal characteristics of students activists, recognize impact on...
Smarter Balanced
Intellectual Property
To prepare for a study of intellectual property rights, (or an assessment) introduce your learners to the legal concepts and key vocabulary associated with the debate. After defining intellectual property, copyright, fair use, and...
Curated OER
Vocational: Fashion terms
Students view a Powerpoint presentation on fashion industry vocabulary and locate examples in magazines that illustrate the terms. On black construction paper, students assemble collages of the magazine pictures representing each of the...
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Vietnam and the Long-term Effect of War
Students examine the effects of war on civilians. In this Vietnam War lesson, students research and discuss the reasons the Vietnam War began, why America became involved, and what some of the long-term effects of this war were.
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Money and Credit: Making Good Decisions
Students participate in activities that teach them how to manage money. In this managing money lesson plan, students set long and short term goals for economic success by having discussions, identifying benefits of saving, and...