Edgate
Why Map a Map?
After brainstorming reasons why Native Americans mapped their lands, your young critical thinkers will work together to review their ideas and determine the definition of a map. With today's extensive use of mapping technology and GPS...
Curated OER
Identifying World Cities
Learners describe the functions and characteristics of their local community. In groups, they develop a definition of a city and identify the characteristics that make up a city. Using the internet, they rank cities based on their...
Curated OER
What is Terrorism?
Spark what's sure to be an interesting discussion in your classroom by introducing the topic of terrorism. Consider the meaning of the word terrorism and examine the associated connotations with a brief introductory reading. With your...
Curated OER
Life Rules for Nonviolence
Scholars apply the basic ideas of Mohandis Gandhi and their application in global change. They generate original definitions of violence and nonviolence. They then create their own set of basic rules that they can apply in real...
Curated OER
Search and Seizure: What Does It Mean?
Students, in a juvenile correctional facility, study the meaning of the Fourth Constitutional Amendment. They study definitions and complete worksheets to investigate the implications of the amendment.
Curated OER
Immigration Push and Pull Factors
Eighth graders explore the definitions for push and pull factors and determine whether reasons for immigration are considered push or pull factors. They then determine their own reasons for immigration and categorize them.
Curated OER
Pilgrim Heritage and Ancestory
Students explore immigrants and immigration to the United States. They define and explain their definition of the term pilgrim. Students evaluate the goals of their ancestors as they arrived in America. Students research and design a...
Smarter Balanced
Aztec Empire
To set the stage for a study of the Aztec Empire, groups use the provided definition of civilization and generate a list of elements that make up our modern day civilization. The whole class then examines an image of an Aztec city and...
Sociology Central
Functionalist View of the Family
Any social science class studying functionalism and family may benefit from these eight pages of background information and activities. It does not include specific learning objectives, assessments, or rubrics, but it is a great source...
Curated OER
Three Elements of Health
High schoolers identify and discuss three important elements of health: physical, social, and mental health. They go into detail about each and spend a lot of time discussing the dangers of smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating a...
Curated OER
The Economic Way of Thinking - About Everything
Students write their definitions of economics on index cards and revise them as the activity continues. They discuss the principles of economic reasoning and after completing a quiz, use economic reasoning to solve "real life" mysteries.
Curated OER
The Revolutionary War
March your students off to war with this presentation, which provides details to the American Revolution such as important figures (Jefferson, Franklin, Henry), facts about the Declaration of Independence, and definitions of key terms. A...
Curated OER
Sarcasm
Learners often regard sarcasm as a "you know it when you see it" language phenomenon, leading to confusing tone and humor in student writing. This presentation not only defines sarcasm (and irony) in plain terms, it also provides many...
Curated OER
Sexual Abuse: Sequoia's Story Discussion Guide
The subject matter of this lesson is intended for a mature academic audience. Please review to determine if it is suitable for your class. Students create a working definition of sexual abuse, read a scenario, and then break up into...
Curated OER
The Enlightenment: Matching #5
The enlightenment was a time of growth for parts of the world, and its spirit inspired future generations. Learners match ten descriptions to the proper person or item definitive of the enlightenment.
Curated OER
A Stranger Among Us
Eighth graders give their own definition to the terms race, religion, culture, character and ethnicity and write them on the board. As a class, they discuss the differences and similiarties between the terms. In groups, they complete a...
Curated OER
The Wonders of Ancient Civilizations
Bring excitement and interest to your social studies with a unit on ancient civilizations.
University of Southern California
Persecution of the German-Jews: The Early Years - 1933-1939
Young historians learn about the dehumanization process of stripping German Jews of basic, fundamental rights prior to the genocide of European Jews in the 1940s. Learners watch video clips of survivors who recount such events...
Curated OER
What Is Your Gripe?
Pupils discuss historical examples of social injustice and identify perceived social injustices today. They share incidents in their lives when they confronted such experiences.
Curated OER
Pledge of Allegiance
In this social studies activity, students read the Pledge of Allegiance by Frances Bellamy. Students match 6 words from the pledge to their correct definition.
Curated OER
Obstacles to Perseverance
What does it mean to persevere. Young historians review the definition of perseverance then brainstorm a list of obstacles colonists and revolutionaries had to overcome during the American Revolution. Using this list, they identify...
Curated OER
Evaluating Crimes
What is crime? Discriminate between criminal and non-criminal behavior with your scholars by engaging them in potentially heated discussion about various scenarios. A brief definition of the word crime precedes individual analysis of 15...
Curated OER
Real-Life History: Looking at Our Community
Spend several days with your class exploring local history. Learners brainstorm and categorize sources of historical information as primary or secondary; collect and present artifacts from family/community; construct a definition of...
Curated OER
Chivalry: Dead or Alive?
High schoolers identify behaviors which may be considered chivalrous and provide a definition of what chivalry entails. They articulate their views about chivalrous behavior identify times in which they have acted in a chivalrous...