Curated OER
Rostislav & Julianna: A Modern-Day Interpretation of Romeo and Juliet
Students author and film their own adaptations of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. In this multimedia skills lesson plan, students script a play that pits an Orthodox Christian family against a Muslim family. Students use...
Curated OER
Compassion
Students discuss respect, responsibility, and honesty, and participate in a project that reaches beyond the classroom.
Curated OER
What Would You Do?
Eleventh graders determine whether or not they would have dopped the atomic bomb. In this Truman presidency lesson, 11th graders research primary and secondary sources about the Manahattan Project and World War II. Students...
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Making a Difference in World Health
Students discover environmental awareness by conducting a collection project in class. In this global food lesson, students identify the importance of feeding all of the humans on Earth and discuss why some aren't properly nourished....
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HIV/AIDS, Friends & Families
Students examine what it might feel like to test positive for HIV. They listen to a guest speaker, conduct a role-play activity, identify positive actions to take, and design a panel for the AIDS quilt project.
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Elmer the Elephant
Students read "Elmer" by David McKee. They answer comprehension questions and discuss how Elmer looks and how he is different from the elephants they see in the zoo. They complete a project in which they celebrate their individual...
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Back to the Future
Students imagine what it would be like to travel back in time. In this creative writing lesson, students watch parts of the film Back to the Future and examine artifacts from the past. Students write a short story in which they travel...
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How Should You Treat Younger Children
Students recognize how younger children should be treated. In this empathy lesson plan, students listen to the story Julius, Baby of the World and then students will work on art projects with students from a younger grade level.
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Investigating the Cuban Perspective
Students examine different perspectives on the events during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Using the internet, they research the Cuban perspective on the issue and discover the need for empathy in a situation like this. They use primary...
Curated OER
No Place Like Homelessness
Students complete a unit of activities that help them understand homelessness, its causes, and ways to better the situation. In this homelessness lesson, students complete five activities that help them to define homelessness and its...
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Candles in the Dark
Middle schoolers read about and research the Holocaust using the Internet. They write poetry about an image of their choice and create a digital movie of their poetry readings.
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I Served in the American Civil War
Students research soldier's lives in the American Civil War. They create a video about a soldier's life
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National Volunteer Week Celebrations
Encourage and recognize volunteering's power for positive change!
Curated OER
Mexican Culture “La Raspa”
Here are three lessons that work together to engage learners in a cultural and musical exploration. In activity one the listen to the Mexican folk song, "La Raspa" and discuss cultural context. In activity two they dance along to both...
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Treasure Tales
Create an artifact kit to engage your young learners. Then, assign small groups a section of chapter three. They will identify the main idea and three supporting details for their section. Then, they select one artifact from the kit that...
Bully Free Systems
Bully Free Lesson Plans—Seventh Grade
Having a hard time defining bullying with your seventh graders? Discuss the different types of behavior one would see in a bullying situation with a series of lessons, worksheets, and group activities.
Bully Free Systems
Bully Free Lesson Plans—Eighth Grade
Middle schoolers are likely very familiar with the concept of bullying and cliques. Discuss their experiences and brainstorm ways to handle peer conflict and feelings of exclusion with a poem that focuses on bullying, and a second lesson...
Folger Shakespeare Library
Essential Everyday Bravery
Shakespeare's plays may be old, but they still have relevant lessons for today's world! A collection of lesson plans uses examples from The Merchant of Venice and District Merchants to teach about bravery. In addition to learning...
Curated OER
Candles in the Dark
Learners analyze and apply their personal responses through poetry and film to a challenging and disturbing event-the Holocaust. They use a digital video camera to film each student reading their poem.
Curated OER
Developing Relationships with Older People
Students read books and view movies about older people. They write a questionnaire to interview older people at a retirement center, interview the people, record their information on graphs, and write follow-up letters.
Curated OER
Outgroup Experiment Reveals Bias, Stereotyping
Exploring bias and stereotypes, learners dress up as members of "outgroups" (groups of people who are often judged). Though the lesson specifies that it should be "respectful and not mock the outgroup in any way," this activity would be...
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Hold That Pose
Young scholars discuss the painting The Radcliffe Family and discuss what it was like for them to hold poses for portraits. In this portrait lesson plan, students then pose stuffed animals and make their own portraits.
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Controversy over the NYC Muslim Community Center & the 9/11 Experience
Students investigate the controversial planned mosque at Ground Zero. In this current events lesson, students watch 3 public service announcement clips sponsored by the Council on American Islamic Relations and discuss their effectiveness.
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Life During the Civil War for Women and Civilians
Students follow an overview of the American Civil War from a film, the text and/or teacher direct instruction. They create a timeline with a large map of the U.S. in the 1860's available for student reference as they do the spider activity.