Learners examine the growth of authoritarian societies. Focusing on North Korea, they watch video clips looking for examples of totalitarianism and identify the problems there. They write letters to the editors of local newspapers...

Students create examples of Papunya Dot Paintings using brushes, tempera or acrylic paints, dowel rods, and paper in this Art lesson for any grade or ability level. Examples of Papunya Dot Paintings are included as resource links.

Students investigate and describe the various levels of government. They develop a list of the services provided by each level of government, and identify the needs not being met by the government.

Sixth graders participate in a skit, "Henry Gets it Right." They discuss the skit and qualities of a friend. They discuss an example of a wild animal taking care of animals of a different species. They consider the behavior versus the...

Students examine the issues surrounding intellectual copyrights. They research the examples of DVD and CD piracy and participate in a class discussion about the related ethics.

Students explore the concept of "reasonable doubt" in our criminal court system and compare it to "preponderance of the evidence" in the civil court system. They discuss the trials of OJ Simpson and other historical criminal defendants.

Students explore ways scientists prepare for a volcanic eruption. They observe films of earthquakes, oil spills, volcanoes and hurricanes. Students perform activities to demonstrate the relationship of viscosity to lava flow. They...

Students explore creative ways to reuse materials. In this ecology/art lesson, students create artwork using trash. Students view examples of folk art from around the world that used waste products as a main component.

Middle schoolers explain five rights guaranteed to them by the Bill of Rights. They describe their own views on the right to limit some of our guaranteed rights. They finally describe the role of a nonprofit organization and how they...

Students discuss and identify the first ten amendments to the Constitution and apply their understanding of the material to how they currently affect their lives. They discover the rights and responsibilities of being a citizen, and...

Students use core questions to learn about the concept of a civil society. The dynamics of the war in Iraq serve as an example of a society that is in turmoil. They also develop an imagined society organization that would help promote...

Combat hate online by bringing it into the light. Begin by giving learners a quiz, then lead a discussion based on the issues the quiz brought up. As a class, develop strategies to confront online hate. Assign different venues to groups...

How can places on the Internet be dangerous? Youngsters draw important connections between traveling online and staying safe in the real world. They also discover three key online safety rules to guide them throughout their...

Define the word perseverance to have learners understand why it is important in reaching goals. Young scholars research how Martin Luther King needed perseverance to accomplish his goals. They write acrostic poems using the word...

Citizenship and basic human rights are the focus of the instructional activity presented here. In it, learners compile a basic list of human rights, then access a website in order to complete some activities that are based on rights and...

Learners participate in an activity that will allow them to create a gift for a nursing home patient and give their gift to someone who needs a caring hand. For this community service lesson, students learn compassion, and also...

Middle schoolers engage in a discussion about bullying. They list the many forms bullying can take, and how much of a problem bullying is at their own school. Then, learners plan their own campaign to eliminate bullying at their school....

Using a 2002 California Gray David recall vote as an example, young statisticians  identify sources of bias in samples and find ways of reducing and eliminating sampling bias. They consider ways to select random samples from a...

Understanding the global interconnection between people of other nations is extremely important in our ever-shrinking world. Emergent global thinkers examine the significance of Chinese culture, religion, and political power. They then...

Although we currently focus on Abraham Lincoln's positive contributions in creating a more equal society, the truth is that Lincoln was actually a controversial character in his time! After studying the Civil War, give your high...

Learners identify basic nutritional needs. They also glean recommendations from the food pyramid, recommended dietary guidelines, importance of exercise throughout the life cycle, and how  proper nutrition helps the body to resist...

Do military recruiters plan to visit your campus? If so, the visit presents an opportunity for class members to engage in a series of action projects. Class members interview recruiters, propose a PTA meeting to discuss the pros and cons...

In this reading worksheet, young scholars answer 10 multiple-choice questions about the book. For example, "Why did Judd change his parakeet's name?"

Writing a persuasive argument starts with a clear thesis. Using this resource, your class will write a persuasive paper on a conservation issue. They will then transform their argument into a 30-second public service announcement. If...