Lesson Plan
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Immigration Reform: Understanding the Issue From Different Points of View

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine the topic of immigration reform. They conduct research on groups representing various viewpoints on immigration, write and perform a role-play, and write a persuasive essay or letter to a state senator on their views of...
Lesson Plan
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Two World Wars

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students listen to a lecture about WWI, or they go through the WWI project time line in a computer center. Students repeat the above options about WWII. Once the research is complete, students compare the two wars by filling in the...
Lesson Plan
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Millennium Superheroes

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students develop an understanding of the qualities that "superheroes," or people who have favorably influenced society, possess. They create a database with questions that pertain to what they want to find out about a hero of the...
Lesson Plan
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A Long Way Home

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the difference between hard news and editorial writing by considering several pieces written about the Elian Gonzalez custody battle. They then craft their own hard news and editorials on the case.
Lesson Planet Article
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Decision Making Lesson Plans

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Critical thinking skills, such as decision making, can make students look at the information they receive in a new light.
Lesson Plan
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TE Lesson: I've Got Issues!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study environmental issues from different perspectives. They look at the issues from the view of both preservationists and conservationists as they identify themselves with one group or the other. They determine how teamwork...
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Graph It with Coffee!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students interview employers and employees at local coffee shops about sales and profits and create graphs comparing and contrasting information obtained about the businesses.
Lesson Plan
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Your Safety and Security or Your Civil Liberties - Which is More Important?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine provisions of USA PATRIOT Act and controversies that led the ACLU to take legal action against the legislation. They create, conduct, and document results of a survey related to the PATRIOT Act and controversies...
Lesson Plan
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Endangered!

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students research endangered species.  In this ecology and literacy research lesson, students work with a partner to research an endangered species of their choice. Students choose from a variety of presentation methods and...
Lesson Plan
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Exploration of Mars

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the three-phase strategy used by NASA for scientific exploration. In this space science lesson, students research past missions to Mars. They share their discoveries and create a timeline as a class.
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My Brother Sam is Dead: A study of the Revolutionary War

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders complete an analysis of the Revolutionary War through literature. After "My Brother Sam Is Dead," students create a time capsule containing items that would be relevant during the Revolutionary War. They identify key...
Lesson Plan
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The President's Cabinet: Choosing the Right Person for the Job

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students examine the Federal Confirmation Process for filling cabinet members by completing a confirmation process flow chart. They research the process, and participate in a mock Confirmation Process.
Lesson Plan
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Holocaust Theme

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students complete a unit of lessons on the events of the Holocaust during WWII. They write daily journal entries, create a collage, view and discuss videos, read and analyze novels and poetry, and complete a novel project.
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Sieve of Eratosthenes

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discover the Sieve of Erathosthenes. They explore a method to find all the prime numbers in a group of numbers. Using models, students practice divisibility rules while examining the difference between prime and composite numbers.
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Characteristics of Africa

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students describe basic land features and characteristics that make up the continent of Africa, describe the people of Africa, where they live, and how they live and get a sense of what it is like to live in Africa.
Lesson Plan
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Opposing Views on the Vietnam War

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars analyze the feelings of Americans regarding the Vietnam War. In this Vietnam War lesson, students collaborate to research Internet and print sources regarding the perspectives on U.S. involvement in the war....
Lesson Plan
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Rosa Parks Autobiography

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students write the story of Rosa Parks from the perspective of someone who was sitting on the bus that day.  In this Rosa Parks/biography instructional activity, students read the story of Rosa Parks and discuss it in small...
Lesson Plan
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Social Studies: Global Women and Poverty

For Teachers All
Students conduct research and make comparisons about various global economies. Create graphic organizers to present their research findings and illustrate solutions to problems. Students discuss and debate issues based on what they have...
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Hurricane Katrina: You Be the Reporter

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars work in a small group to create news stories, feature stories and editorials/letters to the editor and organize them in a podcast, video-based program, or newspaper/magazine focused on Hurricane Katrina.
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Civil War Telecollaborative Newspaper

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders produce Civil War newspapers.
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Questions of War and Peace: Using Case Studies to Teach the History of American Foreign Policy

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students read three case studies to focus on how the United States dealt with foreign policy issues. In groups, they read about the decision to drop the atomic bomb, the commitment of troops to Vietnam and wwhether to send troops to...
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Reporting Live from the 20th Century!

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students read and write newspaper articles. In this newspaper article writing lesson, students collect and share current news articles, examine how they are written, then choose an event from the 20th century and write their own news story.
Lesson Plan
PBS

The Big Picture-Economic Security in the Country and your Community

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore economic security at the local and national level during the time period preceding the 2008 presidential election. They fill out surveys on their thoughts and concerns regarding the US economy, and watch...
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Children's Media and Censorship

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students examine the point of censorship when dealing with Students. They explore essays by Stephen King.