Curated OER
The Cuban Missile Crisis
Students reflect on the events that lead up to the Cuban Missile Crisis in the early 1960s. For this history lesson plan, students explore the conflicts between the United States and the Soviet Union revolving around missiles in...
Curated OER
A World At Peace
Students view a film segment and identify examples of world conflict. They examine why groups fight for control of land or natural resources. They discover ways in which conflict can be avoided.
Curated OER
Adding to the Picture: The 1963 March on Washington
Who do your scholars imagine when they think about the civil rights movement? If only a few faces come to mind, this lesson will expand their concepts of the movement's leaders. Learners examine an image of the 1963 March on Washington,...
Curated OER
The Lessons of Emmett Till
Students participate in a WebQuest designed to take them on a journey into the darkness that is race predjudice and the often-violent means in which it is manifested. They investigate the murder of a 14-year-old Chicago boy visiting...
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Using DNA to Explore Lizard Phylogeny
In a fun and interactive two-day lesson, learners sort anole lizard pictures by appearance. Next, they watch a video about the anoles and re-sort based on the information in the video. In addition to physical characteristics, budding...
Shakespeare in American Life
Performing Modernized Shakespeare
“All the world’s a stage…” What do Leonardo DiCaprio, Heath Ledger, and Kenneth Branagh have in common? They have all starred in modern adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays. After viewing a series clips from modern Shakespeare videos,...
Facing History and Ourselves
Emmett Till: Connecting the History of Lynching to The Murder
Though the murder of Emmett Till shocked 1950's America into turning attention to the racial crimes of the South, it was far from the first time racism had erupted into violence. High schoolers examine the killing in context with the...
Curated OER
Ecology Integration Using IMovie
Amazing! Any 5th grader would be more than willing to participate in this project. Students are broken into groups, each group reads one book from a list of five. They use their book as the basis for choosing an animal and environment to...
Curated OER
Half Man, Half Limping Rabbit
Students examine the possible advantages of mortality over immortality. They explain how or why change can be a powerful and positive force and that sometimes the beauty of a country, or of a culture, is not always obvious to the people...
Curated OER
Grow it Now, Drive it Later?
What do corn and career exploration have in common? A lot, if you're considering an agricultural career that contributes to alternative fuel resources. Through a series of films, presentations, activities, and readings, learners will...
Shakespeare in American Life
Patriarchy in King Lear and As I Lay Dying
King Lear, “Papa Doc” Duvalier, Colonel Walter E. Kurtz and Anse Bundren? Imagine a unit that examines the tragic hero and patriarchy in King Lear, As I Lay Dying and Apocalypse Now. To liven the brew, learners are asked to include in...
Curated OER
The Ballad of the Sad Café
Students view the film "The Ballad of the Sad Cafe" and analyze it for stereotypes of mountain and hillbilly communities. They identify and discuss Appalachian values represented in the film and write a report on their observations.
Curated OER
Mysteries of Egypt
Students investigate the Egyptian civilization. In this cultural lesson, students watch the film Mysteries of Egypt and create a replica of an ancient Egyptian artifact.
Curated OER
Becoming American: Between Two Worlds
Students examine American identity. In this immigration lesson, students explore the plight of Chinese Americans in their attempts to assimilate into the American culture while keeping their Chinese identities.
Curated OER
History of Miss America
Students make a time-lines of of decades using images from Miss America. In this history lesson, students looks at the country's beauty pageant and how it changes the lives of women in America. Students debate issues...
Curated OER
Making Choices about Tobacco Use
Students examine the dangers associated with smoking. In groups, they discuss what it means to be addicted to a drug and how the media influences our decisions. After watching excerpts of films, they identify the use of smoking and the...
Curated OER
Foreign Policy: Containment
Learners examine opinions regarding the American policy of containment. In this Cold War lesson, students read articles by George F. Kennan and Walter Lippmann. Learners compare the perspectives of the 2 men on U.S. foreign policy.
Curated OER
Hiroshima
Students conduct research focused around the events concerning the bombing of Hiroshima in Japan. The research is based upon the answering of several key questions. The students are also exposed to different media sources to see the...
Curated OER
An Introduction to Shamanism
Students investigate Inuit customs. In this cultural traditions lesson, students read about religious customs of the Inuit including Shamanism. Students discuss the role of Shaman and create Inuktitut-English dictionaries with terms...
Curated OER
What Can I Do?
Students examine their feelings and study constructive ways for resolving conflict. In this feelings and conflict resolution activity, students learn how to communicate their inner feelings. They complete a worksheet and work on a web...
Curated OER
Is Seeing Believing?
Pupils study different photographers who started the concept of battlefield photography. In this media lesson students explore how to "read" a photograph and relate the use of photography during the Civil War to current use...
Curated OER
Duke Ellington and the Rise of Jazz in New York
Pupils consider how Duke Ellington impacted the rise of jazz music. In this jazz music lesson plan, students listen to a lecture regarding the life and work of Ellington. Pupils also watch a video regarding Ellington and discuss music of...
Curated OER
Making Media for Democratic Citizenship
Students examine global development issues. In this media awareness lesson, students analyze current event issues and create video podcasts based on their research.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Patterns in the Distribution of Lactase Persistence
We all drink milk as babies, so why can't we all drink it as adults? Examine the trend in lactase production on the world-wide scale as science scholars analyze and interpret data. Groups create pie charts from the data, place them on a...