Curated OER
Separate But Equal Opinions
Students examine the ways in which editorials and Op-Ed pieces respond to current events. They write editorials in response to news items from the New York Times.
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Social, Political and Economic Effects of Industrialization
Tenth graders role-play a person living in the United States during the 1890s. Students research their role using focus questions about daily life, including standard of living.industrialization. They have the opportunity to ...
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Tricks of the Trade A Collection of Concrete Poems-for writing concrete poems
Students explore concrete poetry. In this instructional activity about poetry, students read A Poke in the I, by Paul B. Janeczko, and are introduced to concrete poems. Students read several different kinds of concrete poems including...
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Whose Peace?
Young scholars discuss the historical conflicts in Israel and the Middle East after reading an article from The New York Times as a class. Students are divided into groups after the discussion and research parties of interest in the...
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A Test Case for Individual Rights
Students examine the different points of view regarding testing students for drug use. They then work in pairs to create and perform dialogues that flesh out two sides of the argument around this controversial issue.
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News Coverage
Young scholars compare and contrast methods of media coverage. In this media awareness lesson, students keep track of news regarding a world or national issue for the period of 1 week. Young scholars collaborate to describe the type of...
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The Homestead Act
Eighth graders analyze the Native American's viewpoint of the Homestead Act. Using one Native American group who lived in Nebraska, they write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper discussing the Homestead Act and how it affected...
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Environment: The Haves and the Have Nots
Pupils examine consumption habits in developed and developing countries and determine their effects on natural resources. In groups, they assess graphs on the Living Planet Report and observe the connection between consumption and...
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Learning About Islam
Learners discover how Muslim teens are affected by people's misconceptions about Islam. They see a Muslim teen's point of view on Islam and how it is portrayed in Western society and write a letter to Muslim youth group.
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Father Time
Students create a memory book and acrostic poem for Father's Day. For this Father's Day lesson, students appreciate unique things their fathers do for them. Students create an original project for their father.
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Opposition to the AK Native Claims Settlement Act
Students research the ANCSA and report from small groups about what they read.
National First Ladies' Library
The Many Voices of Literature
Students discover the wealth of literature written by individuals not born in the United States. They discover the literature of individuals of multiple ethnicities born in the United States. Students compile a list of books they would...
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Unauthorized Immigration and the U.S. Economy
Students examine unauthorized immigration in the United States. In this current issues lesson, students examine 4 letters written to the editor regarding unauthorized immigration. Students act as editors and analyze the letters choosing...
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The Teen Scene
Students explore the methods used by teen magazines to attract a variety of teenagers. They evaluate existing magazines and in small groups, students create their own magazine that is geared toward specific teen demographics.
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Drawing the Line at Freedom?
Students explore civil liberties as they relate to the events of September 11, 2001 and the months that followed, and discuss how these circumstances may or may not have altered the rights of American citizens and foreigners visiting the...
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Views Concerning U.S. Imperialism after the Spanish-American War
Students research the impact of American Imperialism. In this Spanish-American War lesson, students visit the listed Web sites to discover details about the war and its effects. Students use the information they locate to participate in...
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Selecting a State Fish
Students work in groups to select a state fish for their state. They review reference materials to make a list of state characteristics and select a fish that best exemplifies the state.
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Decision Making and Assertiveness
Fourth graders identify a problem and write a persuasive essay, to the appropriate audience, to correct the problem.
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Anne Frank: Newspaper
Students research information about the Holocaust or a current example of prejudice. They create a newspaper to be used by future classes as a learning tool.
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Get Out the Vote!
Students discuss importance of voting within a democracy, and investigate reasons why people vote, and why they don't. Students then conduct survey, make hypotheses about voter motivation, and develop materials to promote voting among...
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Decision Making and Assertiveness
Fourth graders identify a problem and write a persuasive essay to the appropriate audience, to correct the problem. They demonstrate effective decision making based on positive self-worth. Students need to write a paragraph about their...
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Digging Into the Past
Fifth graders study fossils and how they are charted. In this fossil lesson plan, 5th graders research the excavation process of discovering fossils, and view fossils. They then do a hands on activity that involves plastic fossils that...
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Double V Campaign: Victory at Home and Victory Abroad
Students write a persuasive essay as if they were an African American in World War II and decide if they would contribute war bonds or not. In this World War II lesson plan, students study the segregation of World War II and the unity...
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The Great Depression and Now: The Migrant Worker Experience
High schoolers identify the concerns of people caught in desperate times during the Great Depression. They make connections between The Grapes of Wrath and historical images from the Great Depression. Students make connections between...