As the investigation into the reporting of the events in Ferguson, Missouri, continues, class members consider how bias influences perception, how the tendency is to collect evidence that supports preconceived notions. The big idea...

Class members are challenged to write a neutral news story about the events they observe in a short video. After sharing their stories in groups and discussing the different perceptions, the class concludes with a video of...

The attempts of journalists to verify the events surrounding the shooting of Michael Brown take center stage as individuals analyze three of the initial newspaper accounts of the story. The whole class discussion then focuses...

Citizens in the modern world can't imagine making the same social choices made by many Germans in the 1920s and 1930s, but they don't realize that they actually do it every day by ostracizing others. A case study of middle schoolers...

Confirmation bias makes it difficult to overcome our preconceived notions of others. That's the big idea in a lesson that teaches learners strategies to recognize and question their biases.

Ninth graders explore the different domain suffixes in the web site address, how to find the author or sponsor of a page to determine authority and accuracy. They determine how currency of a page. Students enter the lab, log onto...

Young scholars examine a specific search program called Archie. This collection of servers locates the required FTP sites on the Internet and compiles a list of all the files. This lesson was originally intended for librarians with...

Students explore how to access a gopher site using a root menu. Several options are presented with their definitions and the fastest routes examined in this activity. The activity is designed for librarians with little or no net experience.

Students discover how wi-fi works in walkie talkies and computers. They also examine wi-fi wireless network coverage areas and campus locations in which data was taken to measure usage. They complete graphs based on the usage for...

Students investigate and experiement with a 9-volt motor. They will use the connecting wire and battery pack to discover fans.

Pupils create a slideshow on a chosen subject. They connect to the subject matter through images from the Internet, books, or pictures they have taken. Students convey the emotions the topic elicits and demonstrate understanding of the...

Harness the power of algebra to solve problems. Young mathematicians learn to work out multi-step problems by applying algebraic techniques, such as solving equations and proportions. They use tape diagrams to model the problem to finish...

The choices made by Roy Bryant and J.W. Millam, the men who murdered Emmett Till in 1955, are usually the ones people ponder when they examine the case. But other individuals made choices that contributed to the event and its subsequent...

Students create and write mini books.  In this Dr. Seuss instructional activity, students bring in their favorite Dr. Seuss book, share why it is their favorite with the class and write a paragraph explaining why they like it. ...

Students create a class book award. In this book award lesson plan, students review the book awards already created (Caldecott or Newbery) and look at books that have received these awards. They come up with their own award and nominate...

Learners write a line by line analysis of a song which they feel expresses a powerful message that can change society for the better. They then present their analysis to the class in an oral report.

Seventh graders create mixed media representations of landscape designs in Africa and Asia. The lesson is great for cross-curricular projects with the Social Sciences and/or Literature, or can be used as a self-contained project. ...

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...

Young scholars develop an understanding about what will happen to trout after they are released into the trout stream. For this trout life lesson, students discuss how it feels to release the trout they have cared for. Young scholars...

Go on an electronic field trip. Discover Spanish-speaking countries through Internet exploration. Learners participate in a whole group discussion to general knowledge about the location, cultural background, independence and current...

Literary themes don't just belong to literature. High schoolers listen to the lyrics of modern songs by Arrested Development, Lauryn Hill, and others to enhance their study and to connect to characters, conflicts, and themes of...

Eighth graders examine the Mexican War and its outcome through music. In this primary source analysis lesson, 8th graders analyze the lyrics of selected songs to consider the 2 perspectives regarding U.S. involvement in the war. Students...

Sixth graders contrast communities with groups. In this community lesson, 6th graders read "What is Community?" and discuss attributes of communities that distinguish them from groups.

The 1960's marked shifts in American culture, politics, and policy. Your class groups up to research a series of primary source documents resulting in a timeline and a 15 minute oral presentation. Active learning all the way.