Curated OER
Identity: A Path to Self-Esteem
Sixth graders participate in a brainstorming activity in which they identify the types of decisions they make everyday. Individually, they complete a worksheet on making decisions effectively. After reading a poem, they identify the...
Curated OER
In Search of a Land Ethic
Students research the theory that everything is connected to everything else. Students explore the concept of how do we put normative values on our nonhuman environment. Students investigate an ecologist and write an informational...
Curated OER
Heroes Or Role Models?
Students recognize that "heroes" and "role models" are not synonymous terms. By analyzing heroes of other cultures and periods, they determine that many heroic figures, mythic or historical, rather than providing a model of a societal...
Curated OER
The Physiological and Psychological Development of the Adolescent
Students examine the life of a teenager from their own perspective and an adult's. In groups, they focus on the biological changes and how they are different in a girl and a boy. Individually, they write a paper about these changes and...
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The Art of Violence
Violence and human suffering, as represented in art and film, are the focus of an investigation of the power of visual images and the moral implications of such representations. Class members examine “Guernica,” Pablo Picasso’s massive...
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Forced Assimilation
Students identify ways that a society promotes assimilation and examine areas where it still occurs in our present culture. They assess the value of assimilation.
Curated OER
Service Learning
Students explore the value in helping others. In this ethics lesson, students use videos, worksheets, Internet articles and group discussion to develop a personal perspective on what it means to help others.
Biz Kids
Understanding Business Ethics
After screening an episode by BizKids, scholars show what they know about business vocabulary, then take part in grand conversations about role models and ethical dilemmas.
Curated OER
Word Search: Character Counts
In this character education word search learning exercise, learners identify words pertaining to positive character attributes such as respect, truthfulness, and fairness. Students locate 19 character traits on the puzzle.
Curated OER
Legends and Lore
Students begin the lesson by responding in their journals regarding questions about their favorite fairy tales. They listen to a folk tale and answer questions based on the folk tale genre and then brainstorm aphorisms that convey moral...
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What is Meant by Returning to Fundamental Principles?
Young scholars explain in what ways the American experience in self-government can be called an adventure in ideas. They evaluate positions on a number of issues related to the fundamental principles and values of government and...
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African-American Gospel Music
Pupils examine gospel music including the lyrics and instrumentation. They explain the meaning of the lyrics and how they are related to the cultural values associated with the music. They differentiate between gospel and spiritual music.
Curated OER
Gluskap Story Skits
Students read and analyze a Gluskap (Algonquin legend) story. Together, they discuss the morals and values these stories demonstrate and in groups, create and perform an imaginative skit based on one of them. They perform their skits for...
Walters Art Museum
The Symbolism of Allegorical Art
Introduce learners to allegorical art with four bronze sculptures by Francesco Bertos. After modeling how to recognize bias and allegory in Bertos' Africa, class groups examine the other three sculptures in the series before creating...
ProCon
Vegetarianism
What do Mike Tyson, Ellen DeGeneres, and Paul McCartney have in common? They're all famous vegetarians. Using the resource, scholars learn about the pros and cons of eating a vegetarian diet. They read a fascinating history of...
Curated OER
A Quick Fix (Private-Religious)
Young scholars consider their contributions to society. In this service learning lesson, students examine Jewish tradition of tikkun olam. Young scholars recognize that the world is imperfect as they participate in classroom activities...
Curated OER
Folktales: Oral Traditions as a Basis for Instruction in our Schools
Students visit their school library to read a variety of folktales. While they read, they identify the trickster or hero in each and discuss how the character represents the chaos in the real world. In groups, they write their own...
Curated OER
Using Southeast Asian Folktales to Teach Reading and Writing
Students use maps to locate the countries of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. In groups, they compare and contrast the three countries in regard to their culture, morals and values. They read various examples of folktales and write their...
Curated OER
Simulation: Connecting Osiris
Students identify Ancient Egypt as the origin of the idea that moral worth as the key to eternal life. In this Ancient Egypt lesson, students discuss immorality or eternal life. Students then work the Osiris puzzle and discuss the legend...
Curated OER
Genetic Decision Making Model
Students examine case studies involving bioethics. They write a paragraph explaining the problem. Students construct a list of values that are involved in the conflict. They list probable solutions to the problem and consequences to...
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VOTING
Students discuss 'The importance of voting'. They elect 5 candidates - each representing one of the five values. Each candidate presents a case why their value is important. The other class members then vote for whichever value/candidate...
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Social Studies: Heroes in American Culture
Pupils examine heroes and discuss their characteristics, values, and actions. They produce Powerpoint presentations on real-life and fictional heroes. Students interview veterans for an oral history project.
Curated OER
Art and Patriotic Culture
Art forms, especially government-sponsored "poster art", very effectively conveyed specific cultural values during World War II. Understanding the role that visual images play in expressing issues and ideas is critical to developing...
Curated OER
What Would You Do?
Learners study major religions and determine how and why an individual who held each of these beliefs would respond to a similar crisis.