Deliberating in a Democracy
Freedom of Expression
Should democracies include hate speech as a protected right? Scholars analyze the rights found under the First Amendment to the Constitution through researching evidence. Freedom of expression becomes the focal point of the...
Annenberg Foundation
America's History in the Making: Classroom Applications Four
The final installment of a 22-part American history series examines the many faces that make up the country's story. From Henry Ford to Tulio Serrano, scholars use biographical evidence and Internet research to uncover the people behind...
Syracuse University
Civil War
What was it like to enlist as a soldier in the Civil War? By using enlistment papers, young scholars consider this question. After they've looked at the primary source and discussed it, they create a short story of a fictional soldier to...
Teaching Tolerance
Community Spotlight Cards
Not all heroes wear capes—or cleats. Class members identify unsung heroes in their schools or towns for interviews, then create trading cards. A celebration including presentations or trading of cards completes their investigation of...
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Learning area 4: Learn About the Meaning of Community
Scholars examine the jobs found in their community by way of surveying. After collecting data, pupils analyze their findings and share their observations with their peers. A video sparks interest. Two posters motivate participants to...
Beyond the Story
The Diary of a Young Girl Digital Edition
Access a wealth of rich, engaging activities that will allow learners to see through the eyes of Anne Frank and experience her emotional journey as they read her biography The Diary of a Young Girl.
Peace Corps
Family
Family traditions are the focus of a lesson that explores the lives of children in India and those in your classroom. Scholars examine their own family roles and traditions, then respond to an informative text detailing a young...
Heritage Foundation
Crime and Punishment
You wouldn't give someone a 10-day timeout for eating a piece of candy. The US government, too, does not believe in unreasonable punishment. A variety of exercises exploring the clauses of the US Constitution prompts class members to...
US Institute of Peace
Identifying Elements of Conflict
What lies at the heart of a conflict? Help pupils peel back the layers during an in-depth study of the elements of conflict. A instructional activity addressing peacekeeping and conflict management examines the historical, emotional, and...
US Institute of Peace
Simulation on Conflict Prevention in the Greater Horn of Africa
Is containing a conflict possible in the Horn of Africa? Young peacekeepers engage in a simulation that examines the multi-faceted conflict that exists between the countries of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Representatives from ten countries in...
Montana State University
Who’s on Top?
What's it like to climb Mount Everest? An educational resource encourages an in-depth knowledge of Mount Everest's scientific missions through a variety of activities, including an analysis of maps, a KWL chart, videos, a simulation, and...
Anne Frank House
Anne Frank House: The Secret Annex
A virtual tour of Amsterdam's Anne Frank House permits viewers to not only visit the Secret Annex but to also view photos and videos, examine a timeline of events, and learn about the fate of Anne Frank and her family.
Alabama Department of Archives and History
Two Different African-American Visions: W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington
The strategies civil rights activists Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois proposed for blacks to achieve racial progress is the focus of an activity in which class groups identify the strategies as well as the benefits and drawbacks...
Curated OER
Research and Development
Students research the public and philanthropic life of a selected person to whom they have written. They continue research and writing questions in preparation for a visual and oral presentation.
Curated OER
Class and Health: You Are What You Eat
Students determine a working definition of class in order to determine how social class can affect personal health. They research their own nutritional needs and work to encourage healthy change in their communities.
Curated OER
Paradigm Shift: Gandhian Nonviolence and the Concept of Power
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this social justice instructional activity, students examine sources regarding the teachings of Mohandas Gandhi pertaining to...
Curated OER
Traits Needed for Effective Group Process
Students compile a list of 10 desirable traits for working with others. They evaluate the traits that are necessary for specific jobs and describe them in work settings.
Curated OER
Change Over Time
Learners write a personal narrative that is designed to help them reflect on the nature and meaning of change in their lives.
Curated OER
Fill Me In
Second graders work on expanding their vocabulary. In this personal writing lesson, 2nd graders practice word identification and complete a worksheet by filling in the blanks.
Curated OER
THE FEDERAL CONFIRMATION PROCESS: CHOOSING THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB
High schoolers analyze the process whereby presidential appointees are confirmed.
Curated OER
When the Personal Becomes Presidential
Students explore American voter's attitudes toward the checkered pasts of presidents and presidential candidates. They create and conduct a survey of members of their school community and analyze the results.
Curated OER
The Right Ideas
Students investigate the Bill of Rights and explain how non-profit organizations take care of those rights. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students work in groups to look at the rights that are included in the Bill of Rights. They...
Curated OER
Pinckney Benedict's "The Sutton Pie Safe" from Town Smokes
Students read Pinckney Benedict's "The Sutton Pie Safe" to learn about family symbols and social commentary. In this close reading lesson, students read four journal prompts for the story and answer the listed questions for each section.
Curated OER
Conflict Resolution Lesson Plan
Fourth graders investigate conflict and social justice. In this conflict resolution lesson plan, 4th graders consider conflicts they have experienced and think about how they could have applied conflict resolution strategies to change...