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Introducing the Essay: Twain, Douglass, and American Non-Fiction
Students analyze American essayists Mark Twain and Frederick Douglass in an introduction to American literary non-fiction writing. For this essay history lesson, students identify methods for writing essays. Students read and analyze...
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The Enemy that Never Was
Students conduct research and explain in a speech why Japanese Canadians were not a threat to Canada during the Second World War.
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Rhetorical Devices
Eleventh graders consider rhetorical devices in speeches and then make an informed selection of effective rhetorical devices for a controversial topic presentation. Students present their findings using presentation software.
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Rhetorical Terms
Students explore online audio examples taken from public speeches, movies, songs, lectures, oral interpretations of literature and other media events to find uses for specific rhetorical terms. This lesson includes a video of...
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VA Statute for Religious Freedom, III
Young scholars analyze the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedoms and consider its implications. In this governing principles lesson, students explore primary and secondary sources regarding the document penned by Thomas Jefferson.
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Write Your Own Cultural Connections
Students write a cultural narrative. In this multicultural writing instructional activity, students create an expository narrative to teach others about their lives. Students complete the narrative and use a buddy editing strategy to...
Dream of a Nation
Solution Debate
Class members choose a current social, political, environmental, or economic problem presented in Tyson Miller's Dream of a Nation: Inspiring Ideas for a Better America, research this problem and a variety of suggested solutions, before...
Museum of Tolerance
The Pursuit of Democracy and Diversity: The Trial of Pro-Social Injustice in Historical Documents and Accounts
Class members investigate The Indian Removal Act of 1830, U.S. Theft of Mexican Territory Timeline, and President Abraham Lincoln’s letter to Horace Greeley, 1862, and then conduct a mock trial of each of these documents to determine...
Columbus City Schools
Poetry Speaking and Listening Standards
Celebrate April's National Poetry Month or enrich a poetry unit with a wealth of language arts material. Class members develop an oral interpretation of a poem and/or develop a podcast interview with a poet.
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Persuade or Die!
High schoolers read Patrick Henry's speech. They review prior learning about persuasive writing, and the American revolutionary war. Students listen as the teacher reads Patrick Henry's speech aloud to the class using lots of emotion and...
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Refining Your Public Speaking Skills
High schoolers use the rubric created in the Explore Lesson to help them craft an effective oral presentation worthy of a formal governmental hearing. They polish their oral presentations that are based on their position papers through...
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China
Students participate in a lesson that is focused on the culture of China. The unit is set up using the layered curriculum method which is student centered. They pick the type of activities and assessments.
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Debate on Ratification: Should We Ratify the New Constitution?
Students determine whether the Constitution should be ratified. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students research the roles of famous Federalists and Antifederalists in order to prepare them to participate in a classroom simulation...
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Speak Up, Speak Out
Fourth graders examine, compare, and summarize the speeches of Sojourner Truth and Patrick Henry. They review the parts of a good speech and design and give their own speech that expresses an opinion and persuades the listener..
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Martin Luther King, Jr. vs. Malcolm X
Eleventh graders compare and contrast the visions of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. In this African-American history lesson, 11th graders read speeches by each of the men and summarize the arguments made by each of them about...
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Baseball Cards
Students read a short story on baseball cards and reflect on Honus Wagner's decision to withdraw his card. In this baseball cards lesson plan, students study how children used cards in the 1930's and express their understanding of Honus...
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The Enemy that Never Was
Students write speeches explaining why Japanese Canadians were not a threat to Canada during World War 2. In this Japanese Canadians lesson plan, students learn about racism, and how the Japanese were targeted but not a threat during the...
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Media Literacy Unit - Part 4
Seventh graders study how advertisers use techniques to sell their products. In this persuasive media instructional activity, 7th graders analyze media messages to find the advertiser's purpose. They examine different advertising...
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The future of Affirmative Action
Eleventh graders explore the term Affirmative Action. In this US History instructional activity, 11th graders create a presentation that will determine the future of federal affirmative action programs. Students write a...
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Murals in my Neighborhood
Students use rubrics to grade murals in their city. In this mural design lesson plan, students learn about the design of murals and explore their city to find murals. Students grade the murals based on design and representation of the...
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Tour + Workshop = DESIGN: Form Follows Function
Students design a chair with function in mind. In this design lesson plan, students design a chair out of newspaper that is strong enough to hold a "peanut ball". Students discuss how the form follows the function. This lesson plan...
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Redesigning the Classroom
High schoolers redesign the classroom space. In this geometry lesson, students part take in making classroom rules and assigning value to the space in the classroom. They investigate measuring and problem solving in this lesson.
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A Walk Through Time
Students investigate the types of footwear worn during ten periods of history. In this secondary, art/math/social studies instructional activity, students view documentaries and popular films to study the time periods. ...
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Fastest Way to a Full Belly
High schoolers create a scale model of a cafeteria. In this scale lesson, groups improve their actual school cafeteria layout by taking measurements of the structure and redesigning furniture and food serving lines. They create a scale...