Curated OER
Who or What is Un-American?
Young scholars explore concepts about civil liberties, research the history of sedition-related legislation in the U.S. and create a position paper on the topic.
ReadWriteThink
Analyzing Famous Speeches as Arguments
A speaker, a message, an audience. After analyzing these elements in Queen Elizabeth's speech to the troops at Tilbury, groups analyze how other speakers use an awareness of events, and their audience to craft their arguments....
Curated OER
Breaking Barriers
Determine how African-Americans have broken barriers in this history lesson. Middle schoolers discuss the 15th Amendment and the American civil rights movement prior to analyzing Barack Obama's speech "A More Perfect Union," taking care...
Curated OER
Analyzing Persuasion
A reading of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech launches a study of rhetorical devices such as hyperbole, allusion, metaphor, simile, personification, connotative language and parallel structure. Class members then...
Curated OER
Preparing to Speak
High schoolers articulate what elements must be present in a successful, persuasive speech by composing a "presentation plan." They explain what they know about speech delivery in preparation for the presentation of their final projects.
Curated OER
Getting our Paws into the Cause
Twelfth graders examine local, state, and/or national animal welfare organization. For this Social Studies lesson, 12th graders research their identified organization. Students develop a planned intervention...
Curated OER
Nominate a Classmate
Young scholars study what it means to be good citizens. In this government lesson, students nominate a classmate for being a good citizen and write a persuasive letter to the principal persuading the principal to make that person the...
Anti-Defamation League
The Movies, the Academy Awards and Implicit Bias
"And the award goes to. . . " High schoolers investigate bias in the movie industry by reading articles, watching a short video, and examining data about the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) membership, nominees, and...
Curated OER
Effects of Lung Disease
Students illustrate the chronic lung conditions associated with smoking and write a persuasive argument against smoking. In this lung disease lesson, students use straws and balloons to illustrate the problems created by smoking. They...
Curated OER
Long-Term Goals
Students set long-term and short-term goals. In this character education instructional activity, students determine whether goals that they write for themselves are long-term or short-term.
Curated OER
Doing What's Right
Students hold a class discussion. In this integrity instructional activity, students discuss the definition of integrity and read various handouts about what it means to do what's right. Students write a reflection in their journals.
Curated OER
Mary Eliza Church Terrell -- Civil Rights Leader
Young scholars examine writings of Mary Eliza Church Terrell. They role play themselves as an African American woman in the 19th century. They describe her actions and how they benefited minorities.
Curated OER
Constitution Week
Students prepare one-minute broadcasts about events leading to the writing of the Constitution and current issues in the next election. Students read their broadcasts on the school P.A. system each morning during Constitution Week.
Curated OER
Rainforest Problem
Third graders use a hypothetical story in order to create a context for the lesson. The story presents a problem that needs to be solved. They write a letter to a government official as part of the lesson.
Curated OER
Lung Disease
Students simulate breathing for a smoker and someone with a chronic lung disease. In this health science lesson plan, students examine the short and long term effects of smoking. They write a persuasive argument against it.
iCivics
So You Think You Can Argue
What defines an argument, and how can someone properly formulate a counterargument? This resource provides two options—an interactive PowerPoint presentation or worksheet—that will support your learners as they begin to explore how to...
Curated OER
Presidential Election 2000
Students examine the presidential candidates and their election platforms. They further analyze the platforms by creating a chart to determine which candidate most represents his or her beliefs and values.
Curated OER
Time Management
Students record their daily activities and graph the results using the educational software program called Inspiration. This lesson is intended for the upper-elementary classroom and includes resource links and activity extensions.
Curated OER
How to Deal With Class Size Increases
While class size increases make it more challenging for teachers to meet students' needs, there are ways to make things a little easier.
Curated OER
May The Best Character Win
Students examine the financial committment to running a campaign. They discuss the difference between electroal and popular votes. They realize how involved a political campaign is!
Curated OER
"Hey, Mr. Producer!"
Students examine the economic roller coaster involved in the production of a Broadway musical. They read online articles to investigate similarities and differences between nonprofit theater production and Broadway, or commercial,...
Curated OER
Socratic Questioning
If you are new to the technique of Socratic questioning, check out this resource that details the five steps in the Socratic method. The examples of each step are drawn from Brave New World.
Curated OER
Stating Your Position
Learners make a formal effective presentation proclaiming the position benefits before a simulated governmental hearing. They objectively rate the accuracy and effectiveness of presentations given before a simulated governmental hearing.
Curated OER
Space Exploration
Students explore different planets of our solar system. Students gather specific information on each of the planets. Students choose suitable planet for colonization.