High schoolers design emergency shelters.  In this designing emergency shelters lesson, students discuss living conditions of people after a natural disaster.  High schoolers discuss the tsunami that struck East Asia. ...

Students make an environmentally sound package. In this packaging lesson students examine various types of modern packaging. The problem of waste is discussed leading into a discussion of waste reduction. The students choose an item that...

Students explore the lives and contributions of the many black Americans who are honored on U.S. commemorative postage stamps, make a presentation that synthesizes information about a historical figure and time, and write a persuasive...

Students write a story about themselves as the main character in a work situation. For this writing perspectives lesson, students brainstorm about their future occupation. Students then use themselves as the main character in a short...

Students examine the many disasters in West Virginia. In this US history lesson, students write about and give an oral presentation of one of the disasters as if they were reporters.

Students use web technology to investigate ancient Greece and the Olympic Games. They explore the history of the Olympics. Students make connections between Greek and English. They make and record a persuasive speech and write a...

Third graders use a research checklist to gather information for a brochure of their local area. students then use a Brochure Data List and Brochure Rubric to edit their brochure. They discuss and revise and create their final brochure.

Third graders explore the contributions of women to mathematics by writing a research paper, presenting a summary to their peers, and sharing an activity with their peers. They use a variety of reference materials to gather information...

Eighth graders write a comparison/contrast essay to determine which of two cars should be purchased from the parents' perspective.

Fifth graders explore how Africans built South Carolina into an economic giant. They write an expository paper explaining how Africans and their descendants built the rice empire along the Carolina coastline. They write a persuasive...

Third graders choose an animal to research and write a report about. They determine the animals' habitat, animal classification, whether it is endangered or extinct, and the type of food it eats. Also, they add any special...

Students simulate breathing for a smoker and someone with a chronic lung disease. In this health science lesson, students examine the short and long term effects of smoking. They write a persuasive argument against it.

Tenth graders investigate the balance between national security and individual rights using the Japanese American internment camps during World War II as the setting. The activity incorporates photographs from the Manzanar camp in...

Students, in groups, complete a WebQuest titled "Love Canal Debate". They follow the WebQuest to research and write papers on different points of view regarding the Love Canal environmental disaster.

Young scholars formulate theories about the Lewis and Clark Expedition about its purpose and impact on America. They write position papers supported with facts discovered in their research. Students include quotes, factual references,...

Students create an effective classification and counter argument.  In this counter-argument lesson, students decide upon a label for at least three types of people and then describe their groups.  Students describe three types...

High schoolers compare authors Rachel Carson and Mary Eliza Church Terrell. They read an introduction by Alice Walker and summarize the main points. They also identify the language she uses to persuade readers. They write their own...

Students, in groups, research Rembrandt's life and works. They find critiques of his work, as well. Each group reports their findings back to the rest of the class. Finally, they create abstract drawings and write interpretations about...

Students identify the key components of an argument essay. They differentiate between claims based on facts, opinions, beliefs,and prejudice. Students develop skills of critical thinking in this lesson.

Students write a paper on the impact of video-conferencing in an area of their choice. The paper should discuss pros and cons to this technology and include a clear description of what video-conferencing is.

Students will apply their knowledge acquired from two guest speakers to writing a three hundred-word essay on either the pros or cons of genetic engineering. They will try to persuade the reader of their essays to agree with their stance...

Eleventh graders explore the redistricting process.  For this American Government lesson, 11th graders examine the electoral map.  Students write an essay posing an argument for the redistricting process. 

Learners use discussion and writing to express their views about the causes, circumstances and impact of the shooting of a six year old girl by a classmate.