Curated OER
Follow a Bill!
Students participate in an activity to discover how a bill becomes law in California. In groups, they create a school program based on their own ideas for change. They develop and conduct a survey within their community and present their...
Curated OER
Voting and the U.S. Constitution (Past, Present, and Future), Part 2
Students analyze and discuss the 19th Amendment, and read the document, Why Women Want to Vote. Students illustrate statements from the handbill, then conduct a play about women's suffrage.
Curated OER
Can I Take Action?
Students create a solution to a problem related to the environment. They work together to develop the plan and pitch the plan to their class. They discuss the action steps taken in a story they were read.
Curated OER
Constrating Cinderellas/ Connecting LA Cenerentola
Students contrast the traditional Cinderella character with a modern, independent and socially conscious Cinderella. To activate prior knowledge by eliciting from the students some of the familiar story elements of the traditional...
Curated OER
Understanding Treaties: Students Explore the Lives of Yakama People Before and After Treaties
Learners examine the impact of treaties on the Yakama nation. They discover the importance of land and how they felt when their land was taken away. They role-play the positions of both the Yakama and citizens of the United States.
Curated OER
For Pete's Sake
Learners investigate the proposed Gazprom City in St. Petersburg, Russia. They review proposals from international architects and consider the pros and cons of the Gazprom City development. Students conduct a mock public hearing to...
Curated OER
The Nuclear Option
Students explore the history behind judicial nominations as well as the filibuster process. They discuss and debate filibuster merits and detractions, its use and alleged misuse, and what some Congressional leaders are currently doing...
Curated OER
Black and Blue
Students create print advertisements that persuade viewers to visit African-American history museums by detailing their artistic, cultural, and historical benefits.
Curated OER
Magazine Sales Talks
Students role-play to determine the best types of magazines that should be purchased for their media center. They create a sales presentation for a particular magazine in small groups. As they listen to each presentation they evaluate...
Curated OER
Inventors Timelines
Young scholars create a class timeline using the patent year for their selected inventor or invention. Using a piece of yarn, they physically create a timeline, and create and answer math word problems using the years from the timeline.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Can You Convince Me? Developing Persuasive Writing
Contains plans for four 40-minute lessons that teach persuasive writing to elementary students. In addition to student objectives and standards, these instructional plans contain links to PDF handouts and links to sites used in the...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Persuasive Essay: Environmental Issues
Contains plans for three lessons that teach students how to write persuasive essays about self-selected environmental issues. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites used in the lessons as...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Can You Convince Me?: Developing Persuasive Writing
This effective tool for teaching persuasive writing contains thorough lesson plans which encourage learners to take a stance and create arguments to support their position. Contains printable worksheets, rubrics, a PowerPoint...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Writing Effective Letters to the Editor
Contains plans for four lessons that teach students how to write letters to the editor, including what one is, a review of persuasive writing and letter format, and the importance of writing many drafts. In addition to objectives and...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Persuasive Writing for Summer Reading
A good lesson, to be used during the last month of the school year, for motivating young scholars to remain faithful to reading over the summer. Uses strategies such as student-chosen books and persuasive writing techniques.