Curated OER
Holding a 'Peace Hug' at your School
Students consider feelings. In this positivity lesson, students realize how they can create a peaceful environment with their words and actions. They discuss feelings and personal experiences as a class and expand out to the rest of...
Curated OER
Debating the Issues: Ralph Bunche and Civil Rights
Synthesizing information from a PBS documentary Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey, its companion website, and several other resources (links to which are provided), high schoolers evaluate whether Bunche did all he could to advance the...
Curated OER
Ahimsa in the Real World: Truth, Love, and Nonviolence
Second graders create an abstract painting that conveys feelings of nonviolence. In this visual arts instructional activity, 2nd graders read "The First Step of Jainism" and discuss honesty, watch a digital story, discuss feelings after...
Curated OER
How Would You Feel?
Sixth graders put themselves in the shoes of aborigines who were displaced from their homes in the 1800s by Europeans who came in and took their land from them. They discuss the social injustices suffered by these people, and write a...
Peace Corps
Starting Off the Day (and School Year) in Ukraine
Young scholars compare the first day of school in Ukraine with the first day of school in the United States, including the challenges students and teachers both face in each country. They respond in class, in their journals, to the...
Curated OER
Noncombatancy and the Seventh day Adventist Church
Upper graders investigate how the Seventh Day Adventists are objectors to the practice of war. The lesson covers the Civil War and examines the church's position about the practice of war. The research extends to modern wars and learners...
Curated OER
A Question of Faith?
Should organized prayer be prohibited at high school sporting events? Students explore their own feelings about prayer in school-sponsored events, before discussing the recent Supreme Court decision banning public prayer at high school...
Curated OER
Teens Making a Difference
Is your opinion significant? Help your class discover the influence their opinions hold and encourage them to make a positive change in their community. To start, they get in teams and brainstorm why their school should have more healthy...
Curated OER
Reflective Journaling
Students write to influence positive change. In this service learning instructional activity, students reflect on their service learning experiences as they journal about sharing their time, talent, and treasures. Students share their...
Curated OER
I Like Me and I Like You
Students use the book "I Like Me!" to create a context for investigating self-concept (how one feels about self). They have the objective of realizing their rights and responsibilities. Students work in small groups conducting interviews...
Curated OER
What is Canadian?
Learners explore how artworks can become symbols of national identity. They examine and analyze Song of the Nations, a site specific sculpture by Quebecois artist Armand Vaillancourt that expresses his views of Quebec's position...
Curated OER
Getting along With Others
Students examine character traits to find the most positive behaviors. For this getting along lesson, students identify behaviors that are beneficial to getting along. Students evaluate their own behaviors and target three that could...
Curated OER
We're all different alike?
Students identify similarities and differences that they have with their peers. They explore why name-calling often occurs when an individual or group is deemed different, and how this targeting can be reframed into something positive
Curated OER
Creating a Personal Symbol
Students inquire about visual arts by creating an artistic etching. In this symbolism lesson, students identify the work of Keith Haring by researching the web and analyzing images. Students utilize linoleum or wood to create an etching...
Curated OER
LEAGUE: Learning to Give
Students explore the effects of human actions. In this respect and discrimination lesson, students read Thank You, Mr. Falker and identify the consequences of bullying and teasing. Students then relate personal experiences of hurt...
Curated OER
Does Security Mean Safer? Exploring Issues of Security in Public Places
Learners explore various scenarios that may or may not make them suspicious in the post-September 11 world, and discuss and write position papers about a fatal shooting involving air marshals and a mentally ill passenger.
Curated OER
Worth a Thousand Words-The Photography Essay
Students act as a public relations firm representing the school district and use photography to develop positive attitudes toward all programs. They brainstormed alternative methods to use photography and selected the photographic essay.
Curated OER
Acting Out The Story, Jane And The Dragon
Third graders reflect on and discuss the story, Jane and the Dragon, and portray their understanding of stereotyping through the actions of their character. Through the use of legends, drama can be used to educate understanding for other...
Curated OER
The July Crisis: Can You Stop the Great War?
Students role-play as diplomats from countries involved in World War I who have received telegrams stating they must prepare presentations on their country's position about the war. They have 45 minutes to reach a peace accord, or they...
Curated OER
The Teenage Single Parent
Students examine the challenges a single teenage parent faces. In groups, they research ways to positively cope with an unplanned pregnancy and design their own layette for their new baby. As a class, they discuss what it means to be...
National First Ladies' Library
The Debate on Slavery
Young historians research the debate over slavery; some students take the pro-slavery side and others the anti-slavery side. They take the role of a character such as a plantation owner, a legislator, a free Black, a slave, or a northern...
Curated OER
Contributions that Martin Luther King Jr. Made to Society
Second graders discover the positive effects Martin Luther King, Jr. had on society. In this U.S. history instructional activity, 2nd graders investigate racial tensions from sixty to seventy years ago and view a video about MLK, Jr....
Curated OER
Patriot or Loyalist? A Revolutionary Decision
Students research as a reporter would and present the loyalist and patriot point of view on the American Revolution. In this patriots versus loyalist lesson, students produce a project such as a video debate or webpage explaining the...
Curated OER
GOOD APPLES
Students consider society. In this respect lesson, students discover the importance of recognizing the positive aspects of people having similarities and differences. They discuss this concept as a class and participate in an activity...