Curated OER
Thanksgiving Traditions
Everyone celebrates traditions in different ways. Young writers share the ways their families celebrate Thanksgiving with a journal writing prompt and discussion activity.
Curated OER
Standards and Measures
Students conduct a "one-question interview" about standardized tests. They assess two sections of a standardized test that they took or will take this year and write an article for their school newspaper that consolidates their test...
Curated OER
Meting Out Justice
Learners investigate the murder case of Emmett Till and identify the missing pieces from the case. Through research, they then work to fill in the gaps to create a basis for examining how justice might be served anew in this...
Curated OER
Whitewashing History
Young scholars revisit issues of civil rights in the U.S. They use the recent national discussion of retiring Senator Strom Thurmond's 1948 Dixiecrat Presidential campaign as a starting point.
Curated OER
Who Decides Who Dies?
Students explore various state laws concerning capital punishment and conduct a mock meeting of the United States Congress to set standards for the death penalty.
Curated OER
Defining Issues
Students work on a 'campaign committee' to define civic issues that are important to them and their community. They write letters to city officials with proposals for how to address these issues.
Curated OER
A Distant View
Learners investigate the essential concepts of how lenses work to magnify vision, and then build simple telescopes to demonstrate their understanding. They write a description of how their telescope could be improved and how it works.
Curated OER
Grade Expectations
Students explore how the ten percent plan and other education initiatives promote diversity, as well as about their practical effects on students from different types of educational and economic backgrounds. They discuss college...
Curated OER
Life and Death Decisions
Students defend contrasting perspectives concerning the purpose of medicine and the issues surrounding euthanasia.
Curated OER
Trading Nations
Students analyze the impact of a global economy on the workers, business leaders and governments of China and the United States.
Curated OER
Art as Therapy
Students explore how they connect with artwork on an emotional level through writing and the creation of an original piece of art.
Curated OER
People Who Need People
Students study The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund and several immigrant families who have benefited from it. They assess needs of people in their own community and create a plan for an organization to help address some of those needs.
Curated OER
Class Actions
Students examine the many facets of the term "class," defining the term and exploring some of the ways that class plays into life in American society. They participate in a poll about class-related issues.
Curated OER
So Little Time
Students examine the evolution of the AIDS epidemic in various world regions during the last 22 years. They research advancements, programs, and attitudes about AIDS in various world regions They compile a "global timeline" of the AIDS...
Curated OER
A Prescription for Drug Success
Students explore criticisms of the pharmaceutical drug industry. They also become aware of the difficult and lengthy process of testing new drugs by inventing fictional drugs and testing plans.
Curated OER
Problem Solving Using Coin Identity and Coin Value
Students identify characteristics of a penny, nickel, dime, and quarter, match the value of coins, and practice using money for a purchase.
Curated OER
For the Birds
Students examine the different types of pandemic flu viruses and virus "scares" that have occurred over the past hundred years by creating a master chart that displays the origins, transmission, symptoms, and socio-historical impact of...
Curated OER
Let's Sleep on It
Students research sleep following a class discussion on an article in The New York Times. Students use their research information to create a health and wellness exhibit that addresses topics related to sleep.
Curated OER
Comparing Colleges
Young scholars begin process of selecting suitable colleges by exploring colleges in foreign countries and reflecting on a possible future life far from their native countries. They rank various criteria for selecting colleges, discuss...
Curated OER
Happy Ending?
Students explore different perspectives on withdrawing troops from Iraq. They examine the endings and consequences of other major conflicts in modern history to gain further insight into the situation in Iraq and its uncertain end date.
Curated OER
Finding The Middle Ground
Students examine the recent truce between the Israeli and Palestinian governments. They explore the turbulent history of these groups and the recent developments from the viewpoints of Middle Eastern nations in preparation for a mock...
Curated OER
Express Yourself
Young scholars share opinions about the way students behave. They write letters to the editor responding to an article.
Curated OER
Inquiring Minds
Students participate in a "fishbowl" discussion to address the notions of government and intelligence accountability for the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. They write letters to the President of the United...
Curated OER
Prairie Dog Prognosis
Students discuss the transmission of diseases from exotic pets to humans. They research different aspects of particular zoonotic diseases from the perspectives of the animal vector, the parasite, the infected human, and the carrier human.