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The Struggles Between "Something Old" and "Something New"
Students explore traditional life in Africa and assess how modern society may be impacting the values of the continent's traditional peoples. Students work in small groups to research various aspects of the infrastructures of African...
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Slavery and Abolition: Three Unforgettable Names
Young scholars research the people and events involved in the abolitionist movement prior to the U.S. Civil War. They read about and discuss the roles of Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman, and John Brown. Students complete a word splash, Venn...
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Ben Franklin the Good Citizen
Students investigate Benjamin Franklin's contributions to society. In this history instructional activity, students read about Franklin's philanthropic behavior and play a bucket brigade game to re-enact how fires were put out during...
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A Penny for Your Thoughts, Movies, or Music?
Students investigate copyright violation laws. In this media copyright lesson, students read two articles that discuss copyright laws, then they develop their own perspective on the laws. Students then divide into small groups and...
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John Gary Evans and the Politics of Race
Young scholars read letters written by Evans and Gunton regarding race relations. In this Progressive Movement lesson, students interpret the intentions and tone of the letters to understand contemporary racial beliefs. Young scholars...
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Lesson Ideas to Enrich Student Inquiry into the Holocaust
Students inquire about the Holocaust. In this Holocaust lesson, students read books and discuss their thoughts. Students also collect current event articles from newspapers. Students investigate ghettos, Pearl Harbor and Navajo Code...
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Badges of Pride
Fifth graders investigate jobs and how people identify with their job. In this labor lesson, 5th graders create a book from illustrations of various jobs. Students read an article about labor and answer questions about the article....
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The People of Kansas: Where did they come from and why did they come?
Students review census data to correlate to emigration in Kansas. For this Westward Expansion lesson, students analyze a painting and create definitions for emigration and discuss why people emigrate. Students read and analyze 1855...
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Breathing New Life into Old Traditions
Students investigate the role of ceremonies and other traditions of Native American cultures. They research various Native American nations and create posters that visually depict their research.
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Down to the Wire
Students reflect on their computer use and explore various perspectives on the growing role of technology in schools. They develop a stance on the issue to write a position paper.
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Reality Film
Students propose and create documentary films depicting a slice of "ordinary" life that reveals something unique or surprising about its subject. They, in groups, make films and present them to the school.
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Do You Have a Prayer?
Students review the 1st Amendment and the clauses which deal with prayer/religion in schools. They discuss, in groups, the Equal Access Act, which gives students the right to practice/express their religion at school and take a quiz on...
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You Are What You Eat: Lessons from Alice Waters
Learners view the AMERICAN MASTERS episode titled ALICE WATERS AND HER DELICIOUS REVOLUTION. They examine their own eating habits and determine how they can eat food that is both healthier and tastier. Through Guided Reading strategies,...
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Newscasts From Tiananmen Square
Students study the issues surrounding the Tiananmen Square Massacre through student-produced newscasts. They read, "China after Mao" to understand the intellectual and political climate of the times surrounding the Tiananmen Square...
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Novel Extension
Sixth graders play the role of meeting Tuck Everlasting. They prepare to answer that person's questions. They determine that each member of the family wants to know about a different thing.
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African Proverbs
Students read, interpret and research African proverbs to help them examine the diverse communities in Africa. Students write their own proverbs that reflect their own community and its values.
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All Aboard the Innovation Train
Young scholars read "Next Stop for the Subway, a Fully Automated Future" from The New York Times and consider the effect of technology on their town or city. After discussing arguments for and against the new computer-based subway...
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Tangled Text
Young scholars list different forms of communication, assess importance of writing, read and discuss article "String, and Knot, Theory of Inca Writing", research system of writing, and create "How It Works" posters.
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Gauging Beijing
Students examine the responsibilites of country's chosen to host the Olympics. After reading an article, they discuss how China is preparing for the 2008 Summer Games. They focus on the country's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities...
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Deadlock on Verdict
Students read a text about a murder trial. They review related vocabulary, complete a matching exercise and take a quiz. Afterward, they play a game called 'alibi' where the group with the weakest alibi is found guilty.
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Savings Accounts and Interest
First graders study money, banks, and getting interest on money. In this consumer math lesson, 1st graders listen to Stan and Jan Berenstain's, Berenstain Bears' Trouble With Money. They use the concepts in the book to discuss...
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Pressing Cases
Students investigate famous criminal cases in which the media has played a significant role and reflect on how the news helps to shape attitudes and behaviors in their own lives.
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American Colonization Society Lesson Plan
Students read an article online "Colonization and Emigration" and break into debating groups. They research points that support their side, namely whether or not the American Colonization Society was for or against segregation. They...
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Hunger at Home
Students discuss the plight of the homeless in the U.S. and in their own community. They participate in a food drive for a local shelter. They role play being homeless and discover what it would be like to not have food or shelter.