Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Adventures along the Oregon Trail in Nebraska

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students discover how the land and people we develop relationships with in Nebraska affect our survival--past, present, and future. They write about and interview their grandparents, parents and peers and compare them with people on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crisis in Darfur

For Teachers 10th - 12th
High school social studies teachers addressing the crisis in Darfur could use elements of this plan to increase social studies vocabulary and research skills. It includes a page of lecture/discussion notes, instructions for creating...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Outsourcing City Hall

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine how some city halls around the country are using private companies to run them. After watching a video, they write a reaction paper to some part of it. They write an article for their school newspaper discussing...
Lesson Plan
Foreign Policy Research Institute

Debate: Islam & Democracy

For Teachers 10th - 12th
World religion or social studies classes studying Islam may find this debate-based instructional activity useful for exploring Islam and its compatibility with democracy. The final assessment is a five-paragraph persuasive essay. Some...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Contemporary Civic-life Issue Research Based Essay

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders write a five paragraph persuasive essay on a contemporary civic-life issue.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Technology And Our Quality of Life

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders design a product or machine and determine the impact their invention has on a person's quality of life. They present their design and machine with a description of its possible impacts to an audience of peers and adults.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Russia To Do?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students watch a PowerPoint presentation on the Gulag system in Russia. In groups, they use the internet to create maps on climate and population pyramids for the country of Russia. They must use this information and develop a plan to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Celebrating Our Connections Through Water

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students examine the role of water in ceremonies around the world. In this world history instructional activity, students explore how other cultures celebrate water. They create a Water Day for younger students to participate in.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mock-Muck

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars purify water samples using various techniques. In this water treatment instructional activity, students complete a variety of activities to learn about the process. A data chart is included for recording results. A...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bob Dylan: No Direction Home

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students hold panel discussions on selected topics about the 1960s and their impact on modern-day events. As visual reinforcement, they watch the film about Bob Dylan and research the music of the period as well as his musical...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fire Escape

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the effects of the volcanic eruption of Nyiragongo in Congo as a springboard to exploring past examples of volcanic eruptions and their respective relief efforts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Monster and Myths: Scripts

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore characteristics of the myth genre.  In this myth lesson, students become familiar with various myths and the cultures they were derived from. Students compare in a graphic organizer. Students write...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

MONSTERS AND MYTHS: SCRIPTS /SCULPTS

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders are introduced to myths formed by many cultures as a unique genre of literature. They use critical thinking skills to compare and contrast mythic tales, compare versions of the same story, and respond to literature in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WorldWatcher Project: Global Warming Project

For Teachers 8th - Higher Ed
Students conduct lab activities, computer visualizations, and other various forms of research in preparation for a role-play activity in which they assume the identities of advisors to various heads of state on the subject of global...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Water Crisis

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students research a given nation and complete an activity chart for that country.   In this water crisis lesson students work in groups to organize and present the information for their given country. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Under Construction

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the concept of 'nation building,' focusing on outcomes of U.S. involvement in nation building efforts in Afghanistan, past and present attempts at nation building and how the U.S. should proceed in the war against...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Another Day That Will Live In Infamy

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars are encouraged to share, through discussion and writing, their feelings about these and other acts of terrorism, as well related issues such as national security and media coverage of the attacks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trading Off

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has impacted the people and economies of North America and Mexico.
Unit Plan
Core Knowledge Foundation

Greek And Latin Root Words

For Teachers 8th
Students examine Greek and Latin root words. They research the history of the English language, solve word games and puzzles, write paragraphs about the impact of Greek and Latin on the English language, and create flip chart study guides.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Identifying the Theme in a Story

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners recognize Theme through the use of simple, short stories. Using Pro Quest, students begin by researching the literary element, theme, and how it can be identified. They then identify the themes in Aesop's Fables and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Portraits Visual and Written: Louisa May Alcott and Samuel Clemens

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discover the life and work of an American author, either Samuel Clemens or Louisa May Alcott. In this study of visual and written portraits lesson, students take a look at the authors through four different sources: a portrait,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Abolish the Office of Governor

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the history of the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776. In this historical analysis lesson, students analyze the constitution of the state and determine how citizens benefited (or didn't benefit) from the document....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A New Look at Romeo and Juliet

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students explore life and language development in the Elizabethan Age. In this English lesson students complete web-quests and other activities surrounding Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Row Behind Death Row

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate several controversial issues in the criminal justice system relating to death row and give oral reports explaining how their issues safeguard or contaminate the issue of fairness in capital punishment. They offer...