Curated OER
Act of Honesty
Middle schoolers analyze examples of honesty. In this character education lesson, students role play various situations and decide if they should engage in honest or dishonest behaviors.
Transforming Education
Social Awareness Toolkit
A 32-slide professional development presentation introduces administrators, counselors, and teachers to the social awareness competency. The presentation includes specific strategies to help learners develop social awareness, identifies...
Thoughtful Learning
Understanding the Parts of the Brain
A mini-lesson explains the role the parts of the brain play in thinking and learning. Scholars discover why feeling safe, calm, and connected is essential to learning effectively.
Anti-Defamation League
On-Screen Diversity: Why Visibility in Media Matters
Characters play a significant role in why we like certain shows and movies but are the characters we watch representing the diverse society in which we live? Scholars examine this question through thoughtful discussion about popular...
Curated OER
Storymaking Through Pantomime
Middle schoolers explore performing arts by participating in a role-play activity. In this storytelling lesson, students utilize their physical expressions to particpate in a pantomime performance. Middle schoolers evaluate performances...
Curated OER
The Value of Respect
Students participate in discussions and listen to audio programs about giving and receiving respect. They identify disrespectful behavior and role play ways to promote respect in their own lives. They also examine the relationship...
Curated OER
Homer's Civil War Veteran: Battlefield to Wheat Field
Students examine Civil War-themed artwork. In this visual arts lesson, students compare and contrast paintings by Winslow Homer and Timothy O'Sullivan. Students analyze the symbolism in the artwork representing Civil War...
Curated OER
Big Decisions
Students consider the power of peer pressure. In this making decisions lesson, students watch "Big Decisions," and discuss the impact peers may have on one's health, choice, and risk-taking. Students role play scenarios that require them...
Curated OER
INSTANT REPLAY
Students, through role-playing fictional scenarios, brainstorm, discuss and practice safe and realistic responses to name-calling and bullying. They experience the "instant replay" and "SAFE" techniques, in which they rehearse and retry...
Curated OER
Communicating Feelings
Students demonstrate ways to communicate feelings. In this character education lesson, students talk about communication and are shown examples of faces showing different emotions. Students identify the emotion and practice communicating...
Overcoming Obstacles
Uncovering Stereotypes
The second lesson in the "Resolving Conflicts Module" teaches participants how to avoid stereotyping and how to look for common ground with those with opposing views.
Teaching Tolerance
Fairness Fair
How can we create a more fair world? Chances are, class members have some ideas! After reading a text about fairness, individuals create skits around the ideas of fairness. Extend the learning and make their presentations a...
Curated OER
Rhythmic Expression
Students discover movement and expression to music/sound through a series of teacher-led exercises and role plays. This lesson is ideal for the middle school drama class with possibilities for adaptation to any level of drama or general...
Curated OER
Poetry Reading
Students express the ideas of a poem. In this poem dramatization instructional activity, students analyze poems for meaning studying their descriptive words. Students role play the descriptive language of the poem. Students draw a...
Curated OER
"Managing Anger"
Students examine anger management and conflict resolution techniques. They watch and discuss a video, participate in a game that addresses anger management techniques, and role-play disputes using 'I-Messages.'
Curated OER
Recruiting a Few Good Citizens
Learners write persuasive speeches to recruit soldiers for a Civil War company. For this Civil War U.S. history and writing lesson, students work in groups to create a recruiting poster and write a speech to persuade soldiers to join...
Curated OER
Wellness Day
Plan a wellness day! Invite speakers from community resources to come and present and participate in a wellness day. Reinforce how important it is to take care of the whole body and how the choices they make now can make a difference...
Brigham Young University
Introducing the Text and Learning the Process of Script Analysis
Where do directors and set designers get their ideas so that the set they build creates the mood and atmosphere the director wants for a production? From the script! Introduce theater high schoolers to the script analysis techniques used...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Family Traditions
Honor family traditions with a lesson that examines the variety of winter celebrations. Class members discuss their family's traditions then complete a cut-and-paste practice page in which they match a picture to the name of a holiday....
Curated OER
Hector's World Cyber-bullying: You're Not Alone
Students discuss cyber-bullying and how it relates to their emotional state. In this cyber-bullying lesson, students watch a short video that identifies how cyber-bullying occurs. Students participate in an active learning...
Curated OER
Picture Fists Full of Kisses
Ease children's back-to-school jitters with this primary grade lesson based on the book The Kissing Hand by Ruth E. Harper. Starting off with a singing of the song "I Wish I Had a Little Red Box", children go on to discuss and...
Curated OER
Angry Feelings
Students explore how to manage angry feelings. In this behavior lesson, students discuss techniques to handle angry feelings, such as counting to ten and talking out the problem.
Curated OER
Forced Marriages VS. Arranged Marriages
Students create a role play about forced marriages versus arranged marriages. They record or script their role play and decide on the most important line they said in the role play.
Curated OER
Raising the Mormon Battalion
Ninth graders simulate (role play) some of the original emotional responses to this request for soldiers. They list and evaluate reasons for and against creating the Mormon Battalion. They justify their own decision under such...