US Holocaust Museum
Time Capsule in a Milk Can
Imagine dumping out a milk can and finding letters from one of the darkest moments in history! Scholars use Holocaust Reading Passages and research to discover how people recorded and hid history during the events of World War II. They...
University of Chicago
What IS the Difference Between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims?
The distinction between Shiite and Sunni Muslims is an often misunderstood concept, yet very important for its implications in global affairs and for a more comprehensive understanding of the religion of Islam.
University of Chicago
Using Artifacts for Clues About Identity
Learn about the ancient Near East through a close examination of ancient artifacts. Lead your class into analysis by first observing an artifact as a class. Pupils can then work in pairs to analyze the other artifacts and compile a list...
State Bar of Texas
McCullough v. Maryland
Can a state government tax the federal government? The Supreme Court case McCullough v. Maryland explores different governments in the United States. Scholars research the court's decision with a video and discussion. They formulate...
Overcoming Obstacles
Blowin' in the Wind
Working together isn't as easy as it looks! Small groups of classmates try to keep a balloon in the air using only a straw, their breath, and team communication.
US Institute of Peace
Responding to Conflict: Nonverbal Communication
What does your posture say about you? How can it affect the outcome of conflict resolution or negotiation? Show scholars the importance of nonverbal communication during the sixth in a series of 15 peacebuilding lessons. Learners work...
Curated OER
Written Response: Jewish immigration to Palestine
Examine Jewish and Arab sovereignty as it relates to the control of Palestine. Pupils read a passage explaining the history of the conflict, then write a 10-sentence paragraph describing what they would do if they were a member of the...
iCivics
Win the White House
What does it take to win the White House? A video game allows young political operatives to try their hand at winning 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue by deciding on key issues, where and how to spend campaign dollars, and the role of polling...
Teaching Tolerance
Why Local Elections Matter
Uncle Sam wants everyone to vote in local elections! Geared toward middle and high school scholars, the resource explores voter turnout and the importance of local elections. Academics participate in group discussion, complete...
Curated OER
Message in the Waves :Two Earth Day Lessons for Middle School Students
Fifth graders are introduced to Earth day and study the nesting colonies of Midway. In this Earth Day lesson students watch an online clip and see the effects our waste has on wildlife.
Curated OER
Social Studies - Concentration Camps -2
Eighth graders investigate the typical day in a concentration camp. In this Holocaust instructional activity, 8th graders read primary and secondary sources about the conditions of the camps. Students also conduct research about the...
Curated OER
Chapter 12: Biography Activity
Have your class explore the dynamic contributions made by Muslim writers in the Middle Ages. They read a passage covering aspects of writer Ibn Battuta's life, then answer 3 guided reading questions.
BBC
Conflict
Middle schoolers take a close look at the different forms that bullying can take, and share their ideas of ways to stop bullying in schools. Learners get together in groups of three and come up with a scenario that depicts a...
BBC
Community Action
Upper graders and middle schoolers engage in a lesson on community. A class discussion kicks off the lesson. Pupils share things that they do as community service after school or on weekends. They imagine an ideal community they would...
Curated OER
Mesopotamia: The Worksheet
Read to learn! Middle Schoolers read a short passage on Mesopotamia then answer seven comprehension questions. This would be ideal as homework or for early finishers.
BBC
Identity
Ethnic diversity is the focus of the political science lesson presented here. In it, pupils discuss the variety of ethnicities they see at their own school. They share their knowledge, or personal experiences of the way that people of...
Curated OER
Exploring Islamic Lands
Students explore the culture of the Middle East. For this Islamic culture lesson, students conduct research to create personal narratives that reveal what life is like in the Middle East for Islamic teens today.
Curated OER
Basil Heatter, "The Long Night of the Little Boats"
“It was a miracle.” Basil Heatter’s “The Long Night of the Little Boats,” which details the miraculous rescue of the British army from the shores of Dunkirk in 1940, is featured in a series of exercises that ask class members to read,...
Curated OER
Understanding Tiananmen Square
William Bell's Forbidden City is used as the basis of a study of China, Chinese culture and government, and especially of the events in Tiananmen Square in 1989. Class members select a topic for Internet research and then prepare a...
Curated OER
Revive, Contemplate, Integrate
Students recognize flags as a symbol through writing and imagery. For this artifact lesson, students investigate Tibetan prayer flags and their significance. Students create personal prayer flags and write about their life experience of...
Curated OER
Anti-Bullying Efforts in the Elementary Classroom
Help prevent bullying from ever beginning with these simple strategies for implementing class meetings.
Curated OER
Youth Obesity: Schools Fight Back
Kids fight obesity by comparing the USDA food intake suggestions to what they personally consume throughout the day. They watch a video, read texts, and explore related vocabulary which they use as they compose an oral presentation.
Curated OER
Pardon Me. Do You Have Change For a Dollar?
Upper elementary and middle school learners explore currencies from a variety of countries. They use the Internet, video, and engage in hands-on activities. They practice converting U.S. currency to foreign currency and vice versa. This...
PBS
Stories of Painkiller Addiction: Myth or Fact
Are opioids the most abused drug after marijuana? How hard is it for young people to obtain painkillers without a prescription? Middle and high schoolers explore the growing epidemic of opioid addiction with a lesson that prompts them to...