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Westward Expansion
Students explore the Westward Expansion Movement of U.S. history. For this Westward movement lesson, students use primary and secondary source documents research personal accounts of those who travelled west during the era....
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Religion and the Civil Rights Movement
Students investigate the role of religion in the Civil Rights Movement. In this religion and ethics lesson, students explore the separation of church and state as they examine how religious faith has inspired social change in the...
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The Driveway Case
Students discover how courts determine property possession using evidence. In this critical analysis lesson, students use provided case studies and evidence to determine legal possession. This lesson would be suitable for group work and...
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Brown v. Board of Education
Young scholars examine school segregation and equal protection laws. In this Supreme Court activity, students examine primary documents from Brown v. Board of Education and discuss the implications of the decision.
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Regents of the U. of California v. Blake
Students examine affirmative action and equal protection. In this Supreme Court instructional activity, students examine primary documents from Regents of the U. of California v. Blake and discuss the implications of the decision.
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A Bullying Survey
Students take a survey that is asking them about their feelings or experiences about bullying. In this tolerance instructional activity, students discuss what responses would be to the survey.
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Are Curfew's Fair?
Students explore and discuss how curfews are set up. They discuss how difficult it can be to define appropriate and inappropriate behavior. Students role play situations involving curfew and the behaviors they are meant to curb.
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Who's Town is This, Anyway?
Fifth graders work in cooperative groups to simulate a town government as they consider an important change in their community growth. They analyze a real problem in the community and then determine their goals to fix it and make a...
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Writing a Mystery Story
Students examine the elements of mystery stories and read Rage in Harlem. In reciprocal teaching groups, they discuss the author's development of the story, and complete dialectical journals.
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Civil liberties: Other freedoms
Students expore civil liberties. They identify and define legal rights. Students consider the impact of applying rights in criminal matters. They identify Canadians' political rights and suggest why they are essential to a democracy....
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CCTV: Privacy or safety?
Students read and evaluate a proposal to put CCTV in their school classrooms. Students use a highlighter pen and a map to identify places on the school campus that should have cameras to stop bullying. Students read a message from the...
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Social Boundaries Activity: Map It Out
Students observe the school for one week to identify social boundaries. In this map it out activity, students sketch the school's social boundaries, identifying where social cliques hang out. Students compare their...
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People Power
Students view a television program that explores many Eastern European residents' discontentment with communism. They work in groups to research living conditions in an Eastern European country before communism, under communism and...
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When is Humanitarian Intervention Justified?
Students analyze different foreign policies to derive their own idea of what constitutes appropriate intervention by a government. They complete a detailed proposal for their own Declaration of Human Rights.
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Reshaping Body Image
Students view images and write responses based on their impressions. In this body image lesson, students brainstorm how body image is influenced culturally and participate in a small group discussion on these influences. Students view...
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Act it Out
Students discuss racial stereotypes. In this racial stereotypes lesson, students develop a character from information given to them on an index card. Students give their character a race different from their own and write a...
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Social Studies: 9/11 Banners
Young scholars explore the history of flags and design banners for their communities. their designs reflect sentiments shaped by the events of 9/11. In addition, they write phrases beginning with, "being an American means..." Students...
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Auschwitz Episode Guide: Factories of Death
Students examine Hitler's "Final Solution." They watch and discuss a PBS documentary, read handouts, conduct Internet research, and read and discuss a personal memoir.
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How Can Understanding and Helping Others Build Our Own Community?
Students examine the different cultures and disabilities people face in their community. They discuss how they can become better citizens. They answer discussion questions to finish the lesson.
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Learning About the Civil Rights Movement Through Photographs
Students examine the racial inequality that existed in the United States before the Civil Rights Movement. After listening to song lyrics and viewing photographs, they discover the importance of the movement in helping society move...
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War and International Law: A Brief History of the Law of War
Students investigate the history of the law of war. In this international law activity, students listen to a lecture regarding the history of international law spanning from Pax Romana to Collective Security. Students respond...
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The Importance of Self-Governance in Changing Laws
High schoolers examine the teachings of Gandhi and King. In this nonviolent resistance lesson, students listen to a lecture that reveals how Gandhi and King educated their followers about nonviolent resistance. High schoolers analyze...
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Claim Your Jurisdiction Game
Students participate in a game in which they have to decide whether it is state or federal jurisdiction.
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Lessons in Legal Ethics: Ethical Dilemmas
Students study the importance of ethical guidelines in professional decisions. They examine legal situations to determine appropriate behavior based on ethical standards.