Federal Reserve Bank
GDP: Does It Measure Up?
Here is resource that offers a very clear explanation for how economists measure economic growth by comparing real GDP over time. There is also an additional worksheet that details the expenditure method and four components for...
Heritage Foundation
Lawmaking and the Rule of the Law
How many constitutional clauses does it take to create a bill? High schoolers find out with several activities and selected clauses about the rule of law and the US Constitution. Various coinciding activities help to strengthen...
Heritage Foundation
Courts and Judges
If the Supreme Court is so supreme, why do all cases not just start there? High schoolers learn why every case does not start at the Supreme Court as well as the importance of hierarchy in the US judicial system in the 11th installment...
Heritage Foundation
Procedural Rights: Amendments VI, VII, and VIII
Even in court, your class members have procedural rights provided by the amendments. Teach high schoolers this important lesson by using the 18th installment of a 20-part unit exploring the US Constitution. The resource provides several...
Curated OER
Troubled Leadership
Young scholars discuss how each leader was influenced by people close to him. They view a video "Troubled Leadership." Students discuss the two rulers featured: the Egyptian King Tutankhamen and the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman. They...
Curated OER
Reflect on this Mote of Dust
Learners explore space science by analyzing a speech by Carl Sagan. In this cosmos lesson, students view an online video of a speck of a "pale blue dot" in the distance of space which turns out to be Earth. Learners write an essay...
Curated OER
A Twisted Love Poem
Students read poem about dating violence, discuss meaning of the poem, and compose essay about their interpretation and reactions to it.
Curated OER
Trash or Treasure?
Learners explore their experiences and reflect on how one person can make a difference in our world. In this service learning lesson, students analyze themes in music related to encouragement. Learners perform a service learning project...
Curated OER
A Day at the Beach: How to Keep Our Planet Clean
Students write a persuasive essay based on cleaning up the coast and other philanthropic values. In this writing lesson, students determine what is needed in order to keep the planet clean, and offer solutions to the International...
Curated OER
The Electric Hearth
Students examine popular media. In this media awareness instructional activity, students keep logs of their interactions with media and then write an essay regarding the data.
Curated OER
Politics and Leadership
Students research a historic leader and analyze how a philosopher's writings influenced the ruler in an essay. In this philosophy of government lesson plan, students view a video and participate in a class discussion on how great...
Curated OER
Gunpowder And The Explosion Of World War
Students discover the role of technology in 20th century conflicts. In this technological advancement lesson, students research how World War I, World War II, Vietnam, and the War in Iraq were fought. Students compose essays that...
Curated OER
Playing with Puns
Students examine the wit of characters in two plays. In this drama lesson, students read The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary L. Blackwood and Twelfth Night by Shakespeare. Students analyze the puns used in both plays and write essays that...
Curated OER
The Six Faces of Garbage
Students use the mathematics of surface area to approach the problem of garbage pollution from the classroom. After watching a video, students construct replicas of cereal boxes and compute their surface area.
Curated OER
Civilizations Leadership
Learners view a segment of Prosperity and Decline. They discuss what attributes made the empire strong. Students discuss what caused the fall of the Roman Empire. They write an essay describing the cause of the fall of the Roman Empire....
Curated OER
People behind the Civil Rights Movement
Students identify the people actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement. In this United States History lesson, students watch the video "Eyes on the Prize" then participate in a class discussion about the video. Students also...
Curated OER
Exploring the Self
Students examine a variety of songs, poems, and books exploring and analyzing the theme of self reliance and being true to one's self. They write a poem, essay, or letter that captures their true spirit and individuality and then they...
Curated OER
Stereotypes and Tonto
Students identify stereotypes, especially those applied to American Indians. In this teaching tolerance lesson, students read an essay entitled " I Hated Tonto (Still Do)" and discuss the negative impact that stereotypes may have...
Curated OER
Day in the Life of a Homeless Person
Students examine a day from the point of view of a homeless person. They listen to and discuss two stories, identify ways to help homeless people, watch a Reading Rainbow video, and write an essay.
Curated OER
Lobbying
Young scholars examine the role of lobbyists in Washington, D.C. For this Legislative Branch lesson, students watch video segments and read excerpts about lobbying. Young scholars write essays that explore the pros and cons of...
Curated OER
Is the Media Part of the Story?
Students discuss the role of the media in public opinion. They use the internet to research when the media has had an impact on war. They write an essay about their research and any conclusions they have made.
Curated OER
Origin of the Modern Olympic Games
Students using a Venn diagram, compare and contrast the modern and ancient Olympic games. They write essays and construct timelines about the games. Students, using various items, create tools for a new Olympic game and write the...
Curated OER
"you Shall Not Crucify Mankind Upon a Cross of Gold!": The Issue of Bimetallism in the Late Nineteenth-Century
Students investigate the monetary system during the late 19th-century. They view a video, answer discussion questions, read and discuss text, and write an essay justifying either the pro-silver or pro-gold standard side.
Curated OER
Scientific Inquiry
Sixth graders research the theories on the extinction of the dinosaurs. In this dinosaur extinction instructional activity, 6th graders view a video clip about scientific inquiry. They work in groups to research the two theories on...