Americans may think of Mount Everest as a region dedicated to adventurous hikers, but many cultures have flourished there! Learners read informative books, watch videos, participate in classroom discussion, analyze folk tales, and...

A growing demand for sustainable food systems comes from schools and even some cities. So what are some solutions? Scholars consider four different ways to approach sustainable food solutions and list the pros and cons of each. The fifth...

When it comes to William Shakespeare, there seem to be more questions than answers! Using the fact sheet, pupils uncover information about the Bard's home and family life, as well as his schooling and career. Readers also learn about his...

What is water worth to you? The answer probably depends on many different variables. Learners explore the value of water in space and what it takes to transport the resource to locations in a galaxy far far away. They then consider...

High schoolers explain why rain forests have great biodiversity, and list each layer of a rain forest and tell an organism that lives in each. They identify the cause of acid rain and its affect on a rain forest. Students hypothesize the...

Students examine the recent history of Nigeria and determine how its history and geography have effect current events in the area. They look at the challenges facing Nigeria as a new democracy and a developing nation. They determine...

Students brainstorm the qualities of a "free and fair" elections. They read background information pertaining to the upcoming 2007 presidential elections. Pupils compare the "free and fair" elections list composed by students to the...

Sixth graders research a given country using teacher selected websites. They gather notes about their country in an organized manner. They then create a PowerPoint including a reference page displaying the information they gathered.

Pupils study the commonwealth as an example of a global community. The study what the Commonwealth is, its values, and its function and they reflect upon personal connections with the Commonwealth. After they investigate their own...

Students research the member countries that make up the Commonwealth. They develop research skills using atlases. They define the word community. They complete an online geography quiz.

Learners analyze the European colonization of America. In this colonial America instructional activity, students use provided Internet resources to research colonization and representative government. Learners...

Students explore the concept of global warming. In this climate change lesson, students explore the provided links to PBS NOW sources and research the greenhouse effect and the effects of global warming. Students support their...

High schoolers examine their own consumption habits. Using various advertisements, they discuss their role in showing consumers what they must have in their lives. As a class, they encourage each other to change their habits and...

Fourth graders research rice history. In this rice history lesson, 4th graders discover the farming methods used to cultivate rice. They read about the role of rice in many cultures. 

Students describe the importance of water conservation and list ways to conserve. They construct composts and fill them with materials that recycle nutrients. They inspect their homes for leaky pipes, toilets, and faucets.

Students investigate the greenhouse effect. In this environmental lesson, students investigate why the greenhouse effect changes the climate through an experiment. Students use vinegar to simulate how acid damages the environment.

Learners examine the different characteristics of culture and write about a hypothetical culture of their own.

Students examine the experiences of a Peace Corps volunteer learning to speak Chinese. They read and discuss an essay written by the Peace Corps volunteer, analyze a map of China, and discuss the author's difficulties in learning the...

Students examine the challenges of a new language and culture. In this cultural instructional activity, student read Running by Peter Hessler and discuss obstacles faced, including the language barrier. Students write an essay about a...

Young scholars read an autobiography of a peace corps volunteer studying Chinese. In this cultural acceptance lesson, students compare the dialects of Chinese with English dialects. Young scholars discuss the differences in learning and...

Scholars become travel guides in this group research project to investigate a Chinese city or region for a presentation. Heavily based on Internet research, the activity requires participants to jigsaw the final project, so each team...

After reading "The Senegalese Miracle" about the degree of sharing the author encounters upon arrival in Africa, class members read Mike Tidwell’s “Sharing in Africa” and compare the two stories. This cultural diversity lesson concludes...

Students explore the effects of culture through the story Running by Peter Hessler. In this geography and cultural instructional activity, students act as newspaper reporters covering the story of the race. Students write newspaper...

Students discuss the issue of refugees being forced to migrate. In groups, they focus on different groups forced to migrate and discover how it has changed their lives. They compare and contrast a forced migration in the past and today.