Two activities teach middle schoolers about asthma and how it can affect people's lives. After reading a series of articles and watching two videos that provide background information about asthma, pupils design an interactive game that...

Fifth graders understand conflict and how to solve them. In this lesson about conflict resolution, 5th graders explore different factors that cause conflict. Students are put into groups and develop a list of examples for a specific kind...

Students examine the controversies surrounding the use of performance-enhancing supplements in sports by interviewing athletes and writing feature articles that compare the skills required to compete in different sports.

Scholars share ideas about health topics relevant to teens. They read posts on Well, the Times health blog, and produce their own health blog featuring teen health issues. In addition, they read and discuss the article "Well: A Times...

The Learning Network is featuring an article about First Lady Michelle Obama and her quest to help reduce childhood obesity in America. The article talks about how she has talked with the top three suppliers of school lunches and has...

Students find out about an interesting activity that is going on in their school. Then the student interviews students and teachers to see how they would feel if a teacher monitored their heart rate during that specific project and that...

Learners read the article "Disabled Skier Designs His Way to Be a Daredevil." They discuss using the questions on the lesson plan. Students create large sized baseball cards featuring competitive, disabled athletes.

Young scholars explore the culture of the Mayans through a variety of activities. In this lesson about Maya, students analyze pictures in books and on websites, produce scale models of Maya architecture, and create Maya mosaics. Young...

Students examine the recent partial face transplant in Ameiens, France and the ensuing public debate on extreme plastic surgery. They participate in a fishbowl discussion on the ethics and implications of future face transplants.

Learners investigate the disease that is causing the global decline of bats.  In this animal health lesson plan, students read an article which discusses white-nose syndrome, the number one killer of bats.  Learners discuss...

Seventh graders discuss what are the characteristics of a personal with good health. They read an article about influences on health and discuss and perform a self assessment to gauge their personal health. They then go to the gym and...

Sixth graders investigate the food guide pyramid. They conduct Internet research, and plan a three day nutritional menu appropriate for teenagers. Students include three meals per day and a snack for each day on their menu, and...

Learners examine families through photography. In this interdisciplinary lesson, students examine photographs of families and discuss the attributes of families. Learners select family photographs to analyze in writing.

Students draw pictures of things that help them stay healthy such as brushing teeth and washing hands. They write healthy ideas on their pictures. They post the pictures at home and in the classroom as reminders to stay healthy.

Students create their own soap sculptures and take them home to use. They gradually add water to soap flakes until they are a consistency that can be molded. They mix the concoction with their hands and then sculpt the "snow" into...

Students use ice-cube brushes to paint pictures demonstrating ways that they can stay healthy.

Students demonstrate healthy hand-washing techniques. They mix water and soap flakes, and create snow soap sculptures.

Learners explore and examine some of the issues facing HIV positive teenagers. They research the lives of HIV positive teenagers.