Southern Poverty Law Center
Evaluating Online Sources
All sources are pretty much the same, right? If this is how your class views the sources they use for writing or research projects, present them with a media literacy lesson on smart source evaluation. Groups examine several articles,...
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A Passage Through Time
Young learners research and present information about a chosen subject to their peers, parents, instructors, and community. This lesson has a strong research and public speaking component, and would be ideal for your higher level students.
Teaching Tolerance
Fairness Fair
How can we create a more fair world? Chances are, class members have some ideas! After reading a text about fairness, individuals create skits around the ideas of fairness. Extend the learning and make their presentations a...
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Who Tells the Story? Defining History
Seventh graders examine historical perspectives. In this historical writing lesson, 7th graders discuss their definitions of history and then discuss perspectives of history. As a culminating activity, students write narrative stories...
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Proverbs of One World
Bring your class to the computer lab, and have them use the library and online resources to select proverbs related to specified themes. They create a book or bulletin board of proverbs that offer lessons connected to themes of freedom,...
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Holocaust Lesson Plan: Timeline
Students explore the chronology of the Holocaust, make connections between Holocaust events and contemporaneous world events and acquire a frame of reference for comparing their reading with actual events during the time of the Holocaust.
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Informational Writing
Fifth graders study Paul Revere. In this writing lesson, 5th graders discuss the elements of writing that help a reader be engage. They read about Paul Revere's life, taking notes about what made his life seem heroic, and write about...
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Barnyard Protest: Cows, Chickens & Fundamental Freedoms
Here is an ambitious and engaging lesson that should help elementary schoolers begin to develop a basic understanding of human rights. Pupils are asked to think about their own rights, the rights of others, and how an individual's voice...
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Reliving History Through Writing
Young scholars read a first hand account of John F. Kennedy's assassination. They write an essay describing how a world or national event affected them.
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Atomic Bomb Debate
Students research the decision to end World War II by dropping the atomic bomb. In this world history lesson, students explore information on the atomic bomb and the decision of the tactics to use it. They also watch a video...
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America's Economy: Sorrow And Hope
Students discover how Americans found the hope that broke the Great Depression. In this American economics lesson, students watch "America's Economy: Sorrow and Hope." Students then discuss the implications of the depression and...
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Giving Voice to History
Young scholars examine the plight of Japanese Americans during World War II. In this World War II lesson, students participate in a mock evocation simulation, research primary and secondary documents about internment camps, and share...
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The Daytime D-Day Hour: Producing a D-Day Talkshow
Students analyze the key players and events of D-Day during World War II. They conduct research on an assigned character's role in D-Day, complete worksheets, and plan and participate in a D-Day talk show, presenting information in a...
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World War Ii - Holocaust Oral History Project
Seventh graders conduct an interview with someone who lived through World War II. They watch a video of an interview, develop a list of interview questions, record their interview, and write and publish a summary and transcript of their...
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Put That in Writing
Students identify life situations which require various writing responses, use the power of the written word to obtain results, practice writing responses to real-world events, and demonstrate the skills needed to recognize and create...
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African life VS American life: Food and 3rd World and 1st World counties
Third graders explore the difference in 3rd world and 1st world countries. In this social studies lesson plan, 3rd graders are divided into groups and given varying amounts of food. Students discuss the unfair distribution of the food....
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Peace Corps Challenge—Solving the Water Quality Issue
Students create a Wanzuzu newspaper. In this Peace Corps lesson, students participate in a discussion regarding water pollution in Wanzuzu. Students conduct further research about the issue and create newspapers that detail the problems...
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To War Or Not To War?
Seventh graders research the political, societal, and economic factors of World War I, World War II, and the 2001 war against terrorism. They participate in class discussions, write journal entries, and conduct Internet research. ...
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Gunpowder And The Explosion Of World War
High schoolers 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. High schoolers compose essays...
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Timeline of Extreme Weather Events
Students research and chart extreme weather events on a timeline. In this extreme weather lesson, students interview older people who have experienced extreme weather events. Students complete a worksheet based on the information of the...
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GET UP, STAND UP: Fighting for Rights Around the World
Young scholars explore basic human rights as they explore music by black artists. In this human rights lesson plan, students examine music as a cultural reflection of the justice issues. Young scholars analyze Jamaican roots reggae of...
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Earth Day Lessons With The Right Stuff
Earth Day lessons provide a great way to teach students about the significance of the event, and how they can make a difference.
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Literature of the Ancient World
The literature of the ancient world can provide a motivating way for students to explore history.
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It's A Dog-Eat-Dog World
Students examine the dangers of owning and breeding aggressive dogs. They debate whether aggressive dogs should be kept as pets. They write an essay from their point of view about aggressive dogs as pets.