Smiling on the Outside

S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders is the anchor text in a unit that asks readers to reflect on their own identity, their place in their family, in groups with which they identify, and in school. 

Disney versus Grimm? To launch a five-week unit on fairy and folk tales, class members compare modern versions of these classic stories with more original versions. The richly detailed unit, while largely teacher led, encourages middle...

Language arts learners don't need a lecture about poetry; they listen to poetry every day on the radio! Apply skills from literary analysis to famous songs and beautiful lyrics with a lesson about literary devices. As class...

Young citizens construct an understanding of urban planning in this cross-curricular unit. Covering every aspect of city development from the political, economic, and social influences to sustainable building practices, this 10-lesson...

Use O. Henry's short story "A Retrieved Reformation" as a way to discuss identity and if a person can change his or her identity. Learners read the story and respond to text-based questions as well as questions that are referred to as...

What makes an ideal citizen? How can we as individuals do to impact our communities in a positive way? Discuss this important concept with your class with an interactive, creative activity and follow-up role play.

With the increasing emphasis on persuasive and argumentative writing, the lessons and strategies in the sample unit are sure to prove valuable—whether you are new to or an experienced pro at teaching persuasive reading and writing.

Get the youngest American citizens involved in the presidential election and inauguration with a set of social studies activities. Focusing on the history of presidential inauguration ceremonies, learners draft their own poems, design...

Looking for ideas on ways to recognize Veteran's Day? Check out this 92-page packet that includes exercises designed for all grade levels. Reading passages detail the history of the holiday, research projects get individuals involved in...

Episode 10 of a 13-part psychology Crash Course builds on learning from previous videos to explain the workings of altered states of consciousness. Hypnosis, psychoactive drugs, and non-drug induced hallucinations are all explored in a...