Great Books Foundation
On the Origin of Species
How did Charles Darwin support his controversial theory of evolution with evidence? Use an excerpt from his 1859 work On the Origin of Species to reinforce the importance of making inferences within an informational text, and to discuss...
Great Books Foundation
The Glass of Milk
It's not easy to ask for help. Learn why a boy on a ship struggles with accepting help in "The Glass of Milk," a short story by Manuel Rojas. Six discussion questions prompt class members to make inferences from the text about character...
Great Books Foundation
The Road Not Taken
Every time you make a choice, it prevents another option from taking shape. Spend some time analyzing "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost with a reading activity that includes four discussion questions that recall evidence from the text.
Great Books Foundation
Rattlesnakes
John Muir may be a friend to the natural world, but as a short reading passage confirms, he is no friend to rattlesnakes. As young readers learn about Muir's encounters with the dangerous creatures, they answer four comprehension...
American Psychological Association
Education and Career Options in Psychology
Psychology class is the perfect time to talk about career options in the field! The resource helps class members research what degree they need to begin different career paths in the field of psychology. Resources include a few websites...
Population Connection
Meeting Human Needs
How to meet the needs of people around the globe—a question many ask. The fifth in a six-part series about human population and its effects on the globe, the eye-opening lesson includes discussion, a homework activity, and an in-class...
University of Pennsylvania
Mock Trial of Alfred Dreyfus
What if scholars based mock trials on history? The fourth installment of a five-part series on the Dreyfus Affair asks learners to read various pieces of evidence before conducting a mock trial for a French officer. Teams answer...
University of Pennsylvania
Decoding Propaganda: J’Accuse…! vs. J’Accuse…!
Reading snail mail is a great way to go back into history and to understand others' points of view. The resource, the second in a five-part unit, covers the Dreyfus Affair. Scholars, working in two different groups, read one letter and...
West Virginia Department of Education
A State of Convenience: The Creation of West Virginia
Ever wondered why there is a West Virginia but not an East Virginia? The resource answers questions like this one and more as it takes an in-depth and detailed look at the history of West Virginia and how it became a state. Several...
West Virginia Department of Education
An Act Worthy of Reward
John Brown is considered by many to be a martyr for abolition and civil rights. The resource covers an important event in West Virginian history, the raid by John Brown, as a standalone that discusses Brown's last words and his reaction...
West Virginia Department of Education
Harpers Ferry Letters
Scholars write letters as if they were someone who heard the story of John Brown's raid. The resource, a standalone, covers information from primary sources that is important to West Virginian history: the Harpers Ferry Letters.
Council for Economic Education
Understanding a Balance Sheet
Read any financial website or book, and it is bound to discuss the words asset and liability. But what do these words actually mean to the class? The resource effectively explains by using multiple formats and techniques, including...
Physics Classroom
Fnet = m•a
Most pupils learn quickly how to apply Newton's Second Law equation to calculate net force. However, many struggle to determine net force before calculating the value of an unknown force from a force diagram. As part of a larger series...
Great Books Foundation
War Is Kind
Ponder the complexities of war, peace, and country with Stephen Crane's "War is Kind." After reading the poem, learners answer six questions in a class discussion or as an individual assessment.
Midwest Clinic
Latin Rhythms: Mystery Unraveled
There is an indescrible energy to Latin American music—but if you know your music theory, it's not so indescrible after all. A thorough packet provides definitions for terms like bolero, charanga, shekere, and tumbao before listing...
Physics Classroom
Law Enforcement - Hit-and-Stick Collisions
How do police determine the speed of a car that has hit a stopped vehicle? Scholars determine the momentum of the car system both before and after a collision. They identify instances where the law of conservation of momentum appears to...
Physics Classroom
Case Studies: Impulse and Force
Why are gym walls padded and cars required to have air bags? Scholars observe two similar situations, such as those listed above, with only one variable altered. They identify the different variable and determine how the variation...
Physics Classroom
Being Impulsive About Momentum Change
Scholars quantitatively apply their knowledge relating impulse, force, and time in the collision of objects. Three progressive levels challenge pupils with different ways of analyzing these problems. They identify multiple collision...
Physics Classroom
Law Enforcement - Explosions
How do law enforcement officers determine the strength of an explosion based on the movement of objects around the point of origin? Scholars inspect the relative mass and velocities of two cars before and after an explosion. They perform...
Physics Classroom
Newton's Second Law
Physics formulas provide more interest than simple math equations thanks to an informative installment from the series on Newton's laws of motion. The formulas guide pupils' thinking about how varying a quantity affects the rest of the...
Physics Classroom
Match That Free-Body Diagram
Pupils read a description of a physical situation and select the free-body diagram that best matches. As part of a series on applying Newton's Laws of Motion, scholars reinforce their skills applying forces and considering their relative...
Physics Classroom
Recognizing Forces
A common complaint among physics scholars studying Newton's laws of motion concerns drawing free-body diagrams. To practice the required pre-requisite skills for free-body diagrams, individuals identify which forces act in specific...
Physics Classroom
Change of State
Free-body diagrams display all forces acting on an object, helping scientists represent Newton's Laws of Motion. Scholars read a short description of motion and view the free-body diagram to begin the installment of a larger series on...
Physics Classroom
Force and Motion
Scholars focus on associating balanced forces with at rest or constant velocity motion and unbalanced forces with acceleration or deceleration. Practice problems with immediate feedback allow for quick success in an installment of the...