California Polytechnic State University
Australian Geography Unit
At the heart of this resource is a beautifully detailed PowerPoint presentation (provided in PDF form) on the overall physical geography of Australia, basic facts about the country, Aboriginal history, and Australia culture and lifestyle.
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A Colony is Born : Lesson 5 - Dear Mem
Discover colonies! Young historians will listen to a primary source journal entry read aloud with a backdrop of wave sounds. They discuss the entry, add historical facts to a chart and personal insights to another. Then they listen to...
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The Changing Role of Women
Eleventh graders examine the evolution of women's rights in America. As they analyze primary documents and discuss historical events, learners determine how Abigail Adams, Eleanor Roosevelt, Lady Bird Johnson, Margaret Sanger, and James...
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What Do They Have In Common?
Fifth graders use a database to gather information on the United States last five Presidents. Using the information, they identify their similarities and differences and what characteristics made them a good leader. In further detail,...
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Africa: Introduction, Geography and Mapping
Students study the geography of Africa through the use of maps. They locate, distinguish, and describe the relationships among varying regional and global patterns of geographic phenomena such as landforms, climate, and natural resources.
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First Amendment and the Future
Young scholars read the Knight report and discuss key findings before deciding what aspects of the findings students can replicate in their own school and conduct a survey. They write survey questions and test them on sample group before...
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Justinian I
Students research emperor Justinian I in this instructional activity. They identify the contributions of Theodora to Justinian's rule, and the expansion of the Byzantine Empire during this time. They then analyze the contributions of...
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My Name is___________.
Read to gain an understanding of the author's intent or purpose. Learners analyze a persuasive text, identify the author's purpose, and evaluate the claims used as support. They then compose a persuasive essay of their own.
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Liberty, Equality, Uniformity?
Students examine the French draft law to ban religious symbols from public schools. They research "secularist" and "pluralist" positions regarding this ban, debate the topic in class, and draft a position paper on the ban.
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Gandhi's "Good Life": The Spiritual Dimension
Students investigate awareness and spiritual transformation by researching the life of Gandhi. In this philosophy lesson, students discuss living in an aware state by practicing yoga, eating vegetarian, and becoming immersed in poetry....
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Explore a Family Recipe Creative Writing
Learners explore the connections between food and culture by investigating the cultural influences, preparation, and historical ties of the food that people eat. They comprehend how geography and climate effects what people eat...
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Rites of Passage
Students explore coming of age ceremonies. In this rites of passage lesson, students research spiritual, religious, and secular child and adolescent rites of passage rituals. Students design personal rites of passage.
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AIDS: Responding to a Health Crisis
Students explore the health crisis presented by AIDS. In this AIDS lesson, students find out how nations around the world are dealing with AIDS and the stigma attached to it. Students plan an implement a service project related to AIDS.
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Storytellers: Pearl Jam
Students examine the concept of freedom of speech as it applies to music. They watch and discuss the video, "VH1 Storytellers: Pearl Jam," participate in a class discussion about free speech, conduct research, and conduct a debate.
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Ethics Activity: Issue Analysis
Learners analyze environmental health issues with respect to the players, their positions, and associated values, after being introduced to the concepts of events, problems, and issues. They apply the skills of issue analysis to...
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A Colony is Born : Lesson 6 -To Leave or Not to Leave
Fifth graders connect reasons for coming to the New World with identity. The create identities and place them in one of three settled regions. They refer to prior study notes in their Colonial Notebooks to establish their identities.
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A Wolf by the Ear
Students examine Thomas Jefferson's complex and contradictory relationship with slavery.
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The Effects of Limited Space on a Culture
Students predict the impact of population density on shelter, transportation, recreation, land use, and social skills and then research that impact on Japan. They write a response about the impact of population density on food...
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Factors Contributing To the U.S. Dominance of the Pacific Northwest
Students examine the painting Columbia by John Gast. They discuss the concept of Manifest Destiny and the role of different groups (miners, missionaries, fur trappers, farmers, etc.) in the Americanization of the West. In groups, they...
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Folklife Around the Year and Around the State
Research how seasonal changes in Louisiana affect learners' lives and the folklife of their communities and the state. They investigate differences in the seasonal round in the regions of Louisiana, including celebrations, festivals,...
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Identifying and Dispelling Stereotypes
Students address stereotypes. In this cultural diversity lesson plan, students define stereotypes, share examples of prejudice, research current event issues in given nations, and create posters that feature unbiased news stories.
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Differing Views of the Great Awakening
Students explore the Great Awakening by reading articles and write summaries of them, and then evaluating the perspectives.
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Digging Deeper in Mission San Saba
Seventh graders explain Spanish motives for establishing Mission San Sab?? and the reasons for the mission's failure. This lesson should be used when students already have an understanding of the Spanish mission-presidio system in Texas.
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Exploring Virtual Europe
Students research the geography, government, climate, history, economy, and culture of a European country. They select a country in Europe, explore various websites, and complete a worksheet.