The battle over same-sex marriage is a prevalent issue in the United States, and a valuable topic to be discussed in your social studies classroom. Here is a basic outline of introductory questions, focus questions, vocabulary, and media...

An interesting lesson on juvenile law, and the juvenile court system. Young law makers are given a lengthy document to read on the basics of juvenile law, then they must answer some questions about what they've read. Additionally, they...

Equal rights, state law, and Civil Partnerships is the topic of this class discussion. Upper graders hone their research skills to engage in an intelligent and well-supported discussion on the Civil Partnership Act of 2004. Provided are...

Students compare and contrast forced marriages with arranged marriages. In this current events lesson, students examine legislation regarding forced marriages and then debate the forced marriage law in Britain.

Students explore society by researching the history of matrimony. In this marriage and family lesson, students identify the religious aspect behind marriage and the ideology associated with creating a family. Students define religious...

Students examine due process and equal protection. In this current events instructional activity, students read the provided article, "Due Process and Equal Protection for Gays and Lesbians." Students respond to the provided discussion...

Students explore the controversial topic of same-sex marriages in a fishbowl discussion. They write balanced news articles based on interviews exploring people's opinions on laws that define marriage.

Students explore slavery by reviewing the written laws intended to keep African Americans subservient. In this U.S. slavery lesson, students analyze a time-line of the history of African Americans. Students discuss the patterns of the...

Students explore debates regarding gay rights following the Supreme Court's Lawrence v. Texas decision. They participate in a fishbowl discussion, exploring questions on marriage, adoption, custody, employment, and military service.

Ninth graders examine the social and political movements of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. In this American history lesson, 9th graders work in groups to form their own society and laws. Students make a diagram of their town and...

Students research and discuss the ethical aspects of Nazi racial ideology, including sterilization, marriage prohibitions, and euthanasia. They develop codes of ethics regarding reproductive rights, euthanasia, and the death penalty.

Students investigate the influence of political and societal forces on judicial decisions. Among the topics they examine are the selection of judges and the cause and effect relationship between politics, society, and the law. to...

Students explore the rights of women in the United States and ancient Egypt. Comparisons between the two eras and countries are made as the wealth, business, marriages, court cases, divorces, and employment of women are probed.

Ninth graders research the cultural implications of wedding celebrations around the world. They study wedding celebrations before creating world map on which they place an appropriately attired wedding couple on the country they studied....

Students examine the practice of mail continence in Oneida. They explore the reasons behind the community's practice of limiting births. They discuss the relationship between reproductive freedom and woman's rights.

Young scholars consider cultural diversity. In this Islam lesson, students discuss what they know about the religion and then conduct further research on Muslim practices. Young scholars share their findings and discuss cultural diversity.

Students explore cultural aspects such as gender roles and their impact on Indian culture and compare and contrast issues associated with those roles in America through literature.

Students, after reading and analyzing, "A Room of One's Own," by Virginia Woolf, analyze how creating and defending one's position as well as how narrative functions as a rhetorical device. They evaluate and focus in on Shakespeare's...

Students draw conclusions about an mystery person based on documents and artifacts provided. In this drawing conclusions lesson, students become detectives by reading and analyzing evidence provided. This lesson includes information on...

Learners use poetic devices to discuss political issues. In this cultural diversity lesson, students listen to the president's State of the Union address and write poetic pieces that express their opinions about issues the president...

Students investigate the historical period of the Reconstruction and the events that surrounded the abolitionist movement. Students use guided questions to conduct research. Then they complete a venn diagram in order to compare two...

Young scholars read, analyze and discuss a newspaper article about the American singer Britney Spears and the courts giving her permission to see her children three times a week. They assess key vocabulary terms found in the article and...