Young scholars honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the principles he stood for: justice, equality, freedom, and peace.

Students study the history and mechanics of the Electoral College and formulate opinions as to whether this institution should be preserved, modified or eliminated. They compare and contrast electoral and popular votes in the...

Students identify popular songs from 1968 and make connections with the year's current events They recognize popular music as a reflection of the culture. They focus on songs of the Vietnam War era.

Students listen to the Louis Armstrong song, "What Did I Do to Be So Black and Blue?" and consider it as a protest song. They write in their journals about Armstrong, his music, and civil rights.

Students read Nervous Conditions and explore freedom and oppression. They discuss types of oppression and list examples of discrimination. They create collages or timelines about the novel. They research present day Zimbabwe and make a...

Tenth graders examine the invention of the Gutenberg printing press and its effect on society. In groups, they research how much the press enabled various revolutions around the globe. They also identify the causes and effects of each...

Students determine if the social and political consequences of free trade outweigh the economic benefits through case studies. They determine of the World Trade Organization willingly or unwillingly aids in neo-colonial exploitation of...

Students analyze Supreme Court decisions and their effect on students. They discuss current events realted to the U.S. Constitution and review cases that impact students. They identify each case with its facts, issues, and arguments.

Third graders explore two different websites about the Underground Railroad. They make a graphic organizer to categorize the reasons a person might have for and against helping slaves escape on the Underground Railroad. They incorporate...

Eleventh graders identify and analyze the differences between the Korean and the Vietnam Wars. In small groups they conduct research and create a scene from a movie that focuses on the Korean or Vietnam War. Students view and evaluate...

Ninth graders analyze connections between WW II, the Cold War and contemporary conflicts. They discover a more global perspective, as well as a greater sensitivity to the atrocities of war, and how the atrocities against the...

Eleventh graders use a variety of resources to research and compile information on the Underground Railroad. They work in small groups and individually, to discuss and exchange ideas as they construct the exhibit that they display in...

Students examine how their city has changed and examine building preservation. In this building preservation lesson plan, students listen to a reading of Virginia Lee Burton's, The Little House, before making a time line of how their own...

Students develop an understanding of environmental laws and regulations.  In this research lesson, students utilize information that involves controversial issues of wildlife and society. 

Students explore the impact of the Plessy v. Ferguson case. In this social justice instructional activity, students examine the case, Jim Crow laws, and non-violent forms of protest. Students write essays to persuade the government...

Students explore 1960's America. In this American history lesson, students read about and research 1960's political and entertainment figures, social activism, the Civil Rights Movement, and environmentalism as they complete writing and...

Students read historical artifacts about the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and analyze the choices made during the time. In this March on Washington lesson, students read Martin's Big Words and the 'Step Back in Time' sheets....

Eleventh graders examine political issues in the United States between 1936 and 2000. In this American history lesson, 11th graders study the economy, education, government, civil rights, and sports of this time period. Students compare...

Students analyze art and war and the Futurist movement. In this art analysis lesson plan, students define manifesto and its role with artistic movement. Students explore art as a response to political and social issues through image...

Students analyze the work of two artists who made interventions in public spaces. In this art analysis instructional activity, students investigate ephemeral and site specific art. Students complete image based discussion...

Students explore organizing to resist oppressive authority without the use of violence.  In this philosophy activity, students research Gandhi's approach to organizing people around a positive cause without the need to be aggressive...

Students analyze Dr. King's public addresses and Langston Hughes' poetry as a study of the Civil Rights' nonviolent approach to making an impact. In this protesting lesson, students read poetry of Hughes and speeches by Dr....

Eleventh graders analyze works by John Donne and Thomas Heriot. In this Colonial America instructional activity, 11th graders examine pieces of literature, documents, and video clips to identify the issues regarding religion in the...

Students compare and contrast the visions of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Stokely Carmichael. In this African-American history lesson, students read speeches by each of the men and summarize the arguments made by each of them about...