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Alaska Purchase Debate
Middle schoolers examine the benefits and the challenges Alaska has presented to the United States. They research what the government and the people of the United States considered at the time of the purchase of Alaska in order to...
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Alaska's Current Issues
Students work in small groups to brainstorm a list of issues in Alaska. As a class, they discuss their concerns. Students place their issues in two lists, those that are in the domain of the local and state governments, and those that...
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American Becomes a Colonial Power
Exploring the idea of America joining "the imperialist club" at the end of the 19th century, this presentation presents reasons why America not only had the drive to explore the world, but the power and wealth with which to do so....
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Environmental Issues
Students investigate the natural resources on earth by reading a book in class. For this environmental lesson, students read select pages from the book Alaska by Rebecca Stefoff and discuss their feelings on the material. Students...
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Mush! Tracking Travelers on the Trail
Students get to know Alaska and the Iditarod route that is run by dogs as they track the mushers' progress on a map that they create specifically for the race. They learn about latitude, longitude, plotting on a map, checkpoints, and...
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Compare/Contrast: The United States and Alaska Constitutions
Students compare and contrast the United States and Alaska Constitution. After reading each preamble, they identify the reasons for each constitution to be drafted and discuss what they reveal about citizens responsiblity in government....
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Federalism - United States, Alaska, and Local Governments
Young scholars research Alaska's state, local, and tribal governments, as well as Alaska's long and complex relationship with the federal government.
Reed Novel Studies
Hatchet
A brief introductory presentation illustrates many images from Gary Paulsen's Hatchet. From berries to black bears, young readers take a quick trip through Alaska during a class reading unit.
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Honesty in Writing
Help your class construct an honest and clear writing piece. They explore tactics in advertising and identify deceptive language. They then write a statement about a community issue using honest language.
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Enduring Understandings: Alaska's Culture
Learners predict how people lived in Northwest Alaska before the arrival of the Europeans. They read an online selection to give them the answers.
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Profiles of Alaska Native Leaders
Students reserach an Alaska Native leader. They present their report to the class and then write an essay in which they reflect on their understandings of the history of Alaska Natives.
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"Julie of the Wolves"
Fifth graders research life in Alaska and compare life there to their lives in this instructional activity. They read "Julie of the Wolves." They research through the novel and other reference books facts about the Alaskan climate and...
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America's Energy Future
Students write a proposal to save energy resources. In this energy lesson, students research nuclear energy, coal power, petroleum, natural gas, hydroelectric power, and renewable energy. Students then debate energy issues and share...
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WHERE DOES OUR FOOD COME FROM?
Students examine the sources, location and availability of local food, develop mapping skills, interact with Elders to gain pertinent information, and examine subsistence issues of the past and present.
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A Constitution for Alaska
Middle schoolers read sections cited from the Governing Alaska unit. They discuss factors that made Alaskans push for statehood. They view video A Constitution for Alaska.
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Fish Traps Roundtable
Students study and simulate the lack of representation of Alaska in the US Congress until 1912. They study Alaska's self-government with the creation of the territorial legislature of 1912.
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Express Your Opinion
Students explore local, state, and national levels of government and discuss which level of government they should contact to get information, express their opinions, or get help on specific issues.
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Oil Spill Perspectives
With the BP oil spill still fresh on your scholars' minds, take the opportunity to analyze various perspectives on it through political cartoons. This critical-analysis handout features 2 cartoons on the incident. Background information...
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Corporal Punishment
Nineteen states legally permit school officials to physically punish children. Scholars learn more about the topic as they use the website to prepare for a class debate or discussion. Pupils read background information and discover the...
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The Future of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Students research the governments role is preserving the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. They discuss the proponents and the opponents side of the issue.
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Medical Marijuana - Legitimate Use Or Legalized Abuse?
High schoolers, in groups, discuss opinions about medical marijuana use. They form their own opinion about the U.S Supreme Court case involving this issue.
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Reporting on WWII in Alaska
Learners explain the people and the political, geographic, economic, cultural, social, and environmental events that have shaped the history of the state, the United States, and the world.
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5 Themes Awareness of Current Event Issues
Students identify the 5 themes of geography as being location, place, human-environmental interaction, movement and region. They explain a current event from the perspective of each theme and their interrelationship..
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5 Themes Awareness of Current Event Issues
Students analyze newspaper articles for the 5 themes of geography. They create a colorful portfolio explaining how each theme: location, place, etc. is relevant in a chosen current event.