Curated OER
Connotation, Denotation, Explanation
Middle schoolers use this connotation and denotation worksheet to develop vocabulary skills. They take notes on the terms, study examples, and choose from pairs of words to find the more positive or negative word choice, as directed....
Curated OER
A Positive Spin
Study word choice and connotation in advertising. Readers examine campaign ads, both negative and positive, from the 2006 mid-term election before discussing an article and analyze a campaign of any candidate they choose. Finally, they...
Media Smarts
Bias in News Sources
As young consumers of media, it is important for high schoolers to explore concepts of bias and prejudice, and how they may be present in media. After discussing ideological messages that media can contain, individuals complete a warm-up...
Curated OER
Lincoln is in the House! ("Name-Dropping" Poems and the Power of Connotation)
“What’s in a name?” Just about everything. Barack Obama, Vincent van Gogh, Justin Bieber. Famous names evoke a multitude of reactions and poets often use the names of famous people in their works precisely because names carry...
Curated OER
What is Terrorism?
Spark what's sure to be an interesting discussion in your classroom by introducing the topic of terrorism. Consider the meaning of the word terrorism and examine the associated connotations with a brief introductory reading. With your...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Candidate Flip-Flop or Evolution?
Beware political rhetoric! Connotation is everything! Groups select a presidential candidate and investigate how the candidate's position has changed on a specific issue. After analyzing the situation, the group determines whether they...
Curated OER
Magic Words, Magic Brush: The Art of William Butler and Jack Yeats
Students explore the influence of the landscape of Ireland on shaping the poetry of William Butler Yeats. They work in groups researching the growth of the Irish Nationalist Movement, Celtic origins, invasions, and the impact on the...
Curated OER
Ageism: Word Association Lesson Plan
Students discuss the attitudes related to the word old. In groups, they identify negative stereotypes about getting older and determine how these attitudes affect public policy on the elderly. They compare and contrast the concepts of...
Curated OER
The Power of Words
Students research the power of words and the necessary teaching of tolerance. In groups, they research a particular word given to them about a group in society. They trace the origin of the word and form a stance on how they view the...
Curated OER
Children's March Teacher's Guide, Activity 1
Students study how political movements involve students as well as adults. They discover that students of all ages have the power to make a difference in the world.
Curated OER
What's in a Word: Investigating the Language of the Brown v. Board Era
Students focus on the development of the language used surrounding racial segregation, particularly in schools. They identify the key issues surrounding Brown v. Board and identify the effects of the Court's decision. They analyze the...
Curated OER
Sentence Completion 4: High-Intermediate level
Do your learners need more sentence completion practice? Check out this eight-question learning exercise. It comes with an answer and explanations key that models how to approach each question. Logical explanations and comprehension...
Brooklyn Museum
Seductive Subversion: Women Pop Artists, 1958–1968
What role did women play in pop art during the 1950s and 1960s? The class researches the role of women in mid-century America and how those roles were portrayed through the pop art of the time. They use an excellent set of guiding...
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Exploring Afghani Culture through Literature
Hosseini Khaled's The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns are the anchor texts in a semester-long course that explores Afghani culture and traditions.
Curated OER
Eng 312: Final Exam
When paired with other powerpoints by Don L.F. Nilsen, this final exam covers topics addressed throughout previous lectures (slide 14 specifies which lectures should be reviewed). Teachers could use this presentation to craft their own...
Curated OER
Beatrix Potter's Naughty Animal Tales
Students gain insight into the unusual, solitary world of Beatrix Potter's Victorian childhood and can compare/contrast it with their own world to explain why Potter wrote such simple stories and why she wrote about animals rather than...
Curated OER
The Cold War: Planning for Survival
Learners prepare a documentary-style dramatization about government and personal measures taken to ensure survival in the event of nuclear war.
Curated OER
The Cold War: Civil Defense or Nuclear Disarmament?
Students research the positions of civil defense and nuclear disarmament during the Cold War era. They participate in a class debate to support a given position.
Curated OER
Anne Frank: Propaganda
Pupils discover techniques that are used to spread propaganda. They define what propaganda is and how it can be used in both a positive and negative manner. They produce an ad campaign for product.