Constitutional Rights Foundation
Educating About Immigration The DREAM Act
Group members role play state legislators, supporters of and opponents to the The DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors). After listening to the arguments put forth for and against the immigration legislation,...
Teaching for Change
A Documents-Based Lesson on the Voting Rights Act
How did the Voting Rights Act affect the daily lives of American citizens? A document-based lesson developed by the Student Non-Violent Coordinating committee (SNCC) presents a case study of the impact of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 on...
Curated OER
Languages in a Globalized World
Students explore language changes that may occur in a globalized world. In this language lesson, students read the linked articles about globalization and the protection of languages. Students also examine statistics and conduct further...
National Woman's History Museum
Stacey Abrams: Changing the Trajectory of Protecting People’s Voices and Votes
In this project-based learning lesson, young social scientists investigate Stacey Abrams' campaign to protect the voting rights of people across the nation. Investigators learn how to annotate assigned articles, watch videos, and collect...
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Current Event/Public Outcry
Twelfth graders discuss the shooting of a police officer. They choose a writing form - essay or poem- and express their views about the event.
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Critical Path
Students widen their understanding of the different points of view surrounding current news topics. They research a current controversy on which public opinion is divided and write a concise commentary on the topic expressing a strong...
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Legal Aspects Of Fetal Tissue Transportation
Young scholars investigate the current legal status of fetal tissue transplantation. Students engage in a role play discussion of a specific case study. Young scholars explore the ethical controversies surrounding this procedure....
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Campaign Finance Reform and Public Opinion
Students discuss the issue of finance reform in political campaigns. Using the internet, they identify the positives and negatives of finance reform and research the problems associated with campaign fund-raising. They share their...
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Medical Research and Your Future
Pupils are asked to investigate current and sometimes controversial medical research in order to address what medical breakthroughs potentially exist in their futures. They create small posters on sheets detailing their support or...
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The Alien and Sedition Acts
Students discover the conflicts that arose between the political parties over issues of foreign policy and economics. Using the Internet, they research the Alien and Sedition Acts and how they relate to the U.S. Constitution. They...
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Clearcutting: Sustainable Forestry?
Young scholars explore the conflicts between the economy and the environment by focusing on forest management in Maine. They read pamphlets on siliviculture and clear-cutting as well as those by environmental groups then conduct a debate...
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AIDS and Adolescence
Ninth graders examine the relationship between AIDS and teenagers. In groups, they discuss the various issues educators face in introducing the topic to teenagers in school. As a class, they brainstorm a list of the misconceptions they...
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What Does Racism Mean in Europe Today?
Students consider race relations in modern-day Europe. In this current events instructional activity, students visit selected websites to understand the impact of Nazi symbolism, the Holocaust denial, and the stories of Holocaust survivors.
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Problems in Pollutia
Fifth graders, in groups, pretend as if they live in the imaginary kingdom called Pollutia. They make recommendations about environmental issues and give short speechs on how each problem should be solved.
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Lesson Plan on Tolerance
Pupils, through discussion, internet and video resources, study the history of Northern Ireland and the religious segregation between Catholics and Protestants. They evaluate the current political situation and predict what the future...
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The Man in the White Suit
Pupils view and discuss the movie from 1951 "The Man in the White Suit" and how scientific discoveries can sometimes have negative social and economic consequences. They define key vocabulary terms from the movie, watch the movie, and...
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Race and Genetics: An Integrated Approach
Students analyze racial issues related to the Human Genome Project. They participate in a mock symposium and write a reflection/position paper based on specific ethical principals.
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the Rights of Detainees At Guantanamo Bay
Students identify the legal issues involved in the case of the detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay and surrounding the existence of the base itself. They explain the clash between civil liberties and national security during wartime.
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The Great Scientific Debate
Fourth graders examine scientific issues that affect the public by debating their classmates. They also write brief essays that show they have learned how to express their reasons for their pros and cons of a particular topic.
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The Alien and Sedition Acts
Students perform research in the wake of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, a debate has begun over augmented security and surveillance, versus safeguards for personal freedoms. This debate is certain to occupy our...
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the International Criminal Court's History And Uses
Young scholars analyze and come to explain the history behind the formation of the International Criminal Court, along with the recent controversy facing the Court; and current crises that warrant the Court's attention.
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Legislative Debate: The Importance and Role of Debate within the Legislative Process
Students learn the legislative process as they debate real-life issues that affect students within their age group. To prepare for the debate, students consult newspapers, selected articles, case studies, and other media resources....
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Democracy and the Canadian Parliamentary Process
Twelfth graders organize in groups representing a dictatorship, a triumvirate, and a democracy, and defend their position on current topics facilitated by the teacher.
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Schools for Sale
Students differentiate between public and private goods. They analyze and evaluate various and positions on a public issue. They establish decision-making criteria. They develop a public policy based on a formal decision making model.