Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What We Eat, Where We Sleep: Documenting Daily Life to Tell Stories

For Teachers 6th - 12th
This is not just a New York Time article to read, this is a set of amazing activity ideas all related to the slide shows "Breaking Bread Everywhere" and "Where Children Sleep." Your class can view each show, read about what they mean...
PPT
Curated OER

The Science of Thinking

For Teachers 8th - Higher Ed
How is fixing a flat tire like reading and writing? By thinking about each activity properly - identifying the problem and purpose, gathering information, and making inferences - you can exercise your thinking skills equally. This...
Lesson Plan
Odyssey of the Mind

Odyssey of the Mind Curriculum Activity: Balance the Books

For Teachers 6th - 8th
There is a difference between profit and revenue, and it's up to your class to find out why. They each research the public accounting documents for their favorite company or brand. Then they use their findings to discuss the differences...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landscape Confection: Pre-visit Activity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Upper graders explore the concepts of landscape art, man, nature and their inter-relationship. This is a critical thinking and analysis activity intended to prepare the class for an up coming trip to a local art museum. They analyze,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Critical Thinking Strategies

For Teachers Pre-K - 12th
Teach your readers to be critical thinkers. A strategy is outlined that can be used to compare and contrast entities. An example lists four states. The learner removes one state that "does not belong" in the list for some reason, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

News or Propaganda?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
What is considered news vs. propaganda? Learners will discuss objectivity and press responsibility while exploring these two concepts. They work in small groups to explore the article in-depth, guided by reading comprehension and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Achievements and Challenges of Zimbabwe

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Here is an excellent set of five short lessons and activities intended to help learners not only gain an understand of current issues in Africa, but build critical thinking, synthesis, analysis, expository writing, research, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Critical Consumerism

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Develop critical thinkers and awareness of the media's techniques. Impressionable minds analyze advertisements they see all around them in this potentially 3-week long unit of five complete lesson plans. Extended discussions, outside...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conceptual Analysis in Economics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Help develop assertive, critical-thinking skills that enhance growth and change while teaching economics. In groups, select a topic from a list and then discuss the pros and cons of each topic. Debate why advertising is necessary to our...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conceptual Analysis in Economics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students practice critical thinking skills by defending their beliefs orally in a "hot seat". In addition, they communicate their feelings about an inssue in writing.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Undercover-ed

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Have your class engage in critical-thinking activities using this resource. Learners discuss a variety of topics they think get too much, or too little, attention from the press. They analyze why these topics are over or underrated....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Diversity in Media: Looking Critically at What We See

For Teachers 8th - Higher Ed
This learning experience fosters awareness of representations we see, and don't see, in the media. Learners list TV programs, games, and films they enjoy, identify characters' ethnic, religious, (dis)ability, and sexual orientation...
Writing
Curated OER

Jan. 3, 1959 | Alaska Becomes a State

For Students 10th - 12th
Make connections with past history and current events with this critical thinking exercise. Kids read background information relating to Alaska's statehood as well as information on oil drilling and Alaska's economy. They put it all...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Political Cartoons: Literacy

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Readers decode and deconstruct political cartoons to heighten critical thinking, extra-textual literacy, and making meaning from symbolism and metaphor. A compatible activity to use in English class when your 8th or 11th graders are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Consumerism: No Purchase Necessary

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners read a script that helps them understand the ins and outs of consumerism. They watch a video (not included), and engage in two additional activities. The lesson engages critical thinking skills and brings awareness to the...
Lesson Plan
Media Smarts

Kellogg Special K Ads

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Foster class discussion about body image with the resources and questions provided here. Focus on Special K's "look good on your own terms" ad campaign. Learners start by reading about this campaign and analyze a series of print ads,...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Log Canoes: A Chesapeake Bay Tradition

For Students 6th - 8th
This activity uses a question and answer format to scaffold learners comprehension of a short dialogue about the Chesapeake Bay and its tradition of log canoes. After reading the short passage, students are prompted to find three facts...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Great Expectations

For Students 11th - 12th
Learners can use this worksheet to discuss the expectations placed on the Obama presidency. Included are two cartoons to analyze, a web site to visit, several great discussion questions, and a short activity. This is one worksheet that...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: The Bush and Clinton Years

For Students 10th - 12th
Examine how the Bush and Clinton years are an example of political dynasties. This cartoon provides a way to explore the concept and activate critical thinking skills in order to better grasp U.S. Politics. A fun and educational way to...
Organizer
Curated OER

Primary History Children of Victorian Britain Extension Activity - Children at Work

For Students 1st - 3rd
What a great way to have your class learn about the lives of children in Victorian England. Learners sharpen their research skills as they study the history of children who worked in England. They choose extension projects to complete.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Critical Thinking: What if There Were No Clocks?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students examine the importance of tracking time. In this critical thinking lesson, students discuss how people and animals track time and consider the consequences if people did not have clocks or calendars.
Activity
Digital Public Library of America

Ida B. Wells and Anti-Lynching Activism

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
A packet of 13 primary sources provides young historians with insight into the anti-lynching activism of civil rights Ida B. Wells. Included are images of Wells, her letters, a political cartoon, newspaper lynching announcements, and a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Survivor Game

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Learners discover competition and trickery by participating in a class game. They participate in a role-playing game called "Survivor" in which students utilize critical thinking skills to identify who is the "Bad Guy." Students win the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Supreme Court Case Study: District of Columbia Vs Heller

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Examine the Supreme Court case, District of Columbia vs Heller, to build a better understanding of the Bill of Rights. Learners visit three different websites, read the provided informational text, and then answer a series of critical...