Curated OER
Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project
Sixth graders review the needs of their community and salmon in a local creek. Using information they gathered, they design and implement a project to restore salmon and steelhead back to the local watershed. They identify threats to the...
Global Oneness Project
The Value of Sports: Unifying a Community
The Global Oneness Project presents a lesson about the power of sport to bring a community together. After watching the documentary film, I am Yup'ik, class members use the provided discussion questions to reflect on the importance...
Channel Islands Film
Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island: Lesson Plan 1
As a practice writing test, fourth graders use the West of the West's documentary Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island and two print resources as source materials for an informative article that identifies information that is...
Curated OER
Behind the Camera
Scholars, in groups, gather information relating to community health care. Using video and digital cameras, they interview members of a health center staff. They then compile digital images, select music, and narrate a story about their...
National History Day
No More Sticks and Stones: Technological Advancements in World War I Warfare
Remind young historians that many technological advancements influenced the events of World War I. After analyzing technology's evolution through primary sources, discussing the changes over time, and watching various video clips,...
Curated OER
Immigration and Photography: The Case of Lewis Hine
Middle schoolers are introduced to the characteristics of documentary photography. Individually, they cut out a paper frame and view their classroom through the "lens" and at different angles. After veiwing photographs, they practice...
Curated OER
Our Town
Students read and discuss an online article as they consider what makes a center of activity in a city or town. They produce a documentary film of the hub of activity in their school.
Curated OER
Nature Superfish
Students study the behavior or ocean animals called billfish. In this life science lesson, students create their own documentary about a local animal. They share their videos with the entire school.
Council for Economic Education
Cost/Benefit Analysis: Three Gorges Dam
Students, in groups, take various roles in evaluating the costs/benefits of the Three Gorges Dam project on the Yangtze River in China.
Curated OER
Jewish Stars of David
Students examine the history of the Holocaust and complete a KWL chart. Using the Internet, they research an aspect of the Holocaust they are interested in and watch a documentary. They read testimonies of survivors and identify other...
Curated OER
On the Road Again
Learners examine migration patterns in Africa and China. They watch excerpts from a documentary, define key vocabulary words, complete various student organizers, and create a poster.
Curated OER
The Physiological Effects of Boxing
In this collaborative project students will work together to research the effects of boxing. They will then present their information to the class and investigate possible injuries that can be sustained during boxing. Extensions: Watch...
Population Connection
A Demographically Divided World
Did you know that birth and life rates vary across the world? The resource, the second in a six-part series, discusses just how demographics differ across countries and why it might be the case. Scholars complete worksheets, watch...
Curated OER
The Foot Soldier Project for Civil Rights Studies
Students investigate the concept of foot soldiers with oral history. They are provided with primary and secondary resources. Students differentiate the terms of oral history versus the written record of history. They have class...
Curated OER
Seeking Shakespeare in Local Communities
Students explore where Shakespeare exists in local community plays. In this Shakespeare lesson, students create a documentary to define the existence of Shakespeare in their community drama activities. Students participate in community...
Curated OER
A Grand Showing
High schoolers promote philanthropy. In this service learning lesson, students create video documentaries based on service learning projects they completed and then share the video with their peers and community.
Curated OER
The Ultimate Athletic Background
Eighth graders analyze the criteria used to identify "Soul of a Champion" athletes. In this Current Events lesson, 8th graders write, edit and organize a script for a “live” documentary on the athlete. Students rehearse and perform...
Curated OER
Hong Kong Symphony: Heaven, Earth, Mankind
Students complete a unit on the reunification of Hong Kong with China in 1997. They watch and discuss a documentary, write an essay about unification, conduct Internet research on three artists from the film, complete a data sheet, and...
Curated OER
Industrial Revolution History
Students examine the facets of the Industrial Revolution. In this world history lesson, students use the Internet to research causes, effects, and implications of the Industrial Revolution. Students use selected websites to respond to...
Curated OER
All About Me
Students produce a slide show documentary designed to help them recognize their individuality, respect each other's differences, and discover what makes them unique. They examine the concept of digital portfolios. It is designed to...
Curated OER
The French Expedition to Egypt
Young scholars analyze the effect of the French Expedition to Egypt. In this world history lesson, students research the military, scientific, cultural, and industrial impacts of the expedition. Young scholars create multimedia projects...
Curated OER
The Candid Camera
Students examine the influence of photographer Jerome Liebling on documentary films. They read and discuss an article, take photographs, and create an original photo essay and artist statement.
Curated OER
A Walk Through Time
Students investigate the types of footwear worn during ten periods of history. In this secondary, art/math/social studies lesson, students view documentaries and popular films to study the time periods. Students research the...
Curated OER
Kids With Cameras Make a Difference
Learners use cameras to take pictures of their community and create an exhibit to raise money. For this cameras lesson plan, students learn basic photography techniques and send their money to the "kids with cameras" project.