Curated OER
Images, Empathy, and the Humanitarian Impulse
Students study humanitarian intervention and its role in society. In this politics instructional activity students view a video on Darfur and discuss what they learned.
Roald Dahl
Matilda - The Ghost
How do you think the parrot in "The Ghost" chapter of Matilda feels in the chimney? Put a class member in the hot seat and have the class ask questions relating to how they might have felt if they were the parrot in the chimney. Then,...
Museum of Disability
Taking Visual Impairment to School
What is the world like when you can't see, or when your vision is impaired? Learn about how Lisa communicates with the world around her with Taking Visual Impairment to School by Rita Whitman Steingold. Learners answer discussion...
Curated OER
Historical Figure: A Monologue
Fourth graders develop their speaking skills. In this monologue lesson, 4th graders watch their instructors model a monologue regarding Abraham Lincoln. Students apply these skills as they research a historical figure from their state...
Curated OER
Holocaust Literature Circle Discussion
Seventh graders participate in a literature circle regarding various novels of Holocaust literature. They read their selected novel and write a journal entry in response to the reading, and in small groups participate in a group...
Curated OER
What’s your Name?
Youngsters work to build empathy, cultural understanding, and a sense of self as they uncover the story behind their own names. They read the book, The Name Jar, discuss immigration and how it feels to be in a new place. Then, they...
Curated OER
The Mitten
Explore the Ukraine through a reading of The Mitten. Readers will determine the sequence of events, cause and effect, make predictions, and find the main idea of the story. They also use math skills to make charts and graphs. Finally,...
Advocates for Youth
What Are Stereotypes and Gender Roles?
Living up to what society expects of you is difficult enough before you add the complications of sexual and racial prejudice. Discuss the difficulties faced by people in your country, neighborhood, and classroom with a series of...
Global Oneness Project
The Importance of Indigenous Language Revitalization
Middle schoolers consider languages as representations of cultures and the importance of preserving various languages, especially the rapidly disappearing languages of indigenous peoples, in a lesson that tells the story of Marie Wilcox...
Teaching Tolerance
Understanding the Prison Label
Break the chain. An engaging lesson examines why it is so hard to break free of the prison system in the US. Academics participate in a reader's theater, read primary sources, and discuss their thoughts. The lesson explains the hardships...
Curated OER
Bearing the Torch: A Study of Ancient Greece
Second graders research Ancient Greece. In this Ancient Greece lesson, 2nd graders survey the geographical, historical, and cultural aspects of Greece. Students discover stories of Greek mythology and explore the beginning of the Olympic...
Curated OER
A Case Study of Racial Prejudice and Discrimination
Students participate in a simulated form of discrimination as they divide into groups of blue-eyed and non-blue-eyed students. They reflect on their experiences during the role-play and compare their observations to the former system of...
Advocates for Human Rights
Voices of Iraqi Refugees
The stated goal of this resource is to provide learners with basic facts about and build empathy for Iraqi refugees. To do so elementary classes develop a plan for how to welcome refugees to their classroom. Middle schoolers read...
Curated OER
Problem Page Letter
Students discuss a dramatic situation involving realistic characters and create response "letters" to the situation in this Drama lesson plan for the high school classroom. The lesson plan emphasizes the study of empathy and sympathy as...
Curated OER
Personal and Global Conflict
Pupils review vocabulary of conflict. In this citizenship lesson, students practice conflict resolution skills by participating in a role play involving national representatives working with a UN Mediator. Pupils reflect on the...
Curated OER
Defining Caring
Students define the word care and discover the importance of caring for others. In this character education lesson plan, students work as a class to brainstorm synonyms for care. Learners write a list of 5 things or people that they care...
Curated OER
Using Words to Work Things Out
Students explore appropriate ways to communicate feelings. In this character development lesson, students listen to Hands are not for Hitting and several other books about expressing emotions appropriately. Students observe puppet...
Curated OER
Celebrate National Inclusive Schools Week
Students list traits that make them unique. They participate in a Bingo-like game, where they try to identify people by their traits.
Curated OER
Tzedakah: How Can We Help?
Students define what constitutes a nutritious meal, the price of a healthy meal, and understand that some people can't afford healthy meals. For this healthy meals lesson, students estimate and research the cost of a nutritious meal, add...
Curated OER
Tzedakah: How Can We Help?
Students identify nutritious meals and the prices of a healthy meal. In this nutritious meals lesson plan, students work in small groups and plan a menu for a nutritious meal. Students figure the total cost of the meal and collect money...
Curated OER
Empathy and the Vietnam War
Students explore the implications of the draft during the Vietnam War. For this Vietnam lesson, students analyze the lyrics of songs that explore differents opinions of the Vietnam draft. Students particpate in a role-play activity that...
Curated OER
Whale Song Acrostic
What do whales sing about? Invite your class to imagine the thoughts of whales before writing acrostic poems on the topic. The plan blends together a bit of life science with plenty of opportunities for creativity and writing.
US Institute of Peace
Becoming a Peacebuilder
"Be the change you wish to see in the world!" The 15th and final lesson in a peacebuilding series uses this quote from Gandhi to prepare pupils for their own action projects. Individuals research a global issue, then brainstorm a method...
US Institute of Peace
Organizations Working for Peace
We're all in this together! Show young scholars that peace is a process and having the support of like-minded people can make it happen. 13th in a series of 15 peace building activities, groups conduct research on a peace organization,...