Curated OER
Educational Complacency Will Make U.S. Feel the Pain
Twelfth graders examine the educational system in the United States in reference to the job market and available expertise. In this Current Events lesson, 12th graders read an article and discuss their opinions with the class.
Curated OER
All Wrapped up and Nowhere to Go
Students consider the impact of legislating exessive packaging. In this environmental issues lesson, students visit selected websites to discover information about packaging and UK laws to reduce it. Students...
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Local Four Minute Men Committee
Students research the "Third Liberty Loan" pamphlet. In this discussion lesson plan, students read the pamphlet and discuss their opinions. Students answer questions and discuss main points of the document.
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Drug Testing In Schools - Take A Stand
Students examine facts about drug testing in schools.
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Deer Hunting Pros and Cons
Students research, form an opinion, brainstorm pros and cons and support their own opinion after researching the pros and cons of deer hunting.
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The Death Penalty -- Background and Quiz
High schoolers participate in an activity about the death penalty. In groups, they research the history of corporal punishment and take notes on interesting facts. They identify and discuss the arguments for and against the use of it and...
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Science Mystery: The Vinland Map
Learners research proof regarding the authenticity of the Vinland map. In this geography lesson, students hold a debate based on their research findings. They discuss which side won and write a short essay about their opinion on the issue.
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Put It In Print
Pupils research immigration reform and immigrant experiences in Indiana. They form their own opinions and voice them. They role-play editors and writers of a newspaper to get their information across.
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Chinese, Japanese, & Korean Immigration to the U. S.
Students study immigration of people from Southeast Asian countries to the United States.  Pupils create maps and geographically illustrate the immigration.  Using the internet, students research an assigned topic.  They write an essay...
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Establishing a Strong Authorial Voice
Why do some phrases contribute to a weak authorial voice? The first page of this packet explains what a strong and weak voice sound like, and it lists some common phrases that clutter writing, ultimately weakening it. The second page...
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Collective Poetry: Teaching Tolerance
Help your class create collective poetry following a simple, engaging model from Teaching Tolerance (tolerance.org). Each young poet writes five things on an index card: sayings from others, favorite sound, favorite place, favorite...
Curated OER
Unsettling Plans
Students consider words that reflect their knowledge and opinions about Israel, Palestinian Authority and the Gaza Strip. They develop annotated timelines about the history of the region in the 20th century and create collages that...
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The Panama Canal Treaties: How Treaties Are Ratified
Students gain an understanding of how the executive and legislative branches, influenced by popular opinion, work toward the ratification of a treaty. They examine the influences and impact of lobbying and special interests in the...
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Using Scholastic News to Introduce the Net
Third graders log on to the net, type in the address for Scholastic and browse the subjects for the week. They select one area of interest and generate five interesting facts about the article.
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We Wish You a Merry Something, America
In this we wish you a merry something, America instructional activity, 8th graders read or listen to a paragraph explaining that the term merry Christmas is not politically correct in America.  Students discuss 4 warm up...
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The Thrill of Big-Wave Surfing
Students view a PBS Nature program about big-wave surfing and participate in a class discussion about their experiences with surfing, body boarding, or body surfing.  Students create a drawing based on a reading and post their art around...
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Earth in the Hot Seat
Students identify the different viewpoints on the issue of global warming.  While watching a video, they take notes on the issues presented to them and answer questions about what Alaska, Peru and East Africa are doing to prevent global...
TED-Ed
How to Choose Your News
How do you get the truth unfiltered by middlemen? Tune into various sources and note the differences is the suggestion in a short video that begins by providing examples of how media gatekeepers have manipulated information and how those...
Harry S. Truman Library & Museum
Marshall Plan: Convince the American People
This is an excellent resource for US history classes, especially AP history. After learning some background on the Marshall Plan, the class, divided into two groups, researches opposing positions on this aid program. Groups read and...
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In Defense of Elitism
High schoolers identify the key components of an argument essay. They differentiate between claims based on facts, opinions, beliefs,and prejudice. Students develop skills of critical thinking in this lesson.
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Examine Persuasive Elements by Reading, Analyzing, and Discussing Persuasive Text
Learners identify persuasive strategies and analyze arguments. In this persuasive writing lesson plan, students read "Chief Red Jacket's Reply" and "Reverend Cram's Speech to the Iroquois Nation" and chart major elements of each...
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Tragedy at Sea
Students explore the recent Russian submarine tragedy. They examine the facts related to the vessel's sinking, then research the opinions of others regarding this event. They explore the impact this event has on their world.
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Mandatory Sentencing
Students review mandatory sentencing and brainstorm opinions based on Measure 11.  They work in groups, hear case study then determine significan facts, the correct charge and the sentencing for the case. They discuss actual outcomes of...