National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science
To Boldly Go, or Not
Here is a different way to combine social studies and science. Have your high schoolers read a passage about the 2004 vision for space exploration and then discuss the practicality, costs, and reasons for returning to the moon. Then, the...
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Our Classroom Party
Students are shown the importance of planning events in the context for having a class party. The counselor comes to the class to take a survey of how many students are interested to have a party. The teacher can use this lesson to help...
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Food Makes the World Go Round
Fifth graders investigate the origins of foods they eat while they consider social justice issues. In this food sources lesson, 5th graders play a game and then research food distribution, food security, and hunger in the world today....
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Zoo-Goers Ready to Greet Baby Panda
The Smithsonian's National Zoo, also known as the Washington Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in the United States. Youngsters read and discuss a news article about Tai Shan, baby panda that was one of the zoos most famous residents. They...
Channel Islands Film
Dark Water: Lesson Plan 1 - Grades 3-4
As part of their study of the history of the Channel Islands, class members craft an informational article to post on a bulletin board that features the Chumash ancestral tradition of tomol paddling.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Impacts of Climate Change
Scholars become experts on the eight major impacts of climate change through a jigsaw and grand conversation. They then research and present what they learned about effects specific to their region.
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Groups We Belong To
Students think about and identify different kinds of groups. They see that people are born into certain groups and that they join others. They explore the circumstances that surround group affiliation and participation.
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Explore the Effects of Immigration
Students explore the effects of immigration on the immigrants and on society as a whole. They will record the experiences of specific immigrant groups using an E-sheet. Groups present a summary of what they learned about their ethnic...
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Census and Gold Rush Town
Young scholars analyze data and form a mental picture of the make up of a gold rush town. They explain social life in a gold rush town. They use online sources to see paintings of camp life and read accounts of miners' lives.
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The Change of a River
Young scholars describe the changes that have affected the Missouri River over the past 200 years by identifying transformations in this area's atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. They research online in groups assigned...
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Genetic Ethics Debate
Students select topics relating to bioethical questions which they research and debate. They, in groups, select topics and are given two to three weeks to research their topics, taking advantage of their school libraries and local public...
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GEOGRAPHY: SPACE CENTERS
Learners examine the descriptive science dealing with the surface of Earth, its division into continents and countries, climate, natural resources, inhabitants and industries of the various divisions and analyze the political geography...
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Volcanic Activity in the U.S.
Students locate and map ten volcanoes in United States, create chart comparing volcanoes by last eruption, type of volcano, location, and interesting fact, and create Powerpoint slide show describing basic
information about volcanoes and...
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Scenario challenge
Fifth graders become familiar with the geography of New Hampshire and the importance of specific sites in history. For this New Hampshire lesson, 5th graders create a brochure including points of interest and showing distances...
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Hydro-Technology
Students create a design for water collection, sanitation, or supply. For this hydro-technology lesson, students learn about the global water crisis. Groups of students read water technology articles, draw or design a device or process,...
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Exploring the Temperate Forest: Biodiversity and Interdependence
Students examine the consequences of cutting down large amounts of forests throughout the world. In groups, they use the internet to complete a module taking them on a tour through different temperate forests. To end the lesson, they...
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The Marsh Land as a Changing Environment
Sixth graders continue their examination of the state of Connecticut. After taking a field trip, they identify the types of birds, plants, invertebrates and vertebrates who make their home in the salt marshes. In groups, they identify...
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...
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Voices of History: Relating Historic Events to Current Events
Students discuss the current events affecting the country today. In groups, they relate a historical event to a current event. They research and present the point of view of a historical figure in an interesting way. They compare and...
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Going with the Flow
Learners survey each other and determine their common interests. They examine the use of algorithms by various websites that are used to develop networks of interest groups among users. They then design proposals for a social networking...
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Ecosystems
Students role play as members of interest group with a stake in a local land use issue. In preparation for the town hall meeting, students research their issue and gather pertinent information to persuade their audience.
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YOUR OWN CAMPAIGN
Twelfth graders, in groups propose a new law and design a campaign to get people to vote for their law. They have a voter's forum and hold a mock election.
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Malcolm X and Race Relations
Students read sections of Malcolm X's autobiography. In groups, they create a poster which highlights the events in his life and explains his philosophy on race relations. They present their poster to the class and answer any questions...