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A Site to See
Students identify the risks and benefits of living next to a volcano. After reading an article, they discuss the behaviors of an active volcano. Using the Internet, they work together to research volcano-monitoring techniques and create...
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Progression of Political Movements
Young scholars examine the various political parties throughout history. In groups, they are given documents identifying the platforms of the parties in the 1868 election. To end the lesson plan, they share their information with the...
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Presidential Election One Year Away
Students identify political parties, then read a news article about the 2008 election. In this current events lesson (written prior to the 2008 election), the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, then...
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Hero Within
Students interview a hero. In this heroes lesson, students read Number the Stars to begin a discussion about heroes and then create mind maps on each character. Students pick a local hero and interview them and then write a personal...
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The Crittenden Conway Duel
Students explore primary and secondary sources. In this primary and secondary source lesson, students investigate a crime scene. Students search for evidence around the classroom and evaluate their findings. Students write a crime report...
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This Land Is Our Land
Students explore land use. In this land lesson plan, students examine the use of land and land records. They create a diagram of a specified piece of land and determine the area of the land. Students discuss their...
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Human Sexuality Presentations
Students examine human health by researching the internet. In this human sexuality lesson, students utilize the web to locate a website which contains information about a certain sexual aspect. Students create a group presentation on one...
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Movement and Migration: the Gold Nugget that launched the Gold Rush
Students learn what it was like to be a gold miner. In this California gold rush instructional activity, students watch a movie about the California gold rush and discuss what they learned. Students use the Internet to examine the gold...
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Teaching with Objects The Gold Nugget
Fourth graders complete activities related to the California gold rush. In this gold rush lesson plan, 4th graders go to an Internet website video that discusses the gold rush. They complete discuss miner's experiences, sing a gold rush...
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The Gold Rush Experience: Create Your Own Exhibit
Students create a virtual exhibit. For this gold rush lesson, students watch a movie about the California gold rush, view a virtual image of the gold nugget that started the gold rush and examine the sources. Students research and...
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Cultural Capital
Students research the adaptation and acculturation of immigrant groups in the United States. They create culture capsules aimed at preserving the cultural heritage of new peoples in American society.
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The Fabric of America
Students examine the theme of independence in American history by participating in a class-wide paper quilt project. Each student creates three quilt squares representing the past, present and future of independence in the United States.
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A Nation in Mourning
Students reflect on what the deaths of John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and Lauren Bessette mean to them. They then work to compose and read aloud found poems from The Times' coverage of the burial and memorial services.
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Crisis in Kosovo
Students discuss the current crisis in Kosovo, Yugoslavia and express their views on whether the U.S. should get involved in this foreign conflict. They write a journal entry about whether
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Is the Internet Igniting Violence?
Students explain how various issues regarding restrictions on the Internet are impacted by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, particularly in light of the recent school shooting and bombing in Littleton, Colorado.
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Dragon's Gate
Students read Dragon's Gate as a shared literature book. This instructional activity provides excellent extension activities students can engage in while they are reading, and after they have finished the book.
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Sparking History
Students create exhibits about patriotic symbols for a living museum. They write reflective essays exploring the themes and symbols of independence and their influences on social responsibility.
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International Custody Battle
Students research the relationship between the United States and Cuba by identifying key players and events in Cuban/U.S. history. They also focus on a battle waged between Cuban-Americans in Miami and a father in Cuba over the custody...
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Looking Back to Move Forward
Students investigate, through interviews, personal reflection and research, the impact on the past, present and future of 20th century historic events in the United States.
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Justices for All
Students examine role of Supreme Court justices in the American political process, research the qualities of the current Supreme Court justices, and write opinion papers evaluating the current justices and recommending future nominations.
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Political Puzzles
Students investigate how different liberal democracies around the world organize their governments and decide major policies. They compare their findings to the American political system, using examples of current political issues.
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Separation of Church and Class?
Students examine the changing socioeconomic status of the evangelical Christian population in the United States. They discuss the relationship between class and religion in American society.
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Over-the-Counter Culture
Students explore the changing consumer habits of Americans of various socioeconomic classes. They examine the exact costs of products, services and interest rates mentioned in the article and reflect on their own spending habits and...
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Taking From the Giving Tree
Young scholars explore the ways in which various American cities negotiate the protection of their "green infrastructure," gaining a broader understanding of proposed and enacted legislation as it relates to preserving and planting trees...