PBS
Technology: Conveniences and Consequences
It's a delicate balance—using technology to improve our lives while still protecting the environment, and ourselves, from the hazards of technology use. Class members examine statistics about the increase in media use, complete a survey...
Curated OER
Talk Shows
Eighth graders are exposed to different types of media in order to investigate the tendency of being exposed to a set of values that run contrary to conservative values. They role play a television program in order to communicate the...
Curated OER
Grapes of Wrath: Setting up Historical Context
Discuss life in the 1930s in relation to the Dust Bowl and Great Depression, then do a cross-media analysis. Here you'll find background information on film maker John Ford, writer John Steinbeck, and 1930s America. You can compare the...
Curated OER
A Free and Open Press: Evaluating the Media
Students compare and critically evaluate the different media as sources of news, develop criteria for defining "news", experience the editorial process of selecting news stories and detect bias in news reporting.
Curated OER
Radio Free America?
Students explore the controversy over the recent FCC vote to loosen restrictions on media ownership. After researching the background and position of local radio stations, students evaluate and make recommendations about free speech.
Curated OER
Comparing the Satellite and Broadcast Radio Landscapes
Learners research the development of satellite technology over the last 50 years students explain how the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 changed the rules for corporate ownership of multiple media outlets.
Media Education Lab
Defining Propaganda
21st century learners live in a media world. Help them develop the skills they need to be able to analyze the barrage of propaganda they face daily, with a resource that introduces them to the type of persuasive appeals found in news,...
Curated OER
China and Communism
Sixth graders discuss what might happen if United States government took over media ownership, read Junior Scholastic article entitled "China Looks to the Future," and create chart comparing Chinese Communist government to United States...
Curated Video
Copyright
Introduce your class to the concept of copyright with a series of activities. Pupils first learn about copyright laws and fair use, putting their knowledge to the test with a quick categorizing task. They then watch a video and answer...
Curated OER
Quilting with Literature: Internet Research and Multi-Media Presentation Skills in AP English
Have your class acquire research skills such as using hotlists and evaluating websites while they study major literary eras. They create multimedia presentation using information from the Internet research.
Shmoop
ELA.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.11-12.8
It is no easy feat to wade through legal and political documents. And incorporating this type of informational text into a literature class can also be a challenge. Here’s a resource that includes suggestions for how to address this...
Curated OER
Breaking News English: English Soccer Boss in World Cup Scandal
In this English learning exercise, students read "English Soccer Boss in World Cup Scandal," and then respond to 1 essay, 47 fill in the blank, 7 short answer, 20 matching, and 10 true or false questions about the selection.
Curated OER
Breaking News English: New Zealand Signs Historic Maori Land Deal
In this English learning exercise, learners read "New Zealand Signs Historic Maori Land Deal," and then respond to 1 essay, 47 fill in the blank, 7 short answer, 20 matching, and 8 true or false questions about the selection.
Curated OER
Breaking News English: Japanese-Russian Peace Treaty Still Remote
In this English worksheet, students read "Japanese-Russian Peace Treaty Still Remote," and then respond to 47 fill in the blank, 7 short answer, 20 matching, and 8 true or false questions about the selection.
NOAA
Come on Down!
What do we do when a dive is too dangerous for humans to accomplish? Send in the robots! Middle school scientists get acquainted with several different models of submersible robots in the second lesson of six from NOAA. Lab groups then...
Channel Islands Film
Step Into the Shoes
Small groups create skits that illustrate the different perspectives of those involved in the transitioning of Santa Rose island from private ownership to National Park.
Curated OER
Who Owns The Past?
Students research the validity and legality of ownership. Through the use of primary sources, web based and print media research, students become familiar with and evaluate the varying viewpoints regarding the...
Curated OER
Copyright Ethics
High schoolers examine the issues surrounding intellectual copyrights. They research the examples of DVD and CD piracy and participate in a class discussion about the related ethics.
SaveandInvest.org
The True Cost of Owning a Car
Almost every teen wants a car, but can they really afford one? The lesson walks pupils through how to identify a budget, find all of the costs associated with car ownership, and determine if they should buy the car or keep looking.
Curated OER
The Right to Bear Arms
Students explore the right to bear arms. They identify the arguments regarding the controversy over gun ownership and discuss the various positions individuals and groups have taken. They prepare a visual representation of the results...
Curated OER
Bad Dog or Bad Owner?
Students discuss the responsibilities of pet ownership. In this animal welfare instructional activity, students visit selected websites to investigate the attributes of the pit bull. Students also consider the costs and how to care for...
Curated OER
Risky Business - Or Not!
Students explore the concept of the stock market. In this stock market lesson, students discuss the stock market and how it works. Students hypothesize what makes a stock price go up or down. Students watch a short video about the...
Public Media for Northern California
An Educator’s Guide to Teaching Gun Control Issues | The Lowdown
The topic of gun control is vast, controversial, and difficult to introduce to learners. This gem of a resource covers both sides of the issue and provides topic background, various multimedia and print resources, analysis questions, and...
Curated OER
Fears and Phobias
Take the fear out of reading with this series of three lessons from HotWire Magazine about fears and phobias. Each lesson contains pre-reading and post-reading activities aimed at improving learners' reading comprehension skills with the...