Curated OER
Popular Sovereignty Under the Kansas-Nebraska Act
Seventh graders examine the implications of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. In this slavery instructional activity, 7th graders examine a map of 1820 America and discuss the balance of power implied by the map. Students then read Stephen...
Curated OER
Seventeenth Century Pick-up Lines
Students analyze passages from The Mysteries of Love and Eloquence, or the Arts of Wooing and Complementing, written in the seventeenth century. Students analyze the images, words and figures of speech the author used and compare the...
Curated OER
Crash Test Physics
Students design and test balsa cars. In this crash tet lesson plan, students design and build their own cars to specifications. They explore the physics of motion and vehicle crash safety.
Curated OER
Book Cover Design
High schoolers design book covers. In this graphic design lesson plan, students are introduced to designing book covers. High schoolers develop skills on how to promote their designs to clients. Students then create their own book covers.
Curated OER
Shakespeare: Henry V - Writing Task
Pairs of pupils choose a person who they consider to be a hero. They research that person, develop a speech, and deliver it to the class in hopes of persuading them that this person really is a hero. A vote is taken after the...
Curated OER
Introducing the Essay: Twain, Douglass, and American Non-Fiction
Students analyze American essayists Mark Twain and Frederick Douglass in an introduction to American literary non-fiction writing. In this essay history lesson, students identify methods for writing essays. Students read and analyze...
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The Enemy that Never Was
Students conduct research and explain in a speech why Japanese Canadians were not a threat to Canada during the Second World War.
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Rhetorical Devices
Eleventh graders consider rhetorical devices in speeches and then make an informed selection of effective rhetorical devices for a controversial topic presentation. Students present their findings using presentation software.
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Rhetorical Terms
Young scholars explore online audio examples taken from public speeches, movies, songs, lectures, oral interpretations of literature and other media events to find uses for specific rhetorical terms. This instructional activity includes...
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Write Your Own Cultural Connections
Young scholars write a cultural narrative. In this multicultural writing lesson, students create an expository narrative to teach others about their lives. Young scholars complete the narrative and use a buddy editing strategy to revise...
Dream of a Nation
Solution Debate
Class members choose a current social, political, environmental, or economic problem presented in Tyson Miller's Dream of a Nation: Inspiring Ideas for a Better America, research this problem and a variety of suggested solutions, before...
Museum of Tolerance
The Pursuit of Democracy and Diversity: The Trial of Pro-Social Injustice in Historical Documents and Accounts
Class members investigate The Indian Removal Act of 1830, U.S. Theft of Mexican Territory Timeline, and President Abraham Lincoln’s letter to Horace Greeley, 1862, and then conduct a mock trial of each of these documents to determine...
Columbus City Schools
Poetry Speaking and Listening Standards
Celebrate April's National Poetry Month or enrich a poetry unit with a wealth of language arts material. Class members develop an oral interpretation of a poem and/or develop a podcast interview with a poet.
Curated OER
Persuade or Die!
Young scholars read Patrick Henry's speech. They review prior learning about persuasive writing, and the American revolutionary war. Students listen as the teacher reads Patrick Henry's speech aloud to the class using lots of emotion and...
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Refining Your Public Speaking Skills
Students use the rubric created in the Explore Lesson to help them craft an effective oral presentation worthy of a formal governmental hearing. They polish their oral presentations that are based on their position papers through guided...
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China
Students participate in a lesson that is focused on the culture of China. The unit is set up using the layered curriculum method which is student centered. They pick the type of activities and assessments.
Curated OER
Debate on Ratification: Should We Ratify the New Constitution?
Students determine whether the Constitution should be ratified. In this U.S. Constitution instructional activity, students research the roles of famous Federalists and Antifederalists in order to prepare them to participate in a...
Curated OER
Speak Up, Speak Out
Fourth graders examine, compare, and summarize the speeches of Sojourner Truth and Patrick Henry. They review the parts of a good speech and design and give their own speech that expresses an opinion and persuades the listener..
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Martin Luther King, Jr. vs. Malcolm X
Eleventh graders compare and contrast the visions of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. In this African-American history lesson, 11th graders read speeches by each of the men and summarize the arguments made by each of them about...
Curated OER
Baseball Cards
Students read a short story on baseball cards and reflect on Honus Wagner's decision to withdraw his card. In this baseball cards lesson plan, students study how children used cards in the 1930's and express their understanding of Honus...
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The Enemy that Never Was
Students write speeches explaining why Japanese Canadians were not a threat to Canada during World War 2. In this Japanese Canadians lesson plan, students learn about racism, and how the Japanese were targeted but not a threat during the...
Curated OER
Media Literacy Unit - Part 4
Seventh graders study how advertisers use techniques to sell their products. In this persuasive media lesson, 7th graders analyze media messages to find the advertiser's purpose. They examine different advertising techniques and their...
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The future of Affirmative Action
Eleventh graders explore the term Affirmative Action. In this US History lesson, 11th graders create a presentation that will determine the future of federal affirmative action programs. Students write a speech that will be...
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Murals in my Neighborhood
Students use rubrics to grade murals in their city. In this mural design lesson plan, students learn about the design of murals and explore their city to find murals. Students grade the murals based on design and representation of the...