Young scholars discover the ideas of enlightenment by reading historical poetry. In this philosophical lesson, students read poems by Sir Walter Scott and Sergeant Joyce Kilmer while discussing the themes of the writing with classmates....

Students examine an author's philosophical look at life through anecdotes he describes as a teacher in Uzbekistan. In this Uzbekistan instructional activity, students analyze a literary passage in order to identify, then practice using,...

Students read and discuss excerpts from the writings of Henry David Thoreau, Frederick Douglass and Sarah Parker Redmond. They compare and contrast the views of the three abolitionists concentrating on the experiences and reasons for...

Students explore Enlightenment and Neoclassical art.  For this visual arts lesson, students compare and contrast images of architecture from both styles. Students create visual art designs that feature the ideals of the Enlightenment.

Students investigate the influence of the Enlightenment on American society and government. In this Enlightenment lesson, students work cooperatively in groups to define the principles of the Enlightenment, American...

Students identify artists of the Neoclassical period and how they were influenced by major historical events during the Enlightenment as well as identify the Neoclassical style.In this Neoclassical art activity,...

Students explore the concept of non-violent resistance. In this political philosophies lesson plan, students study the political tactics of Mohandas Gandhi, Henry David Thoreau, and Martin Luther King, Jr. in order to discover how each...

Students examine how relationships between countries change overtime. They identify the factors that play a role in altering the relationships and contribute to U.S. foreign policy toward their country of research. Groups conduct their...

Students complete a table of values and plot points, as well as construct a graph on a coordinate grid. They construct two graphs on the same coordinate system, and identify the point of intersection. Students represent and record...

Students explore protest songs. In this interdisciplinary instructional activity, students examine issues-based music by summarizing lyrics and revealing inferences, generalizations, conclusions, and points of view found in the songs.

Students read a wide range of literature from many periods in many genres to build an understanding of the many dimensions (e.g., philosophical, ethical, aesthetic) of human experience. They apply knowledge of language structure,...

Eighth graders analyze the criteria used to identify "Soul of a Champion" athletes.  In this Current Events instructional activity, 8th graders write, edit and organize a script for a “live” documentary on the athlete. Students...

Students research Langston Hughes poetry for his use of figurative language. In this poetry analysis lesson, students research the life and poetry of Langston Hughes and his use of vivid words. Students complete 23 different...

Young scholars write an essay comparing Arthur Mille's The Crucible and one of Tennessee Williams' plays. In this Tennessee Williams lesson plan, students discuss the influence of Puritanism on modern American drama....

Students take a closer look at a memory play. In this American drama lesson, students read Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie and analyze it as a memory play. Students discuss the linear and non-linear aspects of the play prior to...

Students recognize that our legal-political system has developed through a process of moving from philosophical ideals to compromised working models.

Students consider their own personal opinions on divisive issues. They examine the confirmation of Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. and investigate issues from different ideological and philosophical perspectives.

Young scholars hold a symposium during which students debate the benefits of democracy in ancient Greece and the United States. By doing this, young scholars explain the role of symposia in ancient Greek culture and politics.

In this famous person activity, students read a passage about Maria Montessori and then complete a variety of in-class and homework activities to support comprehension, including partner interviews, spelling, cloze, synonym...

Tenth graders demonstrate methods of relaxation by participating and assisting each other in meditation. They demonstrate their ability to experiment with the elements of dramatic presentation by relying on group co-ordination of voice,...

Learners examine the various types of dancing present in Korea. In groups, they discover the history and cultural purposes of the dances and how society influenced the role of dance in its culture. They answer discussion questions and...

Students explore the life of Benjamin Franklin. In this American history lesson, students research primary and secondary documents regarding Franklin's life. Students should examine the point of view each of the accounts is written from...

Eighth graders investigate modern-dance choreographer Merce Cunningham's historically significant contribution to dance-making history. Specifically, 8th graders explore and practice Merce Cunningham's choreographic use of chance...

Students select books to read that include disease as a plot or theme component. They fill out a matrix for the disease in their novel and write a five-paragraph paper about their book. Students use the rest of the week's classes to...