Encourage your class to think positively! In order to counter negative thoughts, it can be useful to think of rational and positive counter statements. This worksheet asks learners to read a few negative thoughts and practice countering...

Students cooperate within a small group, review materials covered in previous lessons, use higher level thinking skills and gain positive feedback through competition.

A college undergrad has a lackluster first year. Why? A structured prompt from the College Board asks learners to explore various psychological dynamics and how they can affect a young man's freshman experience. A second question asks...

A school district is trying to get its learners to read more, but what is the best way to motivate them? A scenario investigates whether the district should use pizza coupons to encourage literacy. Other practice questions from College...

Scholars put themselves in an immigrant's shoes to decide what items they would take on their journey to a new home. Learners read primary sources, take part in a whole-class discussion, and make a list that they share with their peers,...

Check and double-check! That's the big idea as teams prepare to launch their Service Learning Projects. They review their action plans, materials lists, timelines, schedules, and memos, brainstorm last-minute project needs, issues, and...

Students develop final versions of their position papers and add them to the school's web pages for review and feedback.

GPS is great for identifying your position, but is it finding your relative or absolute location? Ninth graders explore the difference between absolute and relative location, use the standard grid system coordinate system, and use GPS to...

Students examine the relationship between anger, aggression and teenagers. As a class, they share a difficult situation in their own lives and review the techniques to properly deal with it. In groups, they discuss how they feel about...

Students examine the challenges a single teenage parent faces. In groups, they research ways to positively cope with an unplanned pregnancy and design their own layette for their new baby. As a class, they discuss what it means to be...

Learners examine the problems associated with gender based and race based education. In groups, they research the history of education and the laws that have changed education and impacted lives. They brainstorm a list of the positives...

Students develop debating and analytical thinking skills. They take a position in the Back-to-Africa discussion, based upon any readings and the two opposing essays they read. In groups, they discuss an issue from two different points...

Your personality is based on the things you believe in, the morals you abide by, and the values upon which you make your decisions. Delve into a set of lessons about values and moral framework with your eighth graders as...

Students plan and construct a "mini-lab" to measure the reflectivity of different earth surfaces. They measure reflectivity of materials, including ice, soil, rocks, etc., and then extrapolate from what they have learned to consider the...

Students participate in a group discussion to evaluate rules that the class created together. In this early childhood social studies lesson plan, students condense rules into categories and reword rules to be stated in the positive.

Students discuss the Revolution and consider the causes of the war, the attitudes of the colonists, and the position of the British. Then students explore American involvement in wars since the country's inception.

Students are introduced to the views on sexuality in the United States. In groups, they research data from five countries and compare them with the United States. Using the information, they develop reasons why the teenage pregnancy...

Students inquire how to deal with a personal loss. They explore how to deal positively with feelings. Students read stories about individuals who have lost personal possessions. Students rank items in order of preciousness. They...

Ninth graders read "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens. In groups, they analyze the opinions of various philosophers on the French Revoluion. To end the lesson, they take all the information gathered during their readings and...

Students listen to a statement about Zora Neale Hurston's essay, "Turpentine" and discuss if they agree or disagree with it. They work in groups to record information supporting their position.

Students submit rough drafts of position papers and post them on computer networks for review.

Use the power of the pen to persuade others to get involved in community issues! Individuals reflect on personal service learning activities and the writing process. They compose essays regarding service to others. While designed for...

Can beautiful words change the world? Literary scholars discover how to paint their visions of change using poetry in a series of three workshops. Each independent topic gives participants a chance to examine their feelings about...

Help class members become savvy consumers with a series of activities that has them analyzing marketing strategies, comparing the value of brand name versus off-brand clothing, and considering the advantages and...