US Institute of Peace
Identifying Conflict Styles
Are you a peace-keeper or a problem-solver? Explore conflict management styles through a lesson, fourth in a 15-part series, that combines individual assessment and collaborative work. Groups learn the basic tendencies of each style,...
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Elves Number Patterns G
In this holiday math activity, students solve 7 problems pertaining to the number of toys elves make in one day. Students analyze the numbers in the series and continue the pattern.
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Tiles, Blocks, Sapphires & Gold: Designing a Treasure Map
Young cartographers in groups hide treasure at school and then create a map to find it using pattern blocks and tiles. They make paintings with clues to create a visual representation of the location of their treasure. Groups present...
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How Times Have Changed
Fifth graders work in small groups to compile job changes. They use data from the list of changes that the group generated together. Students analyze the data to determine: categories of changes, patterns or trends of changes, and future...
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The Clique
Ninth graders identify and demonstrate the ability to use interpersonal skills needed to maintain quality relationships. Then they identify personal responsibility in conflict situations, while continuing to apply problem-solving and...
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Farming in Ancient Mesopotamia: An Ancient Civil Engineering Problem
Sixth graders identify the major obstacles in farming in Mesopotamia. They work together to design and build a model that solves these problems. They write a short essay that describes the problems and their possible solutions.
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Get Your Mojo Workin': Part 1 Writing Your Very Own Blues Tune!
Upper graders listen to the blues. They discuss blues scale, read a description of the blues, and work together to write an original piece. A instructional activity like this ties into American history and African-American musical...
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Where in the World is Mr. Fultz?
Students use maps and other geographic resources to learn about their world while problem solving. They read clues each day and use classroom resources to narrow down where the prize is located.
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Who's Up for the Olympic Challenge?:Integrating the 5 Themes of Geography with Olympic Bids
Students explore geographical themes. In this problem solving geography lesson, students view a PowerPoint presentation about the Vancouver/Whistler Olympic bid. Students analyze Vancouver as an Olympic site looking at...
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"Water is Life" Global Water Awareness
Young scholars examine and calculate the percentage of potable water remaining on the earth. In this ecology and geography lesson, students brainstorm the main factors affecting water distribution. Young scholars use mathematical problem...
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Crossing the Oregon Trail
Students become familiar with the sacrifices that the migrants endured crossing the plains to the west. They experience some of the problem solving that the pioneers faced and pay the natural consequences of their choices.
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Are We There Yet?
Students estimate the time needed by the Corps of Discovery to complete its expedition. They problem solve and estimate the distance covered by the Corps on its expedition. They compare their findings to the expedition's actual rates...
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Spreadsheets and Database in Social Studies
Fifth graders create/use spreadsheets to solve real-world problems, explore patterns and make predictions, select/explain most appropriate types of graph to display data, and enter data into a prepared spreadsheet to perform calculations.
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Math: The Cathedral Project
Second graders take a field trip to a nearby church or other historical building and examine it from a mathematical perspective. In groups, they calculate the seating capacity, describe the window patterns, differentiate types of...
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These Are A Few of My Favorite and Not So Favorite Things
Students identify likes and dislikes at home and school. Then they identify the relationship between training and the world of work. Students also discover and evaluate patterns and relationships in information, ideas and structures....
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Environment: How'd That Pollution Get There?
Students examine how global wind and water patterns aid in the spread of worldwide pollution. In groups, they read articles about the domino effect of pollution and create posters displaying its journey. On blank world maps, students...
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WHO Wants Clean Water! Do You? Solving Conflicts Over International Water Rights Issues
Students examine the water rights on an international scale. In this social studies lesson, students research on a specific water rights issue. They write a paper about their findings and create a PowerPoint presentation which they share...
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Mayan Math
Fifth graders investigate the Maya's as mathematicians. In this Mayan math lessons, 5th graders work with the ancient Mayan numbering system by comparing it to the American Number System. They tell the differences and similarities...
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Shoe Box Archaeology
Learners assemble a shoe box following a layered pattern alternating between soil and artifacts. The layers of artifacts begin with the grandparents and end with the student's own personal possessions.
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Trembling, Spewing Earth: Impacts on Human Activity
Seventh graders study to identify patterns in earthquake activity and impacts on human behavior. They also develop plans to cope with such natural disasters.
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Jimmy Carter: Civic Action, Lesson 1
Inspired by the humanitarian work of President Jimmy Carter after he left office, high schoolers explore the history of civic action in the United States and generate ideas about problems at the local, national, and international levels....
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What's Russia To Do?
Students watch a PowerPoint presentation on the Gulag system in Russia. In groups, they use the internet to create maps on climate and population pyramids for the country of Russia. They must use this information and develop a plan to...
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Is the Hudson River Too Salty to Drink?
Students explore reasons for varied salinity in bodies of water. In this geographical inquiry lesson plan, students use a variety of visual and written information including maps, data tables, and graphs, to form a hypothesis as to why...
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Lewis and Clark: Prized Possession
Students create a Sacagawea-inspired wampum belt. In this Native-American instructional activity, students study Sacagawea and her influence on the Lewis and Clark expedition. Students learn about wampum and prized possessions and work...