Literary theories are lenses through which a text may be analyzed. The question in this lesson plan is how a particular literary lens can influence the reader's view of the text.

Readers apply Sigmund Freud's theories of the unconscious mind and the psychological approach to literary criticism to analyze and evaluate the relationship between two characters in A Separate Peace.

Students examine the life of a teenager from their own perspective and an adult's. In groups, they focus on the biological changes and how they are different in a girl and a boy. Individually, they write a paper about these changes and...

Film imitates life; that's what they say. Using performance theory to tie the lesson together, learners attempt to understand memory and daily rituals as seen in art, film, and life. They read two chapters from the book, watch the...

Students learn about psychology.  In this unconscious mind lesson, students examine the life and theories of Sigmund Freud.  Students define psychoanalysis, the conscious mind, the unconscious mind, Freudian slips, the ego, the...

Students examine learning theories and principles through children's literature. In groups, they select theories and create multimedia presentations exemplifying them. Students discuss the various themes related to human growth,...

Students access prior knowledge of vocabulary on feminism and psychoanalytic theory, and gender schema.  In this Empowered Barbie lesson, students recreate a Barbie doll.  Students write a reflection on how they changed...

The work of Langston Hughes opens the door to research into the origin and legacy of the Harlem Renaissance and how the literature of the period can be viewed as a commentary on race relations in America. In addition, groups are assigned...

What a great way to make a psychology lesson on personality development socio-politically relevant! Class members investigate causes of radicalism--specifically, becoming a terrorist. This resource includes background information, key...

Did you know that modern Chinese literature “grew from the psychoanalytical theory of Sigmund Freud”? Designed for a world literature class, seniors are introduced to “One Evening in the Rainy Season,” Shi Zhecun’s stream of...

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs provides the lens class members use to analyze and evaluate the motivations of the characters in Sylvia Plath's "Initiation" and scenes from Mean Girls. Readers then select a character from A...

Designed as a resource for teachers who use Man's Search for Meaning, this seven-page packet includes a list of related informational texts, research issues and project ideas, central questions, background information on World...

Here is a rather esoteric resource that presents the archetypes found in “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” and would be appropriate for a college-level psychology or literature class, or as a teacher resource. Considered the “world’s oldest...

Students identify the two common sources of anger. In this psychology lesson, students discuss productive ways to express anger. They complete a reflection worksheet at the end of the lesson.

Learners study the stages of moral development. In this psychology lesson, students explore Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development as they read, respond to, and evaluate a moral development scenario.

Eleventh graders study the Salem Witch Trials and the different theories for the hysteria.  In this American History channel, 11th graders explore primary source documents to understand the stories of various people involved in the...

Students demonstrate understanding of basic facts about Christopher Columbus and different theories regarding his background. They try to solve the mystery of Christopher Columbus' background and write an essay offering their own opinion.

Twelfth graders define themselves through music. In this psychology lesson plan, 12th graders identify James Marcia's 4 states of identity and identify songs that reflect each of the states.

Young scholars investigate the eight stages of human development.  In this stages of life lesson students discuss as a class the stages and complete an activity. 

Learners examine the combined subjects of anthropology and sociology and explain how the disciplines would study the same issue. On poster board, they locate or draw pictures related to the two subjects. Once this is completed, students...

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

Students brainstorm about the physical, emotional, and social developmental milestones of human beings. They complete a timeline as a class that begins with birth and ends with death. Students identify whether each milestone is...

Students in a Spanish class are introduced to the techniques of creative writing. In groups, they focus on the pre-writing section of creative writing and keep a folder of their works throughout the instructional activity. They end the...

Students examine their thoughts on the origin and meaning of dreams on a personal basis. They compare and contrast different models of the nature of dreams. They maintain a dream journal over a specific period of time.