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Curated OER

Trading Places

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the tactics used by groups in the United States to lobby Congress. After reading an article, they discuss the efforts of unions and businesses to lobby Congress regarding the vote on China's trading relations with the...
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Mother's Nature

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss the term "women's issues". Students read "Pulling Strings: Invoking the Moral Authority of Moms." Students explore and evaluate women's movements throughout American history. Students synthesize discoveries by...
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A Matter of Life and Death

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research burial tombs of ancient Egypt and Acting as pharaohs of Egypt, students create burial plans to illustrate what items they would include in their own tombs and why. They then act as archaeologists and analyze other...
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The Uniter, Divided

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students write about and discuss Presidential duties. They study the two competing foreign policy camps in the Bush administration by reading and discussing the article "Bush Team's Counsel Is Divided on Foreign Policy." In groups,...
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Women's Rights-Minded

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss the roles of men and women in a marriage. In groups, they research a women's rights issue in India or their country. Students create a poster displaying their findings about the issue they researched. They create a...
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First Aid

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider the giving and receiving of aid from political rivals in the aftermath of natural disasters by learning about an earthquake in India and the international relief response it has induced. They read and discuss an article...
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A Court Case with Real Appeal

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students analyze the United States' current appellate process, with a critical eye focused on possible inequities within the system. They then write letters to a Manhattan district attorney giving their recommendations on how he should...
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Laws and Force in Law Enforcement

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the issues of police brutality, use of excessive force, and the underlying issues by participating in a round-table discussion. They compare how these issues are explored differently in different types of...
Lesson Plan
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Pardon Me

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the pardon process and the controversy surrounding the Clinton pardons through reading and discussing "Lobbying for Forgiveness." They write a forgiveness letter and create pardon guidelines for President Bush.
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A New Deal for Peace in a Land of War

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the causes and effects of recent conflicts in the Balkans, and discover the current peacekeeping attempts by NATO and the new Yugoslav government. They research an aspect of the Kosovo conflict and prepare skits based...
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Japan's Textbook Case

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read and discuss "Japan's Refusal to Revise Textbooks Angers Neighbors." They discuss how accurately textbooks account for historical events, then collaborate to write unbiased textbook entries for current events.
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A History of Conflict

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore issues contributing to current tensions between Pakistan and India, drawing conclusions about how the conflict came about and where it may be heading. They Participate in an in-class "diplomacy summit"; create a...
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Scooting Away from Justice?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine President Bush's July 2007, decision to commute the 30-month sentence of former White House official, I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby by reading a New York Times article. They scan editorial sources on various sides of the...
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Rock Around the Map

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research the geographical histories of various musical genres and make maps that note important places in music history. They Write geographical biographies about one of their favorite musical artists.
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I've Felt the Same Way

For Teachers K - 4th
Students recognize various differences between their lives and the lives of people living in the 19th century Chicago area. They hear stories from people living in four different historical time periods and match the stories to their...
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Home Sick

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss where everyday aliments could be treated. After reading an article, they discuss the life of a traveling nurse and how it differs from a hospital nurse. Using the internet, they research the requirements for taking...
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What's For Dinner?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars share their own views on eating genetically altered foods. After reading an article, they research any issues concerning these types of foods in the United States. In groups, they create a campaign slogan to help gain...
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Fifty Years: From the Little Rock Nine to the Jena Six

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss how the issues surrounding school integration have changed since the Little Rock Nine entered Central High School. They discuss the recent events in Jena, Louisiana. Students write a letter to a school administrator...
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Do You Recall?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students share reactions to Mattel CEO Bob Eckert's message to consumers. They identify how Mattel is responding to several product recalls by reading and discussing the article "After Stumbling, Mattel Cracks Down in China." Students...
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The Primary Issue

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners analyze the 2008 presidential primaries by reading and discussing the New York Times Upfront article "Primary Matters." They complete a KWL chart, complete a handout, read the article and answer comprehension questions, and...
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Still Suspicious?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read and analyze The New York Times news article "An Assessment Jars a Foreign Policy Debate About Iran." They answer comprehension questions, evaluate both sides of the debate, and write a one page report on the article.
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All Across America

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students share experiences of places they have visited or would like to visit. They create travel guides for trips to take in the United States based on themes from their studies, incorporating both historical and current data about...
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The Right and the Power

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read, discuss and analyze the New York Times article "In Wartime, Who Has the Power?" and relate the article to the Constitution. They then brainstorm how the president and Congress make decisions about the war in Iraq and write...
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Are We Safer?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss the meaning of feeling safe in their environment after September 11th. After reading National Intelligence reports and news articles summarizing the findings about national security, they write letters to their...