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The Civil Rights Movement
Learners analyze the tensions that existed in American society during the Civil Rights Era as well as the problems that children experienced. They evaluate editorial cartoons dealing with the American Civil Rights movement to view the...
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Self-Esteem
Students determine what contributes to their self-esteem. In this self-esteem lesson, students participate in a discussion by answering a list of questions. They complete two handouts; one entitled "Who's in the Mirror?" and another...
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What a Wonder-Full World
Learners investigate the historical and cultural significance of various 'wonders of the world,' both of ancient and modern times, and develop travel posters and guides exploring them.
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'No Cussing' Clubs Catching on with Kids
Students read a news article about a boy in California who wants to encourage his peers to use good language. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a short rap, discussion, and vocabulary...
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Know The Code
Students explore how codes of conduct guide our daily lives. After learning about specific codes of conduct, students write articles exploring aspects of different codes and how they affect people in their community.
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Get Surreal
Young scholars analyze and write text for audio guides about particular pieces of art from the Surrealism movement.
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Following Muddy's Trail
High schoolers view the AMERICAN MASTERS film "Muddy Waters: Can't Be Satisfied" and research him using the Guided Reading strategy. They examine the influential musician's childhood and trace his journey from the Mississippi Delta to...
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You Are What You Eat: Lessons from Alice Waters
Students view the AMERICAN MASTERS episode titled ALICE WATERS AND HER DELICIOUS REVOLUTION. They examine their own eating habits and determine how they can eat food that is both healthier and tastier. Through Guided Reading strategies,...
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Kim's Nuclear Gamble
High schoolers view a video clip on North Korea's nuclear weapons. They identify issues between the United States and North Korea. They write any questions they have about the documentary and participate in a class discussion.
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Are We the People?
Students investigate their elected officials and their roles. In this governmental leadership lesson, students discuss the Constitution and research their elected officials. They also organize the information they find regarding the...
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A Question, Mr. Lincoln!
Students discuss Abraham Lincoln. In this social science lesson, students describe key events in Lincoln's life. Students practice using interviewing skills to gather information pretending to be Lincoln.
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Classroom Ethics/Means & Ends
Students explore different aspects of ethics. In this ethics lesson, students ponder the idea of ethics, and the concepts of the ends and means and action justification. Students will write a reflective paper after a class discussion.
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The Massachusetts 54th Regiment: Honoring the Heroes
Learners use art and images analyze the Civil War. In this instructional activity on the Shaw Memorial, students engage in 3 activities, discussion, and art analysis to better comprehend the events of the Civil War. This instructional...
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An Orderly Wagon Train Migration
Sixth graders work in small groups to organize a wagon train for a trek westward. They determine leadership responsibilities and rules needed to make a successful trek.
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Native American Basket Making
Students design a unique basket plaque incorporating at least one symbol from their chosen tribe. They also identify, share, and give rationales for the symbols in basket plaques. Whole class discussion jig-saws their discoveries.
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Legally Wed
Students explore the controversial topic of same-sex marriages in a fishbowl discussion. They write balanced news articles based on interviews exploring people's opinions on laws that define marriage.
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The Constitutional Convention: What the Founding Fathers Said
Students critique the Creation of the U.S. Constitution. They list some ideas proposed and debated during the Constitutional Convention. Discussion of the important issues requiring compromise are examined.
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Read a Map ... It's a Snap!
Students are introduced to map and globe skills. They use grids and are able to construct their own simple maps of familiar places. Students are able to define a map, globe, and symbol and use the direction words north, south, east,...
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A Town on the Move
Students evaluate the moving of buildings, then read a news article about one town relocating building to save their economy. In this economics and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...
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Mapping South America
Students explore South America. In this South American lesson, students use their geography skills to create population, terrain, biomes/vegetation, and major exports maps. Students present their finished maps to their classmates and...
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The Aftermath of Genocide
Students read and discuss articles written about the Rwandan genocide. They participate in a class discussion, and write a letter to the U.N. or a letter to the editor of their local newspaper.
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American Colonial Life in the Late 1700s: Distant Cousins
Students explore daily life and its influences in the late 1700s for two families in different colonies- Delaware and Massachusetts by becoming historical detectives. After gathering information from artifacts to make inferences about...
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Who Creates Human Rights?
Young scholars examine the importance of human rights. They participate in a simulation of starting a new civilization on another planet, create a class "Declaration of Human Rights," and write a journal entry based on class discussion...
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Trading Rendezvous
Students explore the fur trade between the settlers and Native Americans. Through class discussion, students explain and give examples of how the fur trade worked. In groups, they simulate the fur trade using materials provided by the...