Polk County Public Schools
The French and Indian War
Sharpen those pencils and get to writing with a series of document-based questions about the French and Indian War. High schoolers focus on maps, letters, and other primary documents from the 18th century before answering writing prompts...
Shakespeare Uncovered
Suits of Woe: Grief and Loss in Hamlet
“Thou know’st ‘tis common; all that lives must die/Passing through nature to eternity.” Grief, and the response to grief and loss, is the focus of a series of activities that uses Hamlet as a launchpad. Groups examine Act I, scene ii to...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: The Veepstakes!
Take a step back in time with this political cartoon analysis worksheet, which features editorial cartoons from the 2008 presidential campaign. Background information allows pupils to "read between the lines" in their analysis, and three...
Curated OER
What Weather When and Where?
Students learn the difference between hard news and feature writing. They choose one of these news styles to write a compelling weather-related article based on interviews with local sources.
Curated OER
Fields of the Future
Students investigate India's technology outsourcing, and examine their own career choices to determine what technology is required in the field. Students dermine how careers have changed over time and speculate future changes, then write...
Curated OER
Separate But Equal Opinions
Students examine the ways in which editorials and Op-Ed pieces respond to current events. They write editorials in response to news items from the New York Times.
Curated OER
Still-Life Painting: Arranging Nature—Lesson 2
Learners choose meaningful objects for a still-life arrangement and paint it using watercolors. After reflecting on their choice of objects and composition, students begin to write an artist's statement.
Curated OER
What's Significant in Today's Notes from the Trail?
For this instructional activity, you will need access to "Notes from the Trail." Your learners will read the day's text, and identify the most important or significant event in the journal entry. Not many prompting questions are...
Curated OER
What's Past is Prologue
Young scholars examine a picture of a Cuban billboard and discuss what the billboard signifies. Students then consider the impact of the end of Fidel Castro's rule by reading and discussing the article ¿What Was Once Theirs.¿ Young...
Curated OER
Power House
Students reflect, speculate, identify, research, and create a blueprint for renewable energy sources.
Curated OER
Still Life Painting: Arranging Nature
Students choose meaningful objects for a still-life arrangement and paint it using watercolors and write an artist’s statement. In this still life art lesson, students identify and analyze the characteristics of a still-life painting and...
Curated OER
Prize-Winning Profiles
Students read a profile of Luiz Inácio da Silva, the currently favored presidential candidate in Brazil. They use this article as a model for writing their own profiles of noteworthy people recently featured in the news.
Curated OER
Save the Dates
Students create annotated timelines of important moments in the history of the United States. They write a report highlighting one event and predicting how the history might have been different had the event not occurred.
Curated OER
No More Freedom Fries?
Learners discuss the May, 2007, French presidental election of pro-American, right-wing candidate Nicholas Sarkozy. They reflect on both the historical and contemporary relationship between France and the United States. Students work...
Curated OER
Full Court Press
Students investigate the Supreme Court's role and function in the federal government and examine how Chief Justice Rehnquist's illness might affect the future of the Court. They write letters to President Bush on the Supreme Court...
Curated OER
Shore is Windy!
Students consider what a hurricane is and how it impacts both land and people, explore the speculations surrounding Hurricane Isabel, research potential target sites and create maps illustrating how Isabel may affect them.
Curated OER
The Stock Market and the Great Depression
How does the Stock Market work, what was Black Tuesday, and how did the Market crass of 1929 lead to the Great Depression? Have your class play this stock market game for two weeks to better explain how the stock market works.
Curated OER
Saris, Kimonos, Tagas and Smocks: Exploring Clothing Across Cultures
High schoolers explore via the internet all types of clothing around the world. Students discuss that the way people dress is an important means of expressing identity. High schoolers collaborate via Internet research the social purposes...
Curated OER
I Wonder Why There Is So Much Frass...
Middle schoolers examine frass and try to determine what it is. They make observations and add to their growth charts on a daily basis. They make predictions and support them to end the instructional activity.
Curated OER
Under the Collar
Students first examine different types of white-collar crimes; they then research recent individual cases to present in a student-written and produced expos?? program on white-collar crime.
Curated OER
Royal Treatment
Students analyze the Nepalese King's response to pro-democracy demonstrations, and examine existing monarchies around the world. They conduct research, read an article, and present information on various modern-day monarchies.
Curated OER
Safety First
Students explore safety issues and challenges related to various modes of transportation through readings and discussion. They create blueprints for technological methods to make those modes of transportation safer.
Curated OER
A Date With Chemistry
Students research certain elements and then analyze their potential bonds with other elements in a dating game where the dating pool is comprised of the elements featured on the Periodic Table.
Curated OER
A Tough Act to Follow
Students take on the role of impersonators as they identify the distinctive human traits that comedians and imitators single out in order to do their jobs.