To set the stage for a study of the Aztec Empire, groups use the provided definition of civilization and generate a list of elements that make up our modern day civilization. The whole class then examines an image of an Aztec city and...

Students compare and contrast the sex roles the portraits historically document to the meres of today. They make collages of marriage diptychs in terms of their own values, perceptions, and aspirations. They compare the portrait and...

Students examine a general overview of the issues around lead poisoning in order to become more aware of the dangers and effects it has on the human body. They investigate how and why various government agencies and laws were...

Students investigate atomic and nuclear structure of matter by researching historical atomic theories. Students examine Rutherford's studies and discover that many scientific conclusions change over time as new data is collected.

High schoolers infer the connection among humans, animals, and disease through the interpretation of concept maps. They are introduced to the idea of a connection human disease and the domestication of animals.

Young scholars view a film about the genres and disciplines of performing arts. They examine the theatre community in Chicago and the origins of theatre companies. They answer questions and discuss them to end the lesson.

Students examine the reasons diseases become epidemics. they analyze the social, political, and economics factors involved in the process. Students complete charts explaining how these factors aid the spread of disease and discuss...

Eighth graders begin their examination of the prehistoric period in Illinois. As a class, they discuss the role of archaeology in history and how it helps learn more about native peoples. After examining each period, they develop their...

Students investigate the four groups of people that existed in the U.S. before the European settlers arrived. They predict how the people arrived in the U.S., then investigate their predictions to find out whether or not they are...

Students investigate equality and racism by creating a word art project.  In this civil rights lesson, students discover the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and create a word art project using the Internet site Wordle Web. ...

High schoolers study a problem in their local farming community regarding a pickle factory, and the class is asked to help determine if the pickle factory is the source of a seed germination problem.

Students participate in different activities and discussions to analyze the energy crisis in the United States and other parts of the world. In groups, they research the availability of fossil fuels and the possible alternatives. Using...

Students conduct hands-on experiments. In this life cycle instructional activity, students are able to observe a variety of animals as they travel through their life cycle (brine shrimp, mealworms, frog eggs and chicken eggs). Students...

Students research the rivers, streams and water bodies of Hawaii. They read a variety of books, play Bingo with water-related terms, create and maintain water-themed journals, view videos, conduct Internet research and participate in a...

Set the stage for Nightjohn, Gary Paulsen's young adult novel about slavery set shortly before the Civil War, by asking readers to indicate whether they agree or disagree with several statements that are connected to issues...

Launch a study of Maya Angelou's "I know Why the Caged Bird Sings" with the Youtube video of Alicia Keys singing her "Caged Bird." Groups then read Angelou's poem and discuss the symbols employed. Although the text of the poem is not...

Students design, revise and construct a method for protecting an egg from cracking when it is dropped from a height. They work in small groups to develop their protection method and then collect and analyze data as a class when each...

Are the juvenile courts fair? Learners read a bit from the classic Oliver Twist to consider how young people are treated and represented when they've been accused of a crime. They read a case study from their books, discuss children's...

Eighth graders work together in groups to examine the earliest civilizations. After reading two stories, they compare and contrast the facts with those stories with other ones they have read. They discuss the different hypothesis on...

Students participate in word work and vocabulary building before reading an online article. They complete worksheets or an online quiz the focuses on homographs. They write a diary entry.

Students identify reasons genocide occurs through group research into specific Genocide incidents of the 20th century. They put into perspective why an organization such as the United Nations is necessary by introducing them to one of...

Second graders discuss how our actions impact the quality of water. In this environmental science lesson, 2nd graders watch a short film and discuss the problem of polluted water. Students are then divided into groups and record their...

Students chart how milkweed bugs grow and change.  In this growth and life stages lesson, students read two stories and discuss how and why things grow.  Students brainstorm what can be measured about humans, review and discuss...

Students engage in activities designed to increase self esteem, self awareness and human sexuality. They engage in a variety of activities to encourage active participation, introspection, stating and examining values, gaining factual...