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The Height of Diplomacy

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore issues that might be discussed at the G8 summit meeting hosted by the U.S. after reading and discussing the article "World Leaders Get a Glimpse of America's High Life" from The New York Times. Students work in groups...
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American Girl, Too

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss the popularity of the American Girl dolls and write a wish-list for a nine-year-old girl. After reading an article, they discover the differences between this doll and barbie. As a class, they brainstorm eras or point...
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Hey There, Sports Fans!

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss the impact that fans have on a sports team. After reading an article, they identify how Chicago Cubs fans are responding to their loss in the playoffs. With a partner, they develop surveys in which they give to family...
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Reaching New Heights

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider the impact of genetics on a person's intelligence and appearance. After reading an article, they examine the controversy over using human growth hormones. They debate the approval of using the hormone to increase the...
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Mission Makeover

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars examine their prior knowledge of the space program. After reading an article, they explore the conclusions of the Columbia accident. In groups, they research various space programs and discover the scope of NASA. They...
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Everyday Objects

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students reflect in their journals about an everyday object they take for granted. After reading an article, they examine what a cook's tools can reveal about their life. In groups, they research everyday objects and write a museum...
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Quilt-y Pleasures

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners write about how they preserve memories to share with others. After reading an article, they discuss the role of quilts in society today. They design their own section of quilt that shows an important part of their lives and...
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Making the Future Present

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students draw and describe a new system for prison surveillance. After reading an article, they discover the use of a wearable computer by prison guards. In groups, they develop a proposal for a new type of technology to be used in a...
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Vikings in Vinland

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the role of archaeology in gaining information about past civilizations. After reading an article, they discover evidence of the Viking settlement of North America. They summarize the information in the article by...
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A Sense of Place

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read "Fish Tale: Falling For a Live One" from The New York Times and discuss the methods and techniques the writer uses to create a strong mental image. Students pick a place in their community they wish to write about and...
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Whose Peace?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss the historical conflicts in Israel and the Middle East after reading an article from The New York Times as a class. Students are divided into groups after the discussion and research parties of interest in the Middle...
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Is a Tough Smoking Law Coming to Your State?

For Teachers 2nd - 10th
Young scholars read and discuss a news article about a new anti-smoking law in Hawaii. They answer article comprehension questions, complete a fill-in-the blank activity, discuss laws that ban smoking in small groups, and create a No...
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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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The Jury's Still Out

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners examine the trials and executions of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. In groups, they use the internet to research the impact of the executions in the shape of political cartoons and writings. They discuss an article to...
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What's For Dinner?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students 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 funding...
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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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iRock

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore, listen to and analyze songs that helped define rock and roll music. They read and discuss the article, "They're All Oldies, Dad Included." Research on contemporary artists is conducted and then the students choose who...
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The Down Low Talk Show

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine popular fashion trends and their personal tastes in clothing styles. They explore the legislation and controversy over wearing pants too low by reading and discussing the article "Are Your Jeans Sagging? Go Directly to...
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Gotta Dance

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students share dance moves that reflect their personalities or depict how they are feeling, explore popularity of recreational and competitive social dancing by reading and discussing the article "Follow the Flying Feet," present...
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Reaching for the Sky

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider features of skyscraper using descriptive words, reflect on notion of skyscraper as orientation point in a city, and explore New York Times Building in Manhattan by reading and discussing article, "Pride and Nostalgia...
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We're Booked

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students share their all-time favorite books with peers. They read and discuss the article Notable Children's Books of 2007. Afterward, they create book webs and compose reviews based on their book selections.
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Pandemic Panic

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students gather information about the H1N1 virus, and share this information. In this pandemic lesson students read about Influenza A, or Swine Flu, compile information on the disease, and then present their findings to the class.
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From the Post Office to the Oval Office

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This Presidents' Day, have your pupils write letters to the presidential family. They will read an article about writing letters to President Obama, identify topics they feel are important, and finally discuss if...
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Teacher-Astronaut Offers New Lessons

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students read about teacher-in-space Barbara Morgan and life in space. In this space science and current event instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a vocabulary activity, then students read the news piece and...