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Curated OER

When Things Fall Apart

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students examine the impact of colonialism on African nations, researching and analyzing post-colonial literature from those countries. They develop and present a creative display of their novel and its historic parallels.
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Curated OER

Looking Back to Move Forward

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate, through interviews, personal reflection and research, the impact on the past, present and future of 20th century historic events in the United States.
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Curated OER

Inter-State Matters

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the six phase transitions between gases, liquids and solids for a variety of elements. Each group of students focuses on a different element, investigating its physical properties during each of the six phase transitions.
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Curated OER

For Whom the Clock Strikes

For Teachers 6th - 12th
How do the citizens of Polyglot celebrate New Year's Eve? Middle and high schoolers read about the history of the dropping ball on New Year's Eve, as well as the other holidays traditions that have gone by the wayside, before designing a...
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Curated OER

Higher (Priced) Education

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars explore the proposed Affordability in Higher Education Act. They synthesize their knowledge by acting as lobbyists representing different special interest groups with opposing perspectives on the proposed bill.
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Curated OER

Liberty, Equality, Uniformity?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the French draft law to ban religious symbols from public schools. They research "secularist" and "pluralist" positions regarding this ban, debate the topic in class, and draft a position paper on the ban.
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Curated OER

Trial By Wire

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students identify the arguments on both sides of the new Medicare policy debate over claim hearings. They participate in a mock trial to adjudicate the fairness of the new policy.
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Curated OER

Happy Ending?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars explore different perspectives on withdrawing troops from Iraq. They examine the endings and consequences of other major conflicts in modern history to gain further insight into the situation in Iraq and its uncertain end...
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Curated OER

Fun With Food

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students participate in hands-on scientific experiments relying solely on household kitchen materials.
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Curated OER

The O.J. Verdict

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the main points of the accusations against O.J. Simpson, the prosecution and defense strategies and the outcome of the infamous murder trial. They participate in a mock trial, view a film, read articles and consider how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's a Kid to Do?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students participate in an environmental action letter-writing campaign. They conduct Internet research on the Global Response website, discuss various successful Global Response campaigns, select a campaign they are interested in, and...
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Curated OER

Getting into Hot Water

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss the effect of global warming on bodies of water after reading "An Icy Riddle as Big as Greenland" from The New York Times. Students work in groups to research topics related to global warming and Greenland's ecology...
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Curated OER

My Way or the Highway

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read "Saudis Uneasily Balance Desires for Change and Stability" from The New York Times and discuss Saudi Arabia as it considers a change from monarchy to democracy. Students work in groups to research and create timelines on...
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Curated OER

Where Were You?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine various New York Times readers' reflections on the life and death of President John F. Kennedy, by reading and discussing "Readers Reflect on President John F. Kennedy." Students then write their own personal...
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Curated OER

Electing Economies

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the economic and political challenges the past six presidents have faced during their terms of office, and how those challenges may or may not have impacted their chances for re-election. They create campaign slogans...
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Curated OER

Stateside Slavery

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read "Slavery's Past, Paved Over or Forgotten" from The New York Times and discuss as a class. This activity is the introduction for researching a topic on the history of slavery in the U.S. Student groups present their...
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Curated OER

One Giant Leap

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students brainstorm important scientific advancements of the twentieth century. They examine the implications of the completion of the first rough draft of the human genome on society. They research a selected scientific advancement of...
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Curated OER

Soul Food

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students identify foods that they associate with different cultural groups in which they are members and speculate possible connections between specific foods and the cultures in which they are popular. They also explore the importance...
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Curated OER

Community Research and Action Plan: Economic and Social Rights

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed
Students research human rights problems in their community. They analyze and report on data gathered, and develop an action plan to address problems related to social and economic rights.
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Curated OER

Women in Progressive Era

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the Progressive Era. They identify the important people, places, and evens of the Era and determine how women influenced the progressive movement. In addition, they create an article to address issues related to the movement.
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Curated OER

The Real Monopoly: America's Racial Wealth Divide

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore America's racial wealth divide. In this Teaching Tolerance lesson, students play a "rigger" version of the game Monopoly and reflect on the game and economic injustice in the United States.
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Atmospheric Pressures

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars research past, present and proposed climate change policies. They develop timelines based on different predictions of climate change effects and assess the likelihood of each timeline playing out in reality.
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Curated OER

Weathering the War

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research maps, weapons and weather from a variety of wars, then create a presentation showing the impact weather and topography has had on military operations.
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The Human Costs of War

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed
Students explore the concept of civilian cost to armed warfare. They explore the role of the military, civilians and of press coverage during armed conflicts, creating posters illustrating their research on post-WW II military conflicts.