Curated OER
Winning Tickets
Students research background, personal interests, family history, and positions on current issues of the leading presidential and vice presidential candidates. They create unbiased presentations aimed at informing voters about...
Curated OER
Archaeologists Reveal King Tut's Mummy
Students look at pictures of a sarcophagus, then read a news article about King Tut's mummy. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion, pictures, and a vocabulary activity, then students read the...
Curated OER
Volcano Lesson Plans
Volcano and earthquake lessons can provide a great way to link science instruction to current events.
US Mint
Absolutely and Relatively: The Puerto Rico Quarter Reverse
How much does your class know about Puerto RIco? How much can they learn from the back of a 2009 quarter? Use the coin, part of a series of quarters that depict US territories, to teach learners about the geography, culture, and history...
Curated OER
Teaching with Timelines
Students create illustrated timelines to accompany the historical events and people they have studied. In this chronological history lesson, students collaborate to create timelines that are enhanced with each new historical era...
Brown University
Following the U.S. Presidential Election
Election years provide the opportunity to evaluate news media as well as the next prospective president. High schoolers read about the same event in several different news sources, varying in type, origin, and political leaning,...
Whitewater Valley Railroad
Teaching and Learning with The Polar Express
Use a series of extension activities to enhance your class reading of Chris Van Allsburg's holiday classic, The Polar Express. From a biography of the author to filmed book reviews and research about the railroad, kids can take...
Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Protesting Violence without Violence
The ultimate legacy of Emmett Till's violent death is its role in the non-violent roots of the Civil Rights Movement. A lesson compares contemporaneous articles with the lyrics of Bob Dylan's "The Death of Emmett Till" and prompts...
Curated OER
Looking Back - An Art/English/History Interdisciplinary Unit
Students research historical events of the past century to recognize that society impacts the themes within art and literature. They then interview an individual to develop a biographical narrative, a collage and finally an oral...
Curated OER
Adventures in Earth Day: Why Do We Care About Our Environment? - Biology Teaching Thesis
Students are introduced to Earth Day and the importance of this day. They make a collage, students can use articles, pictures, words, etc., in magazines or newspapers or online, that relate to Earth Day, the environment and environmental...
Curated OER
Separate But Equal Opinions
Learners 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
The Decision to Americanize the War in Vietnam
Learners research the major events of the Vietnam War and construct a timeline. They do the same with the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson or the 1960's. They act as an advisor to President Johnson to recommend a course of action...
Curated OER
Teaching the History of Religion
A study of the history of religions around the world can lead to many interesting activities and projects.
Curated OER
US Policy Toward Egypt: A Dialogue
Students examine U.S. foreign policy concerning the 2011 Egyptian uprising. In this current events lesson, students discuss the uprising in Egypt and examine news reports related to it. Students then discuss their feelings about the...
Curated OER
Tunisia to Egypt & Beyond: Freedom & Democracy?
Students examine democratic values. In this current events activity, students watch video clips about rebellions on Tunisia and Egypt. Students respond to the provided discussion questions and participate in a critical thinking activity...
Curated OER
Versed on the Disadvantaged
Students reflect on what it means to help those in need, then read and analyze poetry that illustrates the struggle of poor people. They create collages connecting current issues of poverty with poets' experiences.
Curated OER
You Have All the Answers
Students explore the concept of theories in science while examining the theory of evolution. They conduct research and participate in a discussion about current issues in science culminating in the creation of question and answer pamphlets.
Curated OER
Grab a Winning Book to Read on March 3
Students identify periods of history and read a news article about a librarian who wrote an award winning book. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a class challenge and a vocabulary activity, then...
Curated OER
Jet Delivers Books to Kids Overseas
Learners identify the function of organizations, then read a news article about an organization called Room to Read that is sending books to poor countries. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
Curated OER
Presidential Election One Year Away
Young scholars identify political parties, then read a news article about the 2008 election. For this current events lesson (written prior to the 2008 election), the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary...
Curated OER
Checking Facts with Snopes, Factcheck & Politifact
High schoolers examine the art of fact-checking. In this current events lesson, students read the provided article "Snopes: The Internet Cesspool," "FactCheck: Proceed with Caution," and "Politifact: Separating Fact from Fiction." High...
Curated OER
11 September: Teaching Resources
Students examine events of September 11. They examine Muslims, dealing with loss, and the attacks on the World Trade Center. Students observe a slide presentation. They read guides concerning September 11 and related current events.
Brown University
Analyzing the News
With so many ways to follow the news today, it is imperative to think critically about the sources of information we are turning to. Here is a fantastic graphic organizer that will help your learners develop the skills to...
Stanford University
Observing Human Rights Day
How much intervention is appropriate for America to take in cases of human rights violations? Class members ponder a question that has lingered since the birth of America with a series of primary sources that reflect the degree to which...