Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Proper Role for Government - Seeking Perfection in an Imperfect World

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students discuss the proper role of government in the economy. Reviewing the foundations for a market economy to work properly, they decide how to best direct resources to get the most out of them. They distinguish between private and...
Lesson Plan
Foreign Policy Research Institute

The People's Republic of China

For Teachers 10th - 12th
This resource provides a nice framework for learners to explore the perceived shift in China's policymaking from the idealogical to the practical. While this lesson includes some dated materials (2006 is the most recent...
Lesson Plan
Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association

A Research Project: A Discussion of the Recreating and Populating of a Colonial Village

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Primary source research, secondary source readings, and discussion provide the understanding necessary for learners to create a colonial persona, and simulate a situation appropriate for this person, time, and place. While the lesson...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can You Save the Roman Republic?

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders review what they know about Rome. In this World history instructional activity, 6th graders pretend they are Romans and try to correct some of Rome's major problems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ancient Egypt

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students use the internet to research topics on Ancient Egypt. They practice using new vocabulary and identify the types of food they ate and clothing they wore. They explain the role of the Nile as well.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fighting Corruption

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders research the different types of business ethics.  In this Economics lesson, 12th graders read various handouts on corruption.  Students participate in a discussion on trying to end corruption.  
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Pollution Hot-Spots

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students complete internet research in small groups to identify types of water pollution, spotlight water pollution hot-spots, and design a plan for water prevention.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Families and Neighborhoods

For Teachers K
Students build their own neighborhood. In this lesson on community, students are introduced to books about families and neighborhoods. As a class, the students create their own neighborhood, elect a leader for their neighborhood and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WebQuest- What is Poverty and Who Are the Poor?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are introduced to a variety of easily accessible data about poverty. The search activity performs double-duty in exposing students to the nature and magnitude of world poverty and in confronting them with different types and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coral Reefs Endangered

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students identify different types of nutritional relationships in a coral reef system and trace the energy flow.  In this marine biology lesson students create a simulation of acidification of the coral reef. 
Lesson Plan
Foreign Policy Research Institute

Defining Democracy and Freedom

For Teachers 10th - 12th
This is a simple but effective introduction to democracy. It requires the class to generate working definitions of key terms (provided) and to determine the degree of democracy in various geographic locations today. After they conduct...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Missing Macroinvertebrates - Stream Side Science

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Field study groups collect samples of stream water and identify the macroinvertebrates found. Using their data, they calculate a water quality index to rate the health of the stream. They graph their data and discuss the value of a water...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Latin America and United States Policy Today

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare the situation of Latin American immigrants with the situation of immigrants from other areas of the world. They use media to obtain information on topics of academic interest, personal interest, and intellectual interest.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Interconnections Between Private and Civic Life -- Focus on the County

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students distinguish between civic and public life. In groups, they identify the relationships between the two types of arenas as well. They research the roles of the Fairfax County government and how well they provide healthcare,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dictatorship

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research world history by researching democracy. In this dictatorship lesson, 5th graders read the story "The Composition" and identify a list of former dictators on the Internet. Students define several key terms and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Laws - Who needs them?

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students examine the need for laws. In this government lesson, students participate in 2 classroom activities that require them to consider the impact of laws on their personal lives. Students discuss how laws solve societal problems and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Nations Trade

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the concept of international trade. In this economics lesson, students read the 2 provided handouts about international trade and then discuss their content. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nation Building

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the concept of nation building. In this diplomacy lesson, students research America's nation building efforts in Somalia, Haiti, the Balkans, Guatemala, Cuba, Vietnam, and Grenada. Students share their findings and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colonial America

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students discover the history of Colonial America by creating a class presentation.  In this U.S. History lesson, students utilize the Internet to research one of 20 topics in which they will create a PowerPoint or other type of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Local and Global Sustainability Unit

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the characteristics that define a sustainable community at the local and global level. They create and prioritize a list of traits, read and discuss a magazine article, and create a poster.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I'll Build You A Rainbow

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders conduct a variety of experiments to explore types of light and the concept of refraction. They observe objects in water, use water and prisms to create rainbows and combine light filtered through colored cellophane to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Naked to the Eye

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders conduct a variety of experiments that enable them to investigate bacteria. They use microscopes, prepared slides, video, moldy bread and pond water to observe types of bacteria and how bacteria interacts with the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heat Misconceptions

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders determine that gloves do not provide heat, but rather, they insulate or hold in any heat that is in their hand. They discuss the different temperatures found in ecosystems around the world. What do animals that live in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Date Which Will Live in Infamy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils analyze Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Day of Infamy" War Address. Students read the original first typed draft of the speech, and compare handwritten changes with the original to determine whether the changes strengthened or weakened...