Curated OER
Maurice Sendak's Books: More Relevant and Rigorous than Ever
Nearly 50 years after publication, Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are holds up to the Common Core.
Curated OER
Elmer the Elephant
Students read "Elmer" by David McKee. They answer comprehension questions and discuss how Elmer looks and how he is different from the elephants they see in the zoo. They complete a project in which they celebrate their individual...
Curated OER
Connecting Past and Present...Virtues of Military Veterans
Students explore personalities of those who served as medical personnel in American Civil War, compare qualities those troops possessed to qualities shown by troops currently serving in Armed Forces, and express appreciation to...
Curated OER
Dr. Seuss Diaries
Learners find a Dr. Seuss quote or saying from a selected book and relate it to their own life experience by using the quote in a short story. They choose a Dr. Seuss book from a pre-selected group or from the school library. Students...
Curated OER
Understanding Stage Design: Using Visual Elements to Provide Information to an Audience
Students study about theatrical design by developing environments for improvised and scripted scenes. They develop focused ideas for an environment using visual elements.
Morningside Center
Challenging the Boy Scouts of America's Anti-Gay Policy
This straightforward plan invites class members to consider Boy Scouts of America's position on barring homosexual members. It includes readings outlining the position of those against such discrimination, but little from the perspective...
Curated OER
Foreign War and Domestic Freedom: A Delicate Balancing Act
Students investigate civil liberties in the U.S. They watch and discuss a PowerPoint presentation, conduct research on an event from a timeline, complete a worksheet, take an ideology quiz, and conduct a debate.
Curated OER
Whose God?
Students investigate religious freedom in the U.S. They watch and discuss a Bill Moyers NOW video, take a Freedom of Religion quiz, write an essay, and participate in a mock trial and debate.
Curated OER
Going by the Rules
Students examine George Washington's Rules of Civility. In this George Washington lesson, students investigate how rules influence people, and the roles of citizens in America. Students will discuss and reword rules and work in groups to...
Curated OER
Child Labour in developing countries
Students explore the idea of global citizenship. Students examine the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child worldwide. Students analyze facts about UNICEF's National Non-Uniform Day.
Curated OER
Heaven or Ground Hog Day?
Students discover the ideas of enlightenment by reading historical poetry. For this philosophical lesson, students read poems by Sir Walter Scott and Sergeant Joyce Kilmer while discussing the themes of the writing with classmates....
Curated OER
Fahrenheit 451
Students agree on a definition of censorship and then discuss incidents of censorship with which they are familiar. They might consider incidents in present-day America, elsewhere in the world, and in the past. Bradbury's novel serves as...
Curated OER
Role Playing the Plague
Students investigate the impact of the plague. In this European history lesson, students listen to their instructors present information regarding the black death and then write letters regarding the plague from the perspective of 14th...
Curated OER
The Invasion of the Medfly
Students examine the invasion of the fruit fly in California. In groups, they observe and record the fruit fly's lifecycle and how they affect humans in society. They also discuss the history and geography of the fly and the different...
Curated OER
Estimating Prices
Students practice making reasonable estimates. In this consumer math, students round purchase prices of items to estimate the total cost. Students practice using metal computations to arrive at estimates.
Curated OER
Identity in A Raisin in the Sun
Ninth graders read the play, "A Raisin in the Sun," and participate in a class discussion about "identity." They discuss racial identity and examine and interpret how community influences a personal identity. They demonstrate how...
Curated OER
Reality Ethics
Students suggest ethical decisions to problems and determine the basis and authority for them as ethical decisions.
Curated OER
Tell Me a Whopper!
Sixth graders investigate tall tales as a literary genre. They listen to a number of tall tales to discover how exaggeration is used as a story element. They write and publish a tall tale using word processing software. They illustrate...
Curated OER
Looking Through Lenses
Students explore the various societal and cultural "lenses" which color their perspectives and life experiences by reading the short story "What Means Switch" by Gish Jen. They discuss how the cultural ideas and beliefs affect the...
Live Wire Media
Good Character: The Socratic Approach to Character Education
A how-to article that illustrates how teachers can educate students about making choices that are consistent with their ethical values. A comprehensive plan for using the venerable Socratic method to reinforce critical-thinking skills by...
Other
Foundation for a Better Life: Values: Personal and Family Values
A range of media and resources--billboards, televised public service announcements, first-person accounts, quotations--that communicate ideas about the meanings of a wide range of essential values, such as ambition, gratitude, respect,...
Other
Character Counts: Homepage
This site has information about the Character Counts program and workshops. Click on Resources and guides for free sample classroom activities, a parenting guide, a children's booklist and more.
Live Wire Media
Good Character: Ethical Dilemmas for Classroom Discussion Archive
An archive of challenging ethical dilemmas relevant to the experiences of high-school students. Use this solid set of resources as the foundation for lessons that teach about ethical choices and values based on real-life contexts and...
University of Illinois
University of Illinois Extension: Character Education "What's in a Name"
Excellent resource for empowering students to become better learners. This lesson includes helping students reflect on their value and self-worth, promoting appreciation of their individuality, ethnicity, and cultural heritage, and...