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The Expanding United States
Students display comprehension of the concept of nationalism. They design a tool to conduct a survey. Students conduct a survey to find out which groups students feel affiliated (family, nation, religion, school, etc). They complie...
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Health: The Three Dimensions
Students examine the three dimensions of health, wealth, and happiness from both emotional and social perspectives. Among the week-long activities are discussions about good and poor habits, minimizing risks by proper planning and...
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Persuasion and Figurative Language
Students study and discuss definitions of metaphor, simile, and personification. In small groups, they read a section of "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" and identify those devices. The group presents their examples with the class.
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Utilizing Art, Literature and Film to Teach Black History
Fifth graders are introduced to different aspects of African-American history through literature, art, and films. As a class, they are read a story about the Underground Railroad, identify the main characters and put the events into...
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Mind Libs
Students are told that they are going to do a fun activity similiar to "Mad Libs" in which they "fill in the blanks" to create funny stories. They are given a copy of Mind Libs Reproducible #1. Students follow the word suggestions in...
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Chairs, Corduroys, Cottages, and Cars: Exploring the Diversity of Design
Students create and present a theme-based exhibition. In this design instructional activity, students categorize objects to reflect a specific design theme and create their own theme-based collections. Students research a museum...
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Ethnicity and Nationality
Students examine the psychological aspects of ethnicity and national identity. They read, discuss, and analyze two case studies, identify three factors that cause many national and ethnic conflicts, and write an essay.
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Levittown, Automobiles, and Cultures of the 1950's
Students investigate the impact of the automobile on Americans. In this 1950's America lesson, students listen to audio clips, read about Levittown, and explore the Interstate Highway Act from the decade. Students then discuss their...
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The Meaning of Disability
Students discover the different types of disabilities. They examine the stereotypes and stigmas associated with them and hear from a person who lived in an institution.
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Revolutionary Advertising?
Young scholars explore and examine the 40th anniversary of Ernesto Che Guevara's execution and his image as an international symbol of revolutionary values. They then interpret the iconic Che image from a variety of different points of...
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TE Activity: Space Shelter
Students simulate that they need to develop a new home on a different planet. They design a shelter that will ensure their survival after researching the characteristics of the other planet. They write an essay about their home design.
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History in the Making
Students create and perform a skit that demonstrates the historical period and foriegn policy of a particular president. They first complete a diagram of George Washington's presidency as a class and then form small groups to research...
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Miao Minorities
Students conduct Internet research to identify the cultural aspects of the Miao minority group from China. They, in groups, create a brochure with their research and write an essay on the predicted future of the Miao culture.
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Martin Luther King
In this Martin Luther King activity, students write about Martin Luther King. Writing may include a biography, reflection, opinion essay, etc.
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The Art of Poetry: The Lunatic, The Lover, and the Poet
Students, in groups, reflect on their attitudes towards poets and poetry. They read excerpts from George Puttenham's The Arte of English Poesie, which was written during Shakespeare's day. They compare their attitudes toward poetry to...
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Oliver/Kenyon
Students, through two pieces of writing, identify poetic/language devices through the speakers, personification , imagery, metaphor, etc. They assess the patterns those devices are used in and analyze the theme of each. Each student...
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Suffer the Little Children
Students explore, examine and study about and respond to the issues of child labor workers in Guatemala by reading and discussing the article, "Bush to Press Free Trade in a Place Where Young Children Still Cut the Cane." They write an...
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And the Nominee Is...
Students research commemorative coin honorees and share the reasons for the recognition with the class. Then the teams select individuals they believe deserve to be on a coin, write short essays explaining their selection, and illustrate...
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Social Studies: Jeffeerson and the Declaration
Students investigate Thomas Jefferson's intentions for the Declaration of Independence. In discussion, they consider what parts of the document are most useful today and to what purposes does it address the most. Finally, students...
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Getting to the Bottom of Gitmo
Students explore, examine and study about the first military tribunal of a Guantanamo Bay camp detainee. They then participate in a collaborative writing assignment in which they have a "conversation on paper" with each other about...
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Show and Share
Students share personal stories and artifacts, creating a community of trust and sharing.
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The Thrill of Big-Wave Surfing
Students view a PBS Nature program about big-wave surfing and participate in a class discussion about their experiences with surfing, body boarding, or body surfing. Students create a drawing based on a reading and post their art around...
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Alaska's Cultures: Regions & Native Peoples of Alaska
Students read the essay "Did American Aborigines have Culture?". They discuss culture and what is meant by culture.
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The Life of the Party
Students research and deliver oral presentations discussing how state governors' attitudes reflect those commonly associated with their national party leadership. They synthesize their knowledge by writing essays on centrist politics.