Administrative Office of the US Courts
Morse v. Frederick
If you stop a student from expressing views that advocate drug use, are you violating their right to free speech? Use the 2007 Supreme Court case Morse v. Frederick to discuss a nuanced interpretation of the First Amendment....
Deliberating in a Democracy
National Service
Uncle Sam wants you to serve! Scholars investigate the role of mandatory national service in an open democracy. They research, watch a video, and hold a debate surrounding the issue of requiring one year of service to gain a better...
C-SPAN
The Electoral College and the Constitution
What is the purpose of the Electoral College? Is it antiquated, or does it have a place in today's political climate? High schoolers view a series of video clips as they analyze the parts of the United States Constitution that address...
Syracuse University
Civil War
What was it like to enlist as a soldier in the Civil War? By using enlistment papers, young scholars consider this question. After they've looked at the primary source and discussed it, they create a short story of a fictional soldier to...
Curated OER
Template #1 A Lesson Before Dying Journal Reflections/Personal Statements
If you're working through A Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J. Gaines, you might be interested in this resource. Pupils fill this page out after reading each chapter in order to create a short summary and clarify plot points and...
Curated OER
Persuasive Elements
Investigate letters to the editor and their persuasive qualities. Break your class into reading groups and give each one a different article. As they read, they complete a graphic organizer to record their thoughts and opinions. There is...
Curated OER
Massaging the Message: Parliament Speaks
Students watch a CPAC broadcast, including the Question Period and discuss the roles of various members.
Curated OER
Explaining Factors Causing Conflict and Cooperation
Students discuss what causes conflicts amongst groups especially pertaining to Native American tribes. In this conflicts lesson plan, students have discussion questions that they verbally answer and write in a journal.
Curated OER
Tuesdays with Morrie pp 100-114
In this Tuesdays with Morrie comprehension and opinion worksheet, students respond to 7 short answer questions covering pages 100-114 of Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom in order to help them better understand the novel and themselves.
Curated OER
The Fisherman and His Wife
Engage conversation and explore the journey as you challenge young readers to interpret the german folktale, "The Fisherman and His Wife" written by literary brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.
Curated OER
It's Your Opinion
Students view "Inkheart: Speak Your Mind" by Cornelia Funke. They read several letters to the editor of a local newspaper and underline the 'opinion' portions of the letters. They discover how a literary selection can expand personal...
Curated OER
The Vaccination Question
Young scholars share opinions about common vaccines, then consider facts and opinions about the HPV vaccine and hold a fishbowl and discussion. They survey members of the community to determine their perspectives on the issue.
Curated OER
Haring Art Work
Students study Keith Haring and his paintings, and then create their own pastel haring posters. In this haring people lesson plan, students also write their opinions of Keith Haring and his work.
Curated OER
Editorial Writing: What's On Your Mind
Young scholars write an editorial column for a newspaper. For this journalism lesson plan, students discuss and analyze editorials in print and broadcast media. Young scholars will compare the differences in these two formats...
Curated OER
Dr. Heidegger's Experiment
What are the pros and cons of prolonging life? Incorporate real-world issues into the study of literature using Dr. Heidegger's Experiment. Through the exploration of pre-determined websites, scholars consider several related...
Curated OER
The Final Question
Students analyze their own feelings about the death penalty before considering court cases involving the death penalty. They determine what their definition is of cruel and unusual punishment, and analyze how different states handle the...
Smithsonian Institution
Mary Henry: Journal/Diary Writing
A great way to connect social studies with language arts, a resource on Mary Henry's historical diary reinforces the concepts of primary and secondary sources. It comes with an easy-to-understand lesson plan, as well as the reference...
Professional Development Institute
Which Is More Important?
Think about the roles of hunters and squaws in Elizabeth George Speare's The Sign of the Beaver. Whose work is more important? Young writers compare Attean and Matt's reaction to each gender's role, as well as arguing their opinion...
EngageNY
Grade 9 ELA Module 2, Unit 2, Lesson 9
How can a prophecy be true if the future differs from what was foreseen? Sophocles entertains this question in Oedipus the King. Teiresias, Creon, and Oedipus have weighed in on the unsolved murder of Laius, and now Jocasta voices her...
EngageNY
Grade 10 ELA Module 4: Unit 3, Lesson 5
Would Machiavelli consider Macbeth a successful ruler? Scholars ponder the intriguing question, demonstrating their knowledge of Shakespeare's Macbeth and Machiavelli's The Prince. They collaborate with peers to share their opinions,...
Curated OER
America Attacked: 9/11
In this America Attacked: 9/11 worksheet, students read the book America Attacked: 9/11 and complete fact and opinion, character detail, and short answer question activities. Students complete 26 questions.
Curated OER
Slumdog Millionaire
In this Slumdog Millionaire worksheet, students read the book Slumdog Millionaire and complete fact and opinion, character detail, and short answer question activities. Students complete 26 questions.
Curated OER
Study Skills- Fact and Opinion
Students engage in a variety of activities in order to achieve the objectives of a layered curriculum unit. They take notes on the differences between fact and opinion. Students also use a newspaper in order to recognize opinionated...
Curated OER
Whose Neighborhood is It? Whose America is This?
Pupils use electronic resources to study immigration issues, analyze immigration issues dealing with security, economics, lawfulness, culture, and human rights, and discuss possible solutions. Students then express their opinions by...