Minnesota Literacy Council
Grapes of Wrath and Pronouns
Many regard John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath as the great American novel. The lesson plan combines a variety of strategies, including partner work, independent practice, creative writing, grammar instruction, and small group...
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Pictures Telling Stories
Students see the importance of primary sources in the study of history, but also the limitations of relying only on primary sources of taking the money, as it were, at face value.
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Money Talks
Students move from fact finding to interpretation as they examine paper money from the time of the American Revolution. In the final exercise, they use the issue dates of the bills to construct a chronology of political changes during...
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Cowboy Violence
Students examine images of cowboys and gunfighters in Western films and dime novels and discuss whether cowboys were really violent. They read several historical interpretations of cowboy violence. In addition, they distinguish between...
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The John Travolta Syndrome
Students examine the influence of music and film on contemporary fashion. In this popular culture lesson plan, students research select films featuring John Travolta. Students research selected time periods in American history as well....
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Unchained Memories
Eleventh graders consider what life was like for American slaves. In this primary source analysis lesson plan, 11th graders read slave narratives from Unchained Memories and then participate in a discussion about the conditions in which...
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The Wealth In Poverty
Learners investigate the social problem of poverty. They view a film in order to create context for the lesson. Students evaluate different quotations about the issue. Classroom discussion is used to find the definition of being...
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To Live
High schoolers explore Chinese life during the Cultural Revolution. They read and discuss a brief historical essay on 20th century China as well as viewing a fictionalized film account of the time period titled, "To Live". They write...
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JAPAN, IMAGES A PEOPLE
Students interpret Japanese and American paintings; evaluate paintings as sources of cultural and historical information
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Ancestors in the Americas: Lesson One
Students are introduced to the characteristics of documentaries and making films. Individually, they write their own proposal for an idea of a documentary making sure to identify the point of view of which it is going to be filmed. ...
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A Class Divided
Students view a documentary about racism and discrimination against people of color. They discuss the film, identify ways in which they can combat racism, complete worksheets and consider how racial tensions are reflected in society.
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Expressions of Anti-Racism through Painting: The Puerto Rican Community from West Side Story to Connecticut
Students create a graffiti wall using their own name or personal symbol. They examine their own understanding of the film as a source of inspiration and listen to the music from the soundtrack as an effective motivation. They make...
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The Illustrated Bill of Rights
Students shoot Bill of Rights videos. In this Bill of Rights activity, students film digital segment that illustrate the meaning of the first 10 amendments. Students integrate the video clips into PowerPoint presentations.
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Foreign Policy: Containment
Students examine opinions regarding the American policy of containment. In this Cold War instructional activity, students read articles by George F. Kennan and Walter Lippmann. Students compare the perspectives of the 2 men on U.S....
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Symbols of Freedom
Students display knowledge of historical facts regarding the American Flag as they use creative writing skills.
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Duke Ellington and the Rise of Jazz in New York
Young scholars consider how Duke Ellington impacted the rise of jazz music. In this jazz music lesson, students listen to a lecture regarding the life and work of Ellington. Young scholars also watch a video regarding Ellington and...
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20th Century Civil Disobedience
Students write from varying perspectives in the American South about the civil rights movements in the 1950s. For this civics lesson, students view video clips and take notes. Students discuss the film and listen to a lecture on...
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In Search of the Amber Room
Students watch the film, "In Search of the Amber Room." In teams, they examine World War II and research to find the Amber Room. They present their case in written form, or as a Web site, or using video "clips" from the film
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Dangerous Straits
Students view a film and read articles that explore controversial Chinese and American relations. They conduct interviews, participate in class role-plays and develop policy recommendations for government agencies.
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New Movements For Social Justice: The Latino Struggle for Equal Rights
Students examine myths and stereotypes about Hispanic immigrant groups. They appreciate and share the strengths of their diversity and view films that challenge ideas about education and cultural values. They explore the Latino Rights...
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Massachusetts 54th Raid at Darien, Georgia Shaw Letter
Students examine the expectations of Civil War soldiers. For this American Civil War lesson, students analyze a letter written by Colonel Shaw to his wife in order to gain an understanding of the expectations of the 54th Regiment....
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Civil Rights Methodology Martin Luther King, Jr. – Stokely Carmichael
Students compare and contrast the visions of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Stokely Carmichael. In this African-American history lesson, students read speeches by each of the men and summarize the arguments made by each of them about...
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The Millennium Promise in Africa
Students compete activities related to the viewing of a documentary film. After viewing the documentary, The Dairy of Angelina Jolie and Dr. Jeffrey Sachs in Africa, students participate in a discussion of the leading factors leading to...