Curated OER
A Day in the Life of Parliament
Tenth graders watch excerpts from a parliamentary session, assume membership in a political party from a fictitious country and conduct a parliamentary session of their own covering a range of topics of current relevance.
Curated OER
How Far Does Light Go?
Learners engage in research from the internet to search for facts concerning the scientific properties of light. The information is collected in order to gather evidence for a classroom debate. The debate includes a question and answer...
Curated OER
Mexico and Its Neighbor to the North
High schoolers stage a debate about immigration between the United States and Mexico. Half the groups the "pro" position of the question and half the groups the "con" position. They research and print online information about U.S.-Mexican
Curated OER
Extinction
Students develop a definition of extinction. In this extinction lesson, students listen to What Happened to Dinosaurs? Students research and debate theories of what happened to dinosaurs. Students present their arguments.
Curated OER
Stem Cells: 5 Year Progress Report
Students explore different aspects of stem cells. In this human biology lesson plan, students complete numerous activities including reading an article and discussing it, watching a video on stem cells reproducing over time, and...
Curated OER
Genetically-Modified Food
High schoolers investigate the pros and cons of genetic engineering. They watch a short Bill Moyers video, conduct Internet research, create a poster, participate in a pro/con debate, and write an essay expressing their personal feelings...
Curated OER
Family Ties
Students explore what life is like for immigrant women in the United States. In this immigration lesson, students study about immigration through reading and watching a video, then share their thoughts and ideas by participating in an...
Curated OER
Which Sides Are You on? A critical Issue Debate
Students study public issues and become more aware of local issues. For this economics lesson students are given some local controversial issues and several viewpoints to analyze. They then research and review the topic with the class.
Curated OER
Debating the Over-the-Counter Sale of the "Morning After" Pill
Students examine the controversy at the F.D.A over Plan B. They read an article, answer discussion questions, conduct research, role-play a panel of experts at a mock conference, and write a letter to the editor their own opinion about...
Curated OER
Environment Debate Game
Students participate in a role-play activity to discuss environmental problems on which they have previously conducted research.
Curated OER
Timber Harvesting: A Civic Debate, Day 1
Eighth graders develop an understanding of the strategies used in the sustainability of forests. In this timber harvesting lesson students identify and analyze the importance of forests and their management techniques.
Curated OER
Timber Harvesting: A Civic Debate
Eighth graders analyze and identify the importance of our forests and how to manage them properly. In this tree lesson students read forestry material and come up with different alternatives to the identified problems.
Curated OER
Lost on a Deserted Island
Third graders practice brainstorming with their classmates as they discuss a role-play situation. In this group discussion lesson, 3rd graders must present ideas of ways to survive on a deserted island by discussing with their...
Curated OER
Myth and Truth: The First Thanksgiving
Encourage learners to think critically about common myths regarding the Wampanoag Indians in Colonial America. They discover that behind every myth are many possible explanations—and that learning more about American history helps them...
The New York Times
I Don’t Think So: Writing Effective Counterarguments
When it comes to writing effective arguments, writers must do more than simply make a claim, counterarguments must be considered. Aspiring writers analyze counterarguments in editorials, and then learn how to write counterarguments in...
Teaching Tolerance
Where We Stand
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Academics learn strategies to share their opinions and agree or disagree with others in a respectful manner. The resource provides scenarios to help individuals form opinions and share them with...
Achievement Strategies
CCSS Unit Design Template for Art
Art classes, like any lab class, require extensive preplanning and set-up time. Use this planning template in the quiet before the storm to identify the equipment and materials that will be needed, the procedures and processes...
Curated OER
Essay: The Importance of Physical Education
Originally designed for a physical education classroom, this lesson plan asks learners to argue for their school to keep their PE class during budget cuts. Whether your school is facing this challenge or not, it does pose a great...
Curated OER
Explore the Mathematics of the Explorers
Columbus and other explorers relied upon mathematical calculations using the Earth, stars, and ships speeds.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Issues of Asylum in the U.S.
Who gets to come to the United States? Examine cases of individuals seeking asylum with an informative reading passage that includes examples, statistics, and representations of public opinion regarding asylum. Groups then go on to...
Echoes & Reflections
Jewish Resistance
Resistance to the Holocaust took on many forms. Learners explore the passive and active resistance of Jewish people who continued their practices and observances, as well as organized resistance against the evils of the Nazis. An...
Journey Through the Universe
Where to Look For Life?
Every year we discover new planets including more than 1,000 in 2016 alone. Will we ever find life on another planet? The lesson includes two activities to help scholars understand this concept. First, they analyze the temperature range...
American Chemical Society
Natural Resources and Synthetic Materials
All synthetic materials began as natural materials. An engaging lesson begins with a hands-on activity and an example of the type of research that scholars perform independently. Then pupils receive a topic and begin researching the...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
History of Immigration Through the 1850s
Everyone living in the United States today is a descendant from an immigrant—even Native Americans. Learn about the tumultuous history of American immigration with a reading passage that discusses the ancient migration over the Bering...