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Youth voters and election turnout
Students investigate why 18- to 24- year-olds have a low turnout at the polls. Students develop a plan to encourage young Americans to vote, or write a persuasive essay telling why they should vote.
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Racial Violence in America: Lynchings, 1877 to 1920
Young scholars analyze racial violence in America. Students listen to interviews with survivors of racial violence. They discuss the reasons behind the violence. Young scholars explore the African-American community's response to racial...
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Science Fair With An Energy Efficiency Flair
In order to learn more about energy conservation, pupils work to promote energy efficiency by participating in a school-wide science fair with an emphasis on energy conservation. In addition to displaying their projects, learners invite...
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Writing a Personal Narrative
What is the difference between a news story and a personal narrative? This plan has learners write a personal narrative using the topic of service projects in their community. Consider completing a cross-curricular extension by bringing...
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Recycling: Problem solved or problem ongoing?
Students research on the Web, magazines, and newspapers the extent of waste and recycling situation has been solved. They focus on the community, get facts and figures to show how recycling goes on there.
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So where CAN I dump the snow?
Students research the ordinance about dumping snow in their community. They interview city officials and the city web site. Students conduct research to find out what other cities like theirs have. They write an informative article about...
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Cutting Down Trees
Students research what kind of problems force a city or town to decide to remove trees. Students research what controversy has occurred in other cities or towns. Students interview those responsible for such decisions in your city or...
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Lead Poisoning A Home Health Hazard
High schoolers read background material on lead poisoning, assessing its impact on students. They locate local sources that might contain lead-based paint. High schoolers research what is being done in the community to alleviate the...
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Panhandlers May Go Begging Elsewhere
High schoolers research what laws affect panhandlers in the community or nearest city, what other cities do about panhandlers and businesses, and what homeless advocate groups suggest is a humane solution. Students then create a...
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Safe and Sound: Rock Concert Dangers
Students read attached articles and others they can find about dangers at rock concerts and also what bands, venue owners and others have done to increase safety. They conduct interviews and write a feature about concert safety in the...
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Leadership
Young scholars list the qualities of a good leader as well as the various roles of group members. They discuss how good leaders help make the group more successful and identify people in their community who are good leaders. Students...
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Identity, Belonging, and Social Inclusion
Students explore personal and social identity. In this character education lesson, students create identity profiles and design welcome plans for their school community in order to build personal and community identities.
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Getting the Lead Out
The article for this lesson no longer accessible through the links in the lesson plan, but can be found in the National Center for Biotechnology Information website. After reading it, environmental science high schoolers answer questions...
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Wetlands
Third graders examine how an ecosystem is a distinct community of interactive living and non-living things.
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Mounting Dried Plant Samples
Students take samples, mount, and identify plant samples of the school community.
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Internet Research Assistant
Students are required to become Internet Research Assistants to a staff member or someone in the community and take that person on as a client. They develop a letter informing potential clients that they are available to do research for...
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Speaking Out Against War
Students research on the Web and in other venues to track the Iraq war protests high school students have joined or even led. Students interview students in your community who have joined protests or expressed their views in other ways...
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Sharing Information: Schools, Police and FERPA
Young scholars research Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), interview school officials to see how FERPA is interpreted in local schools, speak with community journalists to find out if they have ever had a hard time...
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Don't Flick Your Bic!
Students research the ban on lighters and how it is being enforced and interview community members who smoke, especially travelers who have or might be stopped for carrying lighters. Students then write an opinion piece about the situation.
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Eminent Domain: Whose Land is it Anyway?
Students research eminent domain and whether or not there has been a land dispute in their community. Students search local newspapers, local history books or talk with civic leaders and long-time citizens and create a chart showing the...
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Don't Answer That Phone!
Students research the rights of customers in private stores like Subway and the dry cleaners and the use of cell phones. Students determine what laws, if any, are related to such cell phone use and present findings to the class along...
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Cleveland may gamble on gambling
Students write a news feature or editorial discussing the debate of whether gambling should be legalized in Cleveland. Students research and debate about the issue. Students interview community members to hear views.
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Cleveland May Gamble on Gambling
Students read articles, both pro and con, about a city proposing to approve gambling. They discuss the biases of the articles then interview parents and community members about the issue. They work in small groups to develop either a pro...
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School discipline includes paddling
Students analyze corporal punishment, debating the pros and cons. Students investigate, collecting background information and interviewing school community members. If students disagree with the district's policy, students develop a...