Stanford University
Migrant Mother Photograph
A picture often has hidden stories to tell. Looking at the iconic Migrant Mother photography by Dorothy Lange, individuals examine the human toll of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression at large. Other documents, including a statement...
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The Noble Eightfold Path
Students gain an introduction to Buddhist teachings about moral behavior by exploring a depiction of the Buddha and by writing a speech inspired by their interpretation of the Noble Eightfold Path.
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Understanding "The Stans"
Students explore and locate "The Stans" in Central Asia to create, write and illustrate maps, graphs and charts to organize geographic information. They analyze the historical and physical characteristics of Central Asia via graphic...
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The 2012 Grammy Awards
Kids answer 11 who, what, when, where, and why questions after reading a New York Times article about the Grammy Awards. Boosting reading comprehension by reading about a topical event keeps pupils informed and interested. A related blog...
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Project Gilgamesh: Gilgamesh and Leadership
Do leaders need to be more moral than followers? Does power corrupt? Can anyone be a leader? Begin a study of leadership with a reading of excerpts from the Epic of Gilgamesh. After examining the ancient Mesopotamian hero, class members...
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Why Are The Shore Birds Dying?
Learners engage in a field study of birds and how they are in danger harm due to environmental factors. They list different possible causes in a prediction activity. The observations are done while writing up data and connecting it to a...
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Archetypal Images and Polarities
Here is a rather esoteric resource that presents the archetypes found in “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” and would be appropriate for a college-level psychology or literature class, or as a teacher resource. Considered the “world’s oldest...
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The Chernobyl Accident
Fifth graders see that the Chernobyl Accident of 1986 was caused by a poorly developed experiment in a nuclear power plant. They explain the purpose of a nuclear power plant and determine the health effects that radioactivity causes.
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Breaking News English: Schwarzenegger Allows Execution
In this ESL reading comprehension instructional activity, students read or listen to a journalistic passage, complete warm-up activities and a wide variety of before, during, after, homework and discussion activities.
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Mount Auburn Cemetery
Students use photos, maps and reading materials to examine the history and role of Mount Auburn Cemetery. They analyze the landscape of the cemetery, consider how it affects visitor's emotions and feelings and then design an original...
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Unintended Consequences: Policies that Impact Migration
Students examine the cause-and-effect relationship between the Agricultural Adjustment Acts of the New Deal or the 1965 Voting Rights Act and African-American migration. They write an essay evaluating the effectiveness of the Voting...
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A Woman's Story: The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb
Students examine the life of Lavinia Warren, the wife of Tom Thumb. They examine the impact of stereotyping and other behaviors by different groups. They examine roles and status in society as well.
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Water Trash
Students examine how plastic waste affects the marine environment. They describe techniques that reduce plastic waste in this environment after examining plastic waste that accumulates in their own homes.
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Shelby County: The Regulator-Moderator War
Seventh graders comprehend the importance of the Regulator-Moderator War through John W. Middleton's memoir. They comprehend how the different motivations held by each faction began the conflict. Students are shown the map of Shelby...
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Graphing the Past Using Today's Technology
Eighth graders research statistical data regarding their current social studies unit. They write questions about the measures of central tendency, collect and analyze the data, insert the data into a spreadsheet, and generate graphs.
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The Joy Luck Club
Students read The Joy Luck Club and analyze the effect of having to translate from one culture into another. Students trace patterns that link mothers and daughters in the novel, and write an essay comparing personal experiences to those...
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Deportation and Loss
Seventh graders discuss the issues of isolation and deportation as they are related to the Holocaust. After reading a brief passage about deportation and confinement in a concentration camp, 7th graders discuss the feelings involved in...
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The Wall Inspires Letters to Veterans
Students examine the Vietnam war. They listen to and discuss the book, "The Wall," by Eve Bunting, conduct Internet research, and write a letter or send a card to U.S. military veterans in a local Veteran's Hospital.
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Family Responsibility and Commitment
Students discuss the meaning of family and how they can community love and affection. Using an analysis of the work of Picasso, students define who is in their family. They discuss the various ways family members express their affection...
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"Taming the Bicycle"
Eighth graders discuss invention of bicycle and early obstacles to riding, listen to and discuss short story "Taming the Bicycle" by Mark Twain, define vocabulary words from story, and create and present humorous "how to" project to...
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Do the Right Thing
Young scholars consider the relationship between gang violence and the factors that can contribute to its increase. After researching the issues behind one such factor, students make recommendations that may help reduce gang violence.
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Here's to Your Health!
Studets research a health issue. They write an essay about the health issue. The create a public service announcement.
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Poet Naomi Shihab Nye
High schoolers read and analyze poetry by Naomi Shihab Nye. They define stereotypes, view and discuss a video interview with Nye, present an oral reading of a poem, and write a persuasive letter to an author.