Facing History and Ourselves
The Audacity of a Vote: Susan B. Anthony’s Arrest
Susan B. Anthony's speech "Is It a Crime for Women to Vote?" takes center stage in a lesson that asks class members to consider how they might respond to what they consider an unjust law. Groups work through the speech paragraph by...
Curated OER
Children's Media and Censorship
High schoolers form opinions about children and television censorship after analyzing literature. They complete a journal writing activity to identify the topic and make a list of inappropriate television shows for children. Next, they...
iCivics
Emphasize Minimize
Encourage your class members to consider what points they are really emphasizing when they are making an argument, whether in writing or in speech. Watch out though, as this lesson may just leave your learners eager to debate you!
Novelinks
The Little Prince: Anticipation Guide
Begin your unit on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince with an anticipation guide that addresses the novel's themes. Kids read ten statements that discuss love, friendship, and growing up, and determine whether or not they agree...
PBS
The Impact of Genetically Modified Seeds
What is all the fuss about genetically modified foods? PBS provides this resource designed to supplement the documentary Food, Inc. to help learners investigate the benefits and controversies of genetically modified foods for individuals...
K20 LEARN
Trigger Warnings - Intellectual Rights and Responsibilities: Banned Books, Censorship Part 1
"Warning: Conducting this lesson may be harmful." Such statements, called "Trigger Warnings," are the focus of a two-part lesson that looks at censorship, especially the pros and cons of trigger warnings. Class members read two articles,...
Curated OER
Talking about Advertising
Students examine tools and techniques of advertising. In this advertising lesson, students view ads, disvuss common terms used, and analyze techniques. Students are presented with situations and must design and advertisement for the...
Curated OER
The Powers of Persuasion
Students write about ways in which they used persuasive skills in the past. They evaluate what makes a persuasive argument successful. Students list the ways in which persuasive writing can help us achieve desired goals.
Curated OER
Persuade or Die!
Students read Patrick Henry's speech. They review prior learning about persuasive writing, and the American revolutionary war. Students listen as the teacher reads Patrick Henry's speech aloud to the class using lots of emotion and...
Curated OER
Peer Editing
High schoolers write a well-organized persuasive essay which contains a thesis, supporting evidence, and uses at least one of the three persuasive appeals. They evaluate a peer's essay for correct use of the above elements.
Curated OER
Sneetches by Dr. Seuss
Students read "Sneetches" by Dr. Seuss. They complete a story map and write about the topic of prejudice. They role-play star-bellied and plain-bellied sneetches and write a persuasive essay about their experiences.
Curated OER
The Breakfast Busters Persuade Others
Students write persuasive essays about their favorite breakfast cereal after seeing how advertisements are used to influence people.
Curated OER
Historic Flight of the Wright Family
Students write a persuasive letter. In this persuasive writing lesson, students view a video of the first flight and read The Wright Sister by Richard Maurer. Students discuss societal roles of women.
Curated OER
Structure and Support
Eighth graders read copies of The Declaration of Independence, United States constitution, and the Bill of Rights. They write an opinion about the document they feel is most important in the history of the united states. This is their...
Curated OER
Decision Making and Assertiveness
Fourth graders identify a problem and write a persuasive essay to the appropriate audience, to correct the problem. They demonstrate effective decision making based on positive self-worth. Students need to write a paragraph about their...
Curated OER
Why is Sacagawea on the Golden Dollar?
Students research the decision to place the image of Sacagawea on the Golden Dollar, then write persuasive essays either defending or opposing this decision.
Curated OER
Thoughts to the President
Students write a persuassive paragraph to the President stating their opinion on a topic. To do this, they start the message with a topic sentence such as "War is _____." The blank should contain a word or phrase expressing the student's...
Curated OER
Europe's Last Resort
Students explore the statement issued by the European Union with regards to the use of military force in Iraq, and discuss it and related issues. They write a position paper supporting one of the countries or a person or organization.
Curated OER
Travel Agent to the Ancient World
Students persuade others to visit ancient times. In this ancient civilizations lesson, students participate in a webquest that requires them to encourage others to visit ancient Greece, ancient Israel, Ancient Rome, ancient China,...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Weather Instruments For Sale
Students create advertisements for a weather instrument. They conduct Internet research, write a descriptive and persuasive advertisement for the instrument using the flyer template of desktop publishing software, and print a copy that...
Curated OER
Patriots and Loyalists
Fifth graders take a clear stance on the Revolutionary way by choosing the side of the patriot or loyalist. They compare and contrast the positions of both the loyalists and the patriots using a graphic organizer. Using the information...
Curated OER
A Song By Any Other Name Would Be a Poem
Young scholars examine the poetic elements of a piece of music. They discuss favorite songs, select a song, and write a persuasive essay identifying the poetic qualities of the song lyrics.
Curated OER
Transgenic Salmon
High schoolers research the various aspects of transgenic salmon. In stakeholder groups, they create posters intended to sway voters for or against the creation of transgenic salmon. They also write an individual position paper on the...
Curated OER
Cyberattack Detection Versus Privacy Protection
Students examine the issues of privacy and security as they relate to computer monitoring. In this privacy protection lesson, students carry out a round table discussion and write a persuasive essay pertaining to whether citizens must...