Curated OER
Light Saver
Turn off the lights! That's right it's time to start thinking about conservation and saving electricity. Here is a very quick and very simple Earth Day craft that kids can do in a wink. They'll make light-bulb-shaped door hangers that...
Curated OER
Homemade Political Parties
Use this 5-day lesson to clarify the platforms of the two major parties, comparing and contrasting against students' beliefs. Begin by looking at unlabeled summaries of both party platforms, having learners identify most with one. Groups...
Curated OER
A Brief History of Fairfax County
Students brainstorm a list of things they already know about the history of Fairfax County, Virginia. After reading a primary source document, they discuss the similarities and differences between their prior knowledge and what they...
Curated OER
Life and Times: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929-1968
The life and times of Martin Luther King Jr. are outlined in this simple-yet-informative presentation. This is an image-rich slide show depicting scenes from his personal and public life. A great resource to use with a unit on the civil...
Curated OER
A Look At Spending
Learners use an outdated budget to examine what the county spends its money on for its citizens. Using county information, they describe how the Board of Supervisors make budget decisions and how it can shape public policy. They also...
Curated OER
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors' Meeting
Middle schoolers examine the role of the Board of Supervisors in Fairfax County, Virginia. In groups, they research their responsibilities to the community and role play in their own Board meeting. To end the lesson, they discuss how...
Curated OER
The Fairfax County Budget -- A Look At Spending
Students brainstorm a list of items that should be a priority for the government to help its citizens. Using an out of date budget, they identify individual line items and the conflicts involved in making a budget work. They discuss...
Curated OER
Take a Stand-On Solid Ground
Fifth graders conduct research and communicate an opinion on a public policy issue. They are required to present the issue, evaluate possible postions, and gather and organize information to support their opinion.
Curated OER
What's in the Water?
Students examine the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Acts. Using the text, they identify examples of how the federal and state governments implement public policy. They discuss how citizens can make sure that all levels of government...
Curated OER
Pine Barrens
Tenth graders study environmental values vs. economic development. In this environmental decisions instructional activity students role play in a policy making setting.
Curated OER
The Great Energy Debate
Students research controversial issues surrounding the energy debate in the U.S. They role-play as stakeholders in this debate and testify to a mock congressional committee responsible for making decisions about public lands and energy...
Curated OER
The Brain Eater
Students view a video clip about Mad Cow Disease. They identify the challenges of health professionals in dealing with the disease. They work together to complete a Public Health Task Force worksheet. They make recommendations on how...
Curated OER
Action, Please!
Students create an advertising campaign. In this environmental education lesson, students research aluminum and aluminum can recycling. Students wrap the lesson up by writing newspaper articles, creating public service announcements, and...
Curated OER
Ocean Habitats:
Students investigate the creatures of intertidal zones. They explore the adaptations species make to survive .
Curated OER
Dangerous Roads in Your Community
Students interview police and city officials, find out what makes these places dangerous. Students develop a plan to get the city or county or state +++ whichever is in charge of these spots to make changes that would make them safer for...
Curated OER
Desalination: Creating a Solar Still
To better understand how solar power can aid in creating desalinated drinking water, the class creates a model still. They will build a model of a solar still, make observations, and discuss how the process works. While the idea behind...
Curated OER
American Presidents and Race Relations
Young scholars discuss the policies of race relations of five presidents. They analyze primary documents to comprehend the various views and actions of five Presidents in regards to race relations. Students evaluate the influence of...
Curated OER
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors' Meeting
Students research the roles of the Board of Supervisors in Fairfax County, Virginia. In a role-play activity, they practice making decisions for the county as if they were members of the Board. To end the instructional activity, they...
Annenberg Foundation
Student Voices
Whether it's an election year or not, a unit on voting patterns and political campaigns will awaken the civic pride in your high school citizens. Divided into six parts, the curriculum covers various facets of an election, including...
Curated OER
E-mailing the Chamber of Commerce
Encourage effective internet research and e-mail correspondence as scholars investigate a US capital city they've never visited to find pertinent and relevant information. They begin by picking a city, then visit that city's chamber of...
Curated OER
Issue 1 - Designed to Add Technology Jobs
Pupils research the statewide initiative on the Ohio ballot of 2003. They form teams to debate the issue of using bond proceeds to encourage technology research. The class votes on which individual/team presented the best argument, and...
Curated OER
Friday Forum
Middle schoolers research a variety of controversial articles to gain knowledge. They form an opinion and defend their position with supporting data. They evaluate opposing arguments and present their viewpoint both verbally and in the...
Smithsonian Institution
Two Perspectives on the Battle of Little Bighorn/Greasy Grass
Learners understand why historians conduct research and the importance of perception when it comes to studying history. The resource covers The Wars of Expansion and the Battle of Little Bighorn/Greasy Grass through group work, debate,...
Curated OER
Defining Moments-from the past with lessons for a post 9/11 world
High schoolers use the spreadsheet to determine policy options, establish criteria for the solution, weight the criteria in terms of importance and rate the options relative to each criterion to determine a solution to the problem. They...