Deliberating in a Democracy
Youth Curfews
Don't stay out too late! Scholars analyze the need for youth curfews in a democratic society. They examine primary documents, case studies, and short video clips to form their opinions and take a position on the issue. Holding a class...
ProCon
Gun Control
According to some estimates, there are more guns than people in the United States. Learners decide if America should enact more gun control laws. They analyze information about gun deaths in the United States by year, read about the...
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Section Four: How Can We Protect Biodiversity?
Look into the future with a lesson plan on biodiversity and natural habitats. Learners read articles about different perspectives when it comes to planning future development, and decide which angle is the highest priority in a group...
Miama-Dade County Public Schools
Middle School Mock Trial Competition
Objection! Scholars participate in a mock trial to gain an understanding the ins and outs of court procedures. Using the Jessie Jones v. Palm City court case, they role play each specific part of the trial, learning how courts operate...
New York State Education Department
Comprehensive English Examination: August 2015
Looking at literature through a critical lens helps readers connect the text to the larger world. An essay examining the theme "There is no ill in the world without a remedy" forms the main part of a sample comprehensive English...
State Bar of Texas
Hernandez v. Texas
What if the jury is not made up of people from your ethnicity or background—are they still considered your peers? Scholars analyze the impact the Supreme Court case Hernandez v. Texas had on jury selection across the nation. Paired...
Reed Novel Studies
Out of My Mind: Novel Study
Have you ever felt trapped in your own body? That is likely how Melody in Sharon M. Draper's Out of My Mind feels. As scholars read to find out how Melody finally expresses herself, they complete sentences with new words, describe...
C-SPAN
14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause
Two Supreme Court cases, Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education take center stage in a lesson about the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Class members research both cases to compare and contrast the rulings.
Curated OER
Look Who's Talking To Me
Students listen to and evaluate other student speeches. They record their evaluation on a T-chart, and compare/contrast the effective and ineffective speaking behaviors.
Curated OER
Think On Your Own Feet
Fourth graders have one minute to prepare a one-minute impromptu speech on a topic that is randomly selected. After a lecture/demo, 4th graders give their speeches, and also act as reviewers of their classmate's speeches.
Curated OER
Community Role Models in the Classroom: The Vietnam Era
Students research information about the Viet Nam Era. They listen to a guest speaker talk about his/her role in the Viet Nam War. Students write articles for the classroom newsletter or other appropriate publication.
Curated OER
Exploring the Brasseries of Paris
Students read and comprehend materials written for French native speakers; use cognates and contextual visual clues to derive meaning from texts that contain unfamiliar words, expressions, and structures; identify subtleties of meaning...
Curated OER
Rodent-borne Diseases: Getting the Facts Out There
Students conduct research of the hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) or lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV). They obtain the information and create a public announcement in the form of a brochure, newsletter, poster, radio announcement,...
Curated OER
All About Me
Students create and deliver an autobiographical, multimedia presentation. Students are introduced to the concept of multimedia communication. They use the technology that facilitates a public presentation.
Curated OER
HIV/AIDS, Friends & Families
Students examine what it might feel like to test positive for HIV. They listen to a guest speaker, conduct a role-play activity, identify positive actions to take, and design a panel for the AIDS quilt project.
Curated OER
Who Works for Nonprofit Organizations?
Students research nonprofit jobs. In this nonprofit organizations lesson, students brainstorm jobs available at nonprofit organizations and listen to guest speakers talk about working for a nonprofit organization. Students focus on one...
Curated OER
The Trial Process
Young scholars explore the trial process as a guest speaker visits the classroom.
Curated OER
Plains Indians
First graders create a KWL chart on Native Americans and listen to a speaker from a local Indian Reservation. As a class, they are read part of a Native American story in which they pick their own Native American name and identify their...
Curated OER
Persuasion and Political Debate by PBS
Students examine rhetorical strategies. In this political debate lesson plan, students research issues of presidential campaigns and deliver persuasive speeches about the issues they research. Students then participate in debates based...
Curated OER
Active Voice
Students identify the qualities that contribute to effective verbal and non-verbal communication. They use those qualities as criteria by which to judge an in-class political debate on education.
Curated OER
Convince Me!
Students use the Internet to learn the art of persuasive speaking in order to present a speech in a convincing manner. Students analyze the characteristics of a good speech, and then practice giving one.
Curated OER
It's Debatable!
Students examine the basic elements and vocabulary of debating. They research an issue and write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper, and role-play a Parliamentary debate on a particular bill.
Curated OER
Vacation Destination
Students participate in a role play where they are travel agents and must sell their assigned state to the rest of the class. They collect and present information in persuasive speeches to make their fellow students want to take a...
Curated OER
Animal testing debate
Students debate the issues surrounding animal testing. The debate is based around a suggestion or motion. The motion is: This house believes that animal testing should continue. Students are divided into proposers (for the motion)...