Curated OER
A Historic Gamble
Young scholars explore and evaluate the economic impact of legalized gambling on Native American Indian communities. They draft short, persuasive speeches that take the perspective of a tribal elder appearing at a town council meeting.
Curated OER
Stateside Slavery
Students read "Slavery's Past, Paved Over or Forgotten" from The New York Times and discuss as a class. This activity is the introduction for researching a topic on the history of slavery in the U.S. Student groups present their...
Curated OER
What's For Dinner?
Students share their own views on eating genetically altered foods. After reading an article, they research any issues concerning these types of foods in the United States. In groups, they create a campaign slogan to help gain funding...
Curated OER
Check Mate
Students share opinions about the goals and strategies of the games they play. They investigate the World Chess Championship by reading and discussion the article "In Major League of Chess, Next Year Comes So Soon." Students study the...
Curated OER
Recovering Under-examined Histories to Build Community
Young scholars read Diane Glancy's "Pushing the Bear" about the Cherokee Removal and respond online to a discussion board. They discuss responses in class.
Curated OER
Environment: Arctic Climate and Geoscience
Students conduct a thorough investigation of the Arctic and how climate change affects it. After listing a KWL chart, they record their findings on a bulletin board. Finally, in an Arctic Alive! interactive lesson, students take a...
Curated OER
What Would We Do?
Students develop an emergency plan for their pets. In this animal welfare instructional activity, students discuss how to keep their pets safe in an emergency and create pet emergency kits.
Curated OER
Talk to Me
Young scholars investigate communication techniques using variations in the tone of the voice, facial expressions, and gestures. The image of Helen Keller which appears on the reverse side of the Alabama quarter forms the basis of the...
Curated OER
Opening Eyes, Changing Minds. Talking About Personal Transformation And the Development of World Views
Young scholars read one teen's story of personal growth through learning about racism and the criminal justice system to explore how individuals' world views are shaped and changed through experiences and education.
Curated OER
Global Job Hopping
Students examine basic trade terms and data about the economies of countries increasingly used as outsources for American jobs.
Curated OER
Foreign Exchange
Students share ideas about the values of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar. They research the economy of a foreign country and prepare a budget for one month study abroad.
Curated OER
Diversity of Families
Students discuss the word "family" and examine the various types of families, focusing on those of students in the classroom. They create a "School Family Tree" that builds on the diversity of students in the classroom.
Curated OER
Once Upon a Word
Young scholars explore the derivations and usage of common slang terms. Through internet research and discussion, students consider the Latin and Greek roots of contemporary slang terms. Groups complete an etymology chart documenting...
Curated OER
Fossil Hunters!
Students explore the various ways in which geologists create fossil records. Working in pairs, students create a model of a fossil record through a hands on activity. They relate their experience to recent discoveries in geology and...
Curated OER
Data Defense
Students explore the meaning of privacy, and then defend contrasting positions in legal cases relating to electronic privacy rights.
Curated OER
Serving Up Reality
Young scholars consider the factors that go into running a restaurant and examine how the restaurant industry impacts the economy of the United States. They create skeleton proposals for new restaurants and consider the costs of this...
Curated OER
Web Writer's Block
Students evaluate Web sites banned in various countries, and investigate the reasons why particular countries would want to block information from its people.
Curated OER
How Taxing are Taxes?
Young scholars explore the ways that taxes are levied based on taxable income. They analyze how a new series of tax cuts might affect people of different income levels and their tax rates.
Curated OER
Sell Phones
Students work in groups as competing teams responsible for preparing and presenting a comprehensive marketing plan to the board of a "new" cell phone company.
Curated OER
Costs of Living
Students consider the effects of rising oil and natural gas prices on family spending and saving habits. They design a board game intended to help people save.
Curated OER
It's Your Move
Students study about the creation of a German village in South Korea for returning emigrants. They examine other cases of migration and relocation from modern world history.
Curated OER
Proper Perspective
Students consider what makes a famous painting realistic, then examine a theoretical debate about how Renaissance masters created their true-to-life images. They create their own realistic drawings.
Curated OER
The Facts on Nuclear Power
Students browse a Web site to gather information about nuclear power. They explain how nuclear power is generated and used.
Curated OER
Not Just Books
Students consider uses of a library and explore the collections at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City, and create proposals for exhibits of various artifacts.