Smithsonian Institution
We Have a Story to Tell: Native Peoples of the Chesapeake Region
How did colonial settlement and the establishment of the United States affect Native Americans in the Chesapeake region? Your young historians will analyze contemporary and historical maps, read informational texts, and work in groups to...
Curated OER
Films About World War II
Ninth graders focus on how filmmakers have changed their view of the Second World War. They create portfolios or their own documentary to investigate the various screen interpretations of the wartime era and explain different points of...
Global Change
Impact of Climate Change on the Desert Pupfish
A fish that lives in the desert? You and your class can meet the desert pupfish as they examine its habitat, the role humans play in diminishing water supplies, and how climate change might impact this fishy friend. There are four short...
Curated OER
Exploring a Teaching Career Through an Energy Lesson
Students design their own energy conservation lesson plan to teach elementary school students. They use this lesson to determine if they would like to pursue a teaching career
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Recreating Marriage: The Same-Sex Union Debate
A debate continues regarding same-sex marriage as a constitutional right. This lesson requires learners to define marriage then formulate an argument that reconstructs the national debate perspectives. Many standards are addressed but a...
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Catalase: A Bioinformatics Case Study
Pupils investigate the physical structure of a protein by using a computer simulation tool. They record its primary amino acid structure while viewing it in three dimensions for a better visual recognition. There is also a comparison to...
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History Trifold in Publisher
Students create a timeline of events happening around the world. In this timeline lesson plan, students use Microsoft Publisher to create a timeline of events happening around the world as they live their lives presently.
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Whole Lotta Shaking Going On
Pupils explore earthquake activity in California. They observe the historical data and create databases and graphs of the earthquakes. Students analyze the data and form a hypothesis about future earthquakes.
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Keep It Hot
Students design and conduct an experiment to explore the insulating abilities of different materials for keeping a liquid in a paper cup warm. A small group of lab partners test four different materials: black paper, white paper,...
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Sopay Water
Tenth graders design and conduct an experiment to explore the use of several substances in removing soap from water. During this activity they work with a lab partner. They keep their own individual lab notes, after they finish, they...
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Soiled Again
High schoolers propose and perform an experiment using the scientific method. The purpose of the experiment is to discern some earth materials or combinations of earth materials that best increases the pH of "acid rain". From the results...
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Fulfilling the Visions
Students investigate the economic implications of public programs to improve transportation. They become familiar with the visions that were articulated for both the Erie Canal and Interstate Highway System.
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Ocean Exhibits
Ninth graders create an ocean museum. They work in partners to create their own exhibit. Each exhibit must have an interactive computer placard containing their information. The exhibits must also have a hands-on component.
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The Tibet Question
Students participate in a simulation, where they interview members of the Tibetan groups, the Chinese and US government officials, representatives of human rights organizations and Chinese scholars. Each student will be assigned to one...
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Heat Discrepancies
Students answer the question, "Why do Eskimos build houses out of ice to keep warm. Since heat goes from hot to cold, don¿¿¿t the ice walls take away the warmth inside the house?" They explain how snow or ice can actually be insulators.
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The Census of Marine Life
Students explain diversity and abundance in marine life. In this oceanic biology lesson, students collect information for various geographical areas to collect a census of marine life.
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What's the Difference?
Students investigate volcanic processes at convergent and divergent
tectonic plate boundaries. They read and analyze diagrams, complete a worksheet, and write an essay.
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What's the Connection?
Students explain hardground communities in the Gulf of Mexico. In this deep-sea ecosystem lesson, students investigate the connection between deep-sea ecosystems and petroleum deposits. They discuss the relationship between hydrocarbon...
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How Secure is Social Security?
Students explore the Social Security System including its history, benefits, funds, problems, and its future.
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Area, Surface, and Volume
Ninth graders demonstrate application of area, surface, and volume. They apply formulas to a model of the classroom so they can determine the volume and surface area of the classroom.
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Active Citizenship: The Civil Rights Work of Bob Moses
Students discuss and describe the impact of Bob Moses as an activist, compare and contrast the work of Bob Moses in the 1960's and today and develop an action plan regarding an issue they feel strongly about.
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Visiting the Medical Fields
High schoolers act as medical pioneers to establish a clinic in an under served area.t They work in teams of two to complete a portfolio about their clinic and examine new treatments in various area of medicine.
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AIDS: Responding to a Health Crisis
Students explore the health crisis presented by AIDS. In this AIDS lesson, students find out how nations around the world are dealing with AIDS and the stigma attached to it. Students plan an implement a service project related to AIDS.
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What's Our Department Budget?
Analyze the influence of culture, media, technology, and other factors on health and examine a hospital budget. Learners will create a budget for a hospital taking in account factors such as staff and departmental needs and necessary...