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My Living Arrangements
Students identify various housing options, focusing on rental vs. purchase and short vs. long term. With a partner, students discuss their housing situation. Once their discussion is complete, students write a brief paragraph weighing...
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Native Americans
First graders explore the lifestyles of several North American tribes. They investigate about the homes, food, transportation, and daily living habits of each tribe. Pupils use a map to locate several Native American tribes in North...
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Creature Features
Students examine why certain animals live in only specific places throughout the world. Using animals, they classify them based on their characteristics and identify their basic needs. They also observe and compare the life cycles of...
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Mapping Community Values
Students discuss the origin of various maps focusing on the values behind them. Students also explore how human needs and geography influence community settlement patterns. Students extend learning by creating and mapping their own ideal...
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Enrichment Activities - "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH"
Fifth graders read the novel "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH." They discuss the various characters in the book, and the different types of conflict that take place within the book. They also research owls and rats to make comparisons...
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What's Mongolia Really Like?
Students look at rural Mongolian nomadic culture through the eyes of a Peace Corps Volunteer and examine the dynamics of a people in transition. They give one important reason for migration from a rural to an urban setting and explain...
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Window Into Another Culture
Students read "A Single Lucid Moment" as a class. In groups, they identify the aspects of the United States that might allow for homelessness to happen and compare it with the culture of New Guinea. They write a journal entry about how...
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Discussion Questions for Amber Bechtel's Essay on AIDS in South Africa
Students read an essay by Amber Bechtel on the situation of AIDS in South Africa. After reading, they participate in a class discussion answering questions posed by their teacher. To end the lesson, they reflect on the situation in the...
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How A Garden Grows
Fourth graders explore the importance of plants to animals and visa versa. After reading a book, The Tree in the Ancient Forest, they explore how plants and animals are independent. Students list living and nonliving things they...
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The Business of Design
Students visit the Design for the Other 90% exhibition. In this design lesson, student learn how to design for the population of the world that is poor or impoverished. In addition, students read New York Times articles and watch videos...
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Changing the World: Social Entrepreneurs Part One
Students analyze the purpose of a social entrepreneur. In this entrepreneurship lesson, students create a "help wanted" advertisement and graphic organizer to provide information on how a social entrepreneur seeks long-term change by...
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Changing the World: Social Entrepreneurs Part Two
High schoolers explore the work of social entrepreneurs. In this entrepreneurship lesson, students research a specific entrepreneur and create a presentation introducing him or her to the class. High schoolers design a seminar on social...
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Every Object Tells a Story
High schoolers read the story behind objects in the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and create a story about an object in the exhibit. In this design lesson, students explore the "Design for the Other 90%" exhibition and create a...
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Science TV: Making it Real
Learners explore the ways science is presented in a children's television show. Students conduct internet research, and then create and design a skit that highlights the problem-solving process.
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When Getting There is More Than Half the Battle
Students investigate the 'Design for the Other 90%' exhibition about low-cost solutions to give the "other 90% of the world's population" access to services and amenities many of us take for granted. In this technology design lesson,...
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People making a difference
Pupils identify resources that all humans need and compare needs and wants. In this needs and wants lesson plan, students discuss with their teacher situations in which people need or want items and how some people don't have the...
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We Need More Than Money
Learners identify examples of private resources. In this philanthropy instructional activity, students read the book A Chair for My Mother and identify the private resources the characters used in the text. Learners name private...
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Plant Systems
Students examine plant systems. In this life science lesson plan, students explore leaf and root systems on paper in a terrarium that they design and construct.
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Bank on it! Worksheet
In this weather activity, students fill in a paragraph with words from a word bank that represent the weather. Students fill in 17 words into the paragraph.
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Slavery in My World: Educating for Peace and Social Change
Students research present-day slavery issues in a particular country and present their findings to the class. In this slavery in our world instructional activity, students discover the nature and extent of slavery in modern countries,...
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Vanishing Coast: Erosion
Students explore the concept of erosion. For this erosion lesson, students discuss the effects of 2 classroom demonstrations that replicate coastal erosion.
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Values Auction
Students assess what they value and participate in a class auction. In this financial values lesson, students complete a budget activity and use play money to participate in an auction. Students complete a related worksheet and take a...
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A Never-Before-Seen Creature
Learners construct a never-before-seen creature in part of an analysis of societal injustices and discrimination. For this societal issues lesson, students create a creature called a Man-Droid as a study about the differences among...
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The Role of The Family
Learners talk about the importance and roles of family. In this family instructional activity, students define family, identify functions of the family, discuss the importance of family, and brainstorm ways they can contribute to their...