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Social Studies: Campaign Finance Reform
Students develop arguments for and against campaign finance reform, examine federal and state laws that attempt to limit contributions to political candidates, evaluate various plans for campaign finance reform and formulate their own...
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Classic Hero
Middle schoolers discuss hero tales. For this character education lesson, students identify heroes from the movie Star Wars and explain how the hero showed courage. Middle schoolers reflect upon their own definition of courage and...
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Doing the Right Thing
Students consider the payoffs of doing the right thing. In this philanthropy lesson, students examine the virtue of courage in Jackie Robinson's life and in their own.
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Flowerpots and Families
Students explore the importance of family communication and cohesiveness. In this family life lesson, students complete activities which demonstrate the characteristics of a strong family that is committed to staying together.
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Religion in Social Change: What's God Got To Do With It?
Young scholars determine how religion influences social change. In this religion and social change lesson, students examine how the religious beliefs of Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. were inspirational as they worked to...
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Stamp of Courage
Students discuss the attributes that a hero can have and what it takes to be a Distinguished American, and be commemorated on a stamp. In this courage instructional activity, students research an everyday hero that they know about and...
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The People of Kansas: Where did they come from and why did they come?
Students review census data to correlate to emigration in Kansas. In this Westward Expansion instructional activity, students analyze a painting and create definitions for emigration and discuss why people emigrate. Students read and...
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Native American Pebble and Pot Game
Students participate in a game using 12 manipulatives. In this addition and subtraction lesson students play a game originated by the Native Americans and look at a number of items and calculate how many are hidden. Items looked at and...
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High Profiles
Students research and write newspaper articles about current world leaders, using a New York Times International article as a model. They research a current world leader's personal background and political history.
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Follow the Leaders
Students research current world political leaders, as well as the opinions of their supporters and critics, in order to create a "Present Political Leaders Hall of Fame" display for the classroom.
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Finding The Middle Ground
Students examine the recent truce between the Israeli and Palestinian governments. They explore the turbulent history of these groups and the recent developments from the viewpoints of Middle Eastern nations in preparation for a mock...
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"Children of Loneliness": Understanding the Immigrant Experience
Students research and enhance the Jewish immigrant experience to that of contemporary immigrants to sustain a connection to their personal family stories. A story is shared with the class and then a discussion follows on the possible...
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The Political Dr. Seuss
High schoolers discuss the role political cartoons have played in U.S. politics and public affairs since the 1700's. They analyze some of the political cartoons Dr. Seuss drew during World War II and discuss how these cartoons conveyed...
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Origin of the Purple Heart
Students research the origin of the Purple Heart. For this writing lesson students research personal stories of friends or family who have received the Purple Heart. Students then design their own armed forces award complete with an...
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Going by the Rules
Students examine George Washington's Rules of Civility. In this George Washington lesson, students investigate how rules influence people, and the roles of citizens in America. Students will discuss and reword rules and work in groups to...
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The Alphabet Game
Students participate in a game that promotes group unity while spelling words with letter cards. In this teamwork lesson, students have to work together to win the game, but may find it hard to do so without making a lot of noise. ...
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The Apotheosis ofGeorge Washington
Students examine the image of George Washington. In this Washington presidency lesson, students use the provided analysis handout to analyze the character of Washington conveyed in several pieces of art and speeches. Students share their...
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The Rise of Community Activism
Students examine the rise of citizen leaders and community organizing.
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History, African Americans, The Blues
This lesson enables teachers to use blues music to explore the history of African Americans in the 20th century. By studying the content of blues songs, students can learn about the experiences and struggles of the working-class...
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Refinement in Deerfield: The River Gods
Young scholars research the town of Deerfield, CT and its River God families to show how the middle class developed in the Connecticut River Valley.
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Case Study: Hutu and Tutsi
Students analyze the ethnic conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi in Rwanda and Burundi. They identify the three elements of ethnic conflict, read a handout and answer questions, examine a timeline, conduct research, and write an essay.
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We the People
Middle schoolers create a map illustrating the three branches of goverment. They identify the branches of government and the shared or exclusive powers of each. Students use mapping as a prewriting stategy. They discuss our national...
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Can You Measure Up?
Learners use technology to visit websites where they play interactive games, gather information to complete activity sheets, and complete online projects. One lesson using 'Inch By Inch' by Leo Lionni, takes students to an interactive...
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Out With the Old, in With the New
Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concept of the Soviet Union and compared to the new Democratic Russia. They conduct research using a variety of resources. The information is used in order to create a class project.