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"Esperanza Rising": Not Being Afraid to Start Over
EDSITEment
In this lesson from EDSITEment students look behind the story "Esperanza Rising" at the historical, social, and cultural circumstances that help account for the great contrasts and contradictions that Esperanza experiences when she moves to California.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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"Fly Girls": Women Aviators in World War II
EDSITEment
In this lesson from EDSITEment, students explore the contributions of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) during World War II. They examine portrayals of women in World War II posters (and newsreels) and compare and contrast them with personal recollections of the WASPs.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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300 Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae: Herodotus' "Real" History
EDSITEment
In this lesson from EDSITEment, students learn about the historical background to the Battle of Thermopylae on which the movie "300" is based, through readings from the first historian, Herodotus. They are asked to ponder some of the battle's legacy, including how history is reported and interpreted from different perspectives.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Analyzing and Comparing Medieval and Modern Ballads
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson, from ReadWriteThink, students explore the genre of ballads by first reading several medieval ballads to deduce their characteristics. They then act out the ballads, compare medieval and modern ballads using Venn diagrams, and finally compose their own ballads.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Analyzing Grammar Pet Peeves
ReadWriteThink
This lesson from ReadWriteThink uses a Dear Abby column to help students analyze a "grammar rant." Through their analysis of Dear Abby's grammar pet peeves, students become aware of the ranter's language biases and gain an understanding of how race, class, and audience's expectations help determine what is considered acceptable language use.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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And the Question Is... Writing Good Survey Questions
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students are introduced to asking questions as a vital part of the research process and everyday life. They practice this skill through a group-based activity in which they analyze and create questions for a survey on reading habits.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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And the Question Is...Evaluating the Validity of a Survey
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students analyze survey questions and results, and then exercise critical thinking skills needed for media literacy and research.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Archimedes' Puzzle
Illuminations
In this lesson, students learn about the history of the Stomachion, an ancient tangram-type puzzle. Students use the puzzle pieces to create other figures, learn about symmetry and transformations and investigate the areas of the pieces.
Grade: 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
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Autobiography Through Objects
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
In this lesson plan, from Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, students will analyze images and objects relating to Celia Cruz then create an autobiographical exhibition using personal objects.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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Averaging Faces
Science NetLinks
In this Science Update from Science NetLinks, you'll hear about how creating composite faces may help computers recognize people. Science Updates are audio interviews with scientists and are accompanied by a set of questions as well as links to related Science NetLinks lessons and other related resources.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Banks and Credit Unions (Part I): MillionaireMinute
EconEdLink
In this lesson from EconEdLink, students learn about banks and credit unions, identifying similarities and differences between the two types of financial institution. They also evaluate a local bank and credit union to determine which one would be better suited to their needs. This is Part I of a two-part project.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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Bean Counting
Illuminations
By using sampling from a large collection of beans, students get a sense of equivalent fractions, which leads to a better understanding of proportions. Equivalent fractions are used to develop an understanding of proportions. The number-sense of recognizing equivalent fractions is useful when students study slope and proportions.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Becoming Aware of the Japanese American Internment Camp Experience
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
What would it have felt like to be forced to move into an internment camp during World War II? This lesson, from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, will help students become aware of, and sensitive to, the Japanese American internment camp experience. By creating a list of things that are important and familiar to them and then choosing what they will take and leave behind, students will develop a sense of empathy by simulating situations which Japanese American children faced. This lesson is included in the online exhibition entitled "A More Perfect Union," which focuses on the experiences of Japanese Americans who were placed in internment camps during World War II.
Grade: 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
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Beyond "What I Did on Vacation": Exploring the Genre of Travel Writing
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students are introduced to the genre of travel writing. After reading some short examples and discussing conventions of the genre, students engage in some guided travel writing activities.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Bio-Graph: Graphing Life Events
ReadWriteThink
This activity from ReadWriteThink encourages teens to learn about family members' significant personal experiences by interviewing them and sharing their stories with the rest of the family. Teens can practice their interviewing, graphing, computer, and writing skills through this activity.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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BioBags: Linking Literature and Life
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, each student creates a BioBag, a collection of texts that mark special times in his or her life. BioBags provide a unique way for students to share memorable events-and a variety of texts-with one another.
Grade: 3 | 4 | 5
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Blogging With Photovoice: Sharing Pictures in an Integrated Classroom
ReadWriteThink
In this ReadWriteThink lesson, make the most of your students' diverse ability levels and experience in a prewriting activity that has them describe an abstract idea using blogging technology and photographs that they have taken.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Can You Convince Me?: Developing Persuasive Writing
ReadWriteThink
In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students are introduced to the basic concepts of lobbying for something that is important to them and making persuasive arguments. Through a classroom game and resource handouts, students become aware of the techniques used in persuasive oral arguments and apply them to independent persuasive writing activities.
Grade: 3 | 4 | 5
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Can You Haiku?
EDSITEment
In this unit of three lessons, from EDSITEment, students learn the rules and conventions of haiku. They study examples by Japanese masters and create haiku of their own.
Grade: 3 | 4 | 5
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Capture - Recapture
Illuminations
In this lesson, students experience an application of proportion that scientists actually use to solve real-life problems. Students learn how to estimate the size of a total population by taking samples and using proportions. The ratio of "tagged" items to the number of items in a sample is the same as the ratio of tagged items to the total population.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Classifying Numbers
Illuminations
In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students use Venn diagrams to represent the relationships between the factors or products of two numbers. They explore how the factors and multiples of two or more numbers are related.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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Color of Silence: Sensory Imagery in Pat Mora's Poem "Echoes"
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson, from ReadWriteThink, students go from the concrete to the abstract as they move from using their senses to describe edible objects to analyzing the use of sensory images in Pat Mora's poem "Echoes." As part of the process, students write their own poems using sensory imagery.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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Combining Read-Alouds With Economics in the Primary Grades
ReadWriteThink
This lesson from ReadWriteThink combines the benefits of reading aloud to children with exposure to economic concepts. After hearing two storybooks read aloud, students compare them and discuss the economic terms natural resource and producer. This lesson also helps students relate stories to the world around them.
Grade: K | 1 | 2
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Comparing a Literary Work to Its Film Interpretation
ReadWriteThink
In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students read an original piece of literature and view its film interpretation to compare the two works. They then write a persuasive essay about the validity of the adaptation.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Comparing Electronic and Print Texts About the Civil War Soldier
ReadWriteThink
To complete research for any kind of writing project, students need effective comprehension strategies for both print and online text. In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students practice these strategies and compare the similarities and differences in text conventions in print and online texts about the Civil War soldier's camp life.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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Connections and Extensions
Illuminations
In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students work through a variety of extensions of "The Product Game." Using a game board, students start with factors and multiply to find the product.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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Constant Cost per Minute
Illuminations
In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students use an interactive graph to explore the relationship between change and accumulation. In this activity, the cost per minute for phone use remains constant over time. Students analyze and interpret two graphs and then determine how the two graphs are related.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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Copyright Law: From Digital Reprints to Downloads
ReadWriteThink
In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students read about the history of copyright law and generalize about how and why it has changed. Students then examine a copyright issue from the perspective of a role they have been given and create persuasive arguments to convince others to see the issue from that perspective as well.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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Coral Reef Adventure Fun Zone
Science NetLinks
This tool, created by Science NetLinks, introduces students to various plants and animals that live in coral reefs. From here, you can access a review of this resource for grades 3-5. You can access reviews for additional grades and benchmarks using the navigation links at the top of the review.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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Counting Trains - Fibonacci
Illuminations
In this lesson, students use Cuisenaire Rods to build trains of different lengths and investigate patterns. Students make algebraic connections by writing rules and representing data in tables and graphs.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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Creative Outlining-From Freewriting to Formalizing
ReadWriteThink
In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students respond to a short story by freewriting. They then determine a thesis idea for a literary analysis essay from their body of freewriting and create an outline for an original essay. Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" is used to model this process, but any short story of equal literary merit may be used.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Critical Perspectives: Reading and Writing About Slavery
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students critically explore the moral issues of slavery and the perspectives held by slaves and slave owners through reading fiction and nonfiction children's literature about the Underground Railroad. They then use online, interactive tools to extend their understanding through creative writing projects.
Grade: 3 | 4 | 5
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Degrees of Change: Conservation in My Community
Xpeditions
Students become reporters or photographers to document a local conservation effort in this lesson from Xpeditions. Printable handouts for students are included as well.
Grade: 3 | 4 | 5
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Designing Effective Poster Presentations
ReadWriteThink
In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students explore the genre of posters, review informational writing and visual design, and then design poster presentations to share in class or at a school-wide fair.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Developing Searching, Skimming, and Scanning Skills With Internet Bingo
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students gain the media literacy skills of skimming and scanning text and selecting key terms for Internet searches. The teacher introduces these strategies using a think-aloud approach, and students practice them by searching a website to fill in a Bingo board.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid
Science NetLinks
In this Science Update, from Science NetLinks, you'll hear about what caused the asteroid that killed off the dinosaurs. Science Updates are audio interviews with scientists and are accompanied by a set of questions as well as links to related Science NetLinks lessons and other related resources.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Do I Have to Mow the Whole Thing?
Illuminations
This lesson offers examples of inverse variation. Students collect data and generate graphs before finding specific equations for inverse variation relationships and examining their graphs and discuss the asymptotes.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Earthquakes
Science NetLinks
In this Science NetLinks lesson, students verify that earthquakes follow the natural plate boundaries and that these boundaries help us predict where earthquakes are most likely to occur. They also examine changes in the earth's surface caused by earthquakes.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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Edith Wharton: War Correspondent
EDSITEment
In this EDSITEment lesson, through reading chapters of Edith Wharton's, "Fighting France, From Dunkerque to Belfort", students learn how an American correspondent recounted World War I for American readers.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Ekphrasis: Using Art to Inspire Poetry
ReadWriteThink
This lesson from ReadWriteThink explores the concept of ekphrasis-writing inspired by art. Students begin by reading and discussing examples of poetry inspired by art. Students then search online for pieces of art that inspire them and, in turn, compose a booklet of poems about the pieces they have chosen.This lesson from ReadWriteThink explores the concept of ekphrasis-writing inspired by art. Students begin by reading and discussing examples of poetry inspired by art. Students then search online for pieces of art that inspire them and, in turn, compose a booklet of poems about the pieces they have chosen.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Electric Healing
Science NetLinks
In this Science Update from Science NetLinks, you'll hear about how scientists are starting to use electricity to heal wounds. Science Updates are audio interviews with scientists and are accompanied by a set of questions as well as links to related Science NetLinks lessons and other related resources.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Engaging Students in Read-Alouds Using Fractured Texas Tales
ReadWriteThink
This lesson, from ReadWriteThink, involves read-alouds of traditional fairy tales and their Wild West counterparts to engage students in reading responses. Each session also includes suggestions for supporting English-language learners.
Grade: K | 1 | 2
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Examining "Island of the Blue Dolphins" through a Literary Lens
ReadWriteThink
This ReadWriteThink lesson invites students at all English proficiency levels, including English Language Learners (ELLs), to read, discuss, and react to Scott O'Dell's "Island of the Blue Dolphins." Students examine Karana's character development after discussing personal experiences with courage and adversity. Students then look for examples of courage in their community.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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Exile: Cuba and the United States
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
In this lesson plan, from Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, students will understand the events of the Cuban revolution and their effect on U.S.-Cuban relations and U.S. foreign policy by utilizing Celia Cruz's personal experience.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Exploring Change through Allegory and Poetry
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students explore the theme of change through allegory and poetry by reading an example of literary allegory, creating their own pictorial allegories, and writing diamonte poems related to the theme of change. In the process, students review basic literary concepts as they complete a literary elements map and plot diagram.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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Exploring Setting: Constructing Character, Point of View, Atmosphere, and Theme
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students explore how authors use language to create setting and, in turn, how setting constructs other elements in a literary work. Texts by Dybek, Dickens, Poe, and Morrison are used in the lesson, but other texts with strong settings could also be used.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Family Ties: Making Connections to Improve Reading Comprehension
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students listen to three realistic picture books, and then participate in activities that help them learn to identify text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world connections and apply them when responding to texts. After sharing and discussing connections in a Think-Pair-Share activity, students plan and write a piece describing a personal connection with one of the texts.
Grade: K | 1 | 2
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Fragment on the Constitution and Union (1861)-The Purpose of the American Union
EDSITEment
In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from EDSITEment, students examine Lincoln's brief but insightful reflection on the importance of the ideal of individual liberty to the constitutional structure and operation of the American union. Click "Display Full Record" and see the Relation field for a link to the unit overview.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Fungal Sex
Science NetLinks
In this Science Update from Science NetLinks, you'll hear about fungi with a primitive sexuality that may shed light on the origins of maleness. Science Updates are audio interviews with scientists and are accompanied by a set of questions as well as links to related Science NetLinks lessons and other related resources.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Gaining Background for the Graphic Novel "Persepolis": A WebQuest on Iran
ReadWriteThink
In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students prepare to read the novel "Persepolis" by engaging in a WebQuest that builds their background knowledge of Iran. Students work in groups to research different aspects of Iran's history and culture. They then share information with their classmates through a technology-enhanced presentation.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Give Them a Hand: Promoting Positive Interaction in Literature Circles
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students observe, discuss, and practice specific skills designed to facilitate positive and effective discussion among members of a Literature Circle. Students are encouraged to interact with one another in a respectful manner by exchanging meaningful compliments. These skills are valuable for any activity that involves group interaction.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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Have You Seen the Movie Yet?
ReadWriteThink
In this activity from ReadWriteThink, children learn about filmmaking and create their own scenes based on their favorite moments from the book "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" before viewing the film.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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Having My Say: A Multigenre Autobiography Project
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson, from ReadWriteThink, students write a multigenre piece that includes an autobiographical narrative essay and a nonfiction piece that provides context for the essay. "Having Our Say," by Elizabeth and Sarah Delany provides a model for their work.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Healthy Restaurants
Science NetLinks
In this Science Update from Science NetLinks, you'll hear about how eating at health-conscious restaurants may still lead you to overeat. Science Updates are audio interviews with scientists and are accompanied by a set of questions as well as links to related Science NetLinks lessons and other related resources.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Henry Ford and the Model T: A Case Study in Productivity (Part 1)
EconEdLink
In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from EconEdLink, students learn about Henry Ford's use of mass production strategies to manufacture the Model T, revolutionizing industrial manufacturing and initiating a new era in personal transportation. Students chart a plan for the assembly-line production of bookmarks, test their plan, and make recommendations for improvements. Students also explore how Ford used economic incentives to address a problem created by mass production techniques -- worker turnover.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Henry Ford and the Model T: A Case Study in Productivity (Part 2)
EconEdLink
In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from EconEdLink, students identify Henry Ford as an innovator who helped revolutionize modern manufacturing. They learn about how investment in capital goods and human capital improved Ford's productivity, and how Henry Ford used economic incentives to address worker turnover and improve productivity.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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I've Got It Covered! Creating Magazine Covers to Summarize Texts
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students identify main ideas in textbook chapters and create magazine covers that express those ideas in words and pictures.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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In Defense of Liberty: The Magna Carta in the American Revolution
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
In this lesson, from Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, students will carefully examine an authentic Massachusetts thirty-shilling note (1775) from the Museum's collection and hypothesize the meaning of its visual elements. Students will use primary and secondary sources to refine the hypothesis and in the process, discover the role the Magna Carta played in the colonists' defense of their rights as Englishmen. The lesson provides insight into the causes of the American Revolution and builds students' ability to read and interpret objects as primary sources.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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It's a Not So Wonderful Life
EconEdLink
In this lesson from EconEdLink students learn about banks and banking. They study the fractional reserve system, and the role the Fed plays in the money creation process.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice": The Novel as Historical Source
EDSITEment
In this EDSITEment lesson, Jane Austen's classic novel offers insights into life in early nineteenth-century England. This lesson, focusing on class and the status of women, teaches students how to use a work of fiction as a primary source in the study of history.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Japanese American Exclusion Orders During World War II
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
When Japanese Americans were ordered to move to internment camps during World War II, they were forced to sell most of their possessions and take only what they could carry. This lesson, from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, will help students identify with the experiences of camp internees during World War II. Students will be divided into four-member "family" groups that are to be relocated to an internment camp. They will then read two sections of the A More Perfect Union online exhibition and, based on what they have read, make decisions about what they will take with them. After discussing their decisions, students will visit the "Reflections" section of the A More Perfect Union Web site and write a response to at least one of the topics. This lesson is included in the online exhibition entitled "A More Perfect Union," which focuses on the experiences of Japanese Americans who were placed in internment camps during World War II.
Grade: 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Katrina Mental Health
Science NetLinks
In this Science Update from Science NetLinks, you'll hear about how the mental health of Katrina victims isn't improving like it should-and in some cases, it's getting worse. Science Updates are audio interviews with scientists and are accompanied by a set of questions as well as links to related Science NetLinks lessons and other related resources.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Learning about Properties of Vectors and Vector Sums Using Dynamic Software
Illuminations
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