Learners explore Asian American culture. In this multicultural guided reading instructional activity, students brainstorm a list of communication tools and share languages they speak. Learners read Grandfather Counts by Andrea Cheng,...

Students help their community. In this character counts activity, students discuss problems facing the world and their community. They come up with solutions to some of these problems. 

Students research the term "racial profiling to help decide if this directive fits in that category. Students explore the reaction of each side and the pros and cons each offers. Students Prepare a debate with one side supporting the FBI...

Students participate in a simulated election. They serve as 'checkers', marking off names of those who vote, a ballot person hands out ballots, and ballot sorters and counters. Teacher rigs up a voting booth where voters mark ballots...

Students compare different cartoons dealing with social or political issues. They discuss the cartoons as a class. They create their own cartoon with their own message and shares them with the class.

Students debate whether or not the War of 1812 can be counted as America's second war of independence. After researching the War of 1812, they complete a WebQuest designed to help them decide on the validity of the war as a quest for...

In this All About GDP learning exercise, students read ten phrases then decide if what is mentioned counts when calculating the GDP.

Invite your learners to take a close look at Abraham Lincoln's presidency through analysis worksheets of several images and primary documents, presented on an educational poster entirely dedicated to this great United States...

Kindergarteners practice showing 1:1 correspondence while incorporating information they learned about a local Native American culture. The objects used for counting are taken from the previous day's Native American lesson. The intention...

Students gain an understanding of some of the challenges the U.S. faced at its birth. They are asked to compose a report on the state of the nation in 1790 (addressed to President George Washington), which includes a narrative, maps and...

Students study the ancient African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. They brainstorm what they know about ancient African kingdoms before investigating the trade and barter situations, and researching one of the kingdoms for an oral...

First and second graders construct a contract for classroom rules. They define a contract and then choose rules for classroom behavior. Each learner writes these rules down on a class rules contract worksheet (included).

Have a class discussion on diversity. With your class, explore the ideas of prejudice, fear, suspicion and individual rights. Discuss the benefits of uniqueness and how diversity contributes to strength and unity.

Students explore race and ethnicity as it is defined by the U. S. Census Bureau. They compare data from 1900, 1950, and 2000 and identify settlement patterns and changes in population. In groups, they map these changes and discuss...

Welcome your class back to school! They will participate in a character education lesson in order to build community at the school. First they identify needs of new learners by putting themselves in their shoes and create welcome packs...

As a way to understand Memorial Day, build citizenship, practice vocabulary, and discuss current international conflicts, learners create their own Memorial Day. They design their own memorial after learning about the various types of...

After hearing or reading a New York Times article on Twinkies, kids attempt to fill in the blanks by memory alone. They re-read the article, only this time words are missing, it's up to them to fill in each blank with a word from the...

Ask your students to name "caring acts" for their parents and make coupons for their parents to use. They will think of caring acts their parents would appreciate and create original coupons of those acts to present their parents on a...

Twelfth graders evaluate the state of the economy and develop a definition for unemployment. In groups, they read an article about how the economy affects society and discuss how it affects them. Individually, they research the types...

Students research an influential African American. In this character education instructional activity, students use a variety of research materials and write a biographical report about a famous African American. Students identify the...

Middle schoolers access prior knowledge about the branches of government to explore foreign policy.  For this conflict resolution lesson, students reflect on foreign policy decisions and participate in scenarios based on foreign...

Young scholars explore the concept of respectful listening.  In this listening skills lesson, students discuss and demonstrate good and bad listening skills.  Young scholars work in groups to decide what is easy and hard about...

Students investigate the differences in Lake Tahoe from the past to the present. In this geography activity, students read the book Washoe Seasons of Life and identify the descriptions of the land and lake. Students create a Venn diagram...

Students explore reading comprehension strategies. In this character development and reading comprehension lesson, students brainstorm common traits of "heroes." Students read Heroes, then identify the personal conflicts the story...