Students select a country in South Africa and writes a one-page report on the economic and social issues facing that country, offering suggestions as to how the conditions of poverty and HIV/AIDS.

Students explore why people get cancer. They explore human cells by taking a close examine their own. take a small sample of the epithelial cells that line the inside of their mouth. They glimpse how scientists investigate inside cells.

Students research the slave, Denmark Vesey, and create a dramatic play depicting his life.

Students watch videos about various modes of transportation, they examine the energy transformations that occur in each, and they be introduced to the laws of thermodynamics.

Students examine the concept of heroes, and research the role of the Tuskegee Airmen during WWII. They view a video, write journal responses, and read a short history of the group.

Students read and analyze the N. Scott Momaday novel, The Way to Rainy Mountain. They share photos of an older family relative, write about the relative, listen to an excerpt from the book, and conduct an Internet research on the Kiowa...

Students write positive comments to classmates. They decorate a box or envelope, write one positive comment to share with each student in the class, and read the comments written to them by the other students.

Students view a video about Nelson Mandela and apartheid. They discover what it was like for people living in South Africa during apartheid. They work together to discuss strategies that could be used for people to better communicate...

Students examine the challenges a single teenage parent faces. In groups, they research ways to positively cope with an unplanned pregnancy and design their own layette for their new baby. As a class, they discuss what it means to be...

Students brainstorm a list of all of the ways they use energy in a day. In groups, they research the energy situation today and discuss what is being done to solve the problem. They also examine the issues related to this in politics...

Students examine the issues facing children in society. In groups, they participate in a simulation to discover the lack of connection between child-support and how it affects the children and society as a whole. To end the lesson,...

Students discuss elements of fairy tales, examine selected piece of Robert Harris' art, and compose fairy tales based on what they see and imagine. Students then view homes in Harris' artwork collection, create home in which they would...

Students create a movie that includes both sound and pictures of the Gettysburg Address using iMovie, digital cameras, and copies of the Gettysburg Address. Extensive examples of student works are given.

Students read and discuss an article about gender sterotyping and adult attitudes about "boy" and "girl" toys. Then they create a unisex toy box for a family friend who is expecting a baby. They give one toy for each of the first 10...

Young scholars watch a news clip about people who think bad parents are to blame for bad kids. They then take a quiz about legal age and responsibility. Finally they design a series of parenting lessons.

Fifth graders compare and contrast an informational article with a fictional story. They read the story "The Contest" as a class, and discuss the different types of literature genres. Next, they complete a vocabulary worksheet and a...

Sixth graders review the steps of the water cycle. Individually, they calculate the amount of water they use in a day and identify ways they can conserve. As a class, they discuss how conserving water today helps future generations and...

Students examine the importance of human rights. They participate in a simulation of starting a new civilization on another planet, create a class "Declaration of Human Rights," and write a journal entry based on class discussion...

Celebrate Kwanzaa with a game of Kalah, also known as Mankala or Owara. Using an egg carton and a set of beans, players take all of the beans out of one of his or her cups and move to the right, dropping one bean into each of the...

Students research the different cultural backgrounds from which people in their community originate. They discuss various celebrations and customs that they participate in, conduct an interview with a family member or friend, and...

Young scholars read and discuss a news article about children that collected 1.5 million LEGO bricks for kids in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. They complete a fill-in-the blank activity, answer article comprehension questions,...

Students research about the process of composting. Students apply their research by creating a compost pile at school that will be maintained once or twice a month for the remainder of the school year.

Sixth graders conduct a controlled investigation to determine the length of the sun's shadow on a fixed object (i.e., flagpole, telephone pole, etc.) over a three-day period (one day in the fall, one in the winter, and one in the...

Young scholars collect data regarding fire safety and create a graph. Working in small groups, they administer a survey to family and friends regarding their attitudes toward fire safety. After data has been gathered, students graph...