After researching an issue introduced in Tyson Miller's Dream of a Nation: Inspiring Ideas for a Better America, writers develop an original thesis statement and craft an analytic essay using evidence collected in their research.

The sovereignty of U.S. Native American nations is the focus of a resource that asks class members to compare the Right to Self-Determination in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples with a fact sheet that...

The Grapes of Wrath. The Jungle. Native Son. The Things They Carried. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian. To address a current social, political, economic, or environmental issue, class groups pair the reading of a...

Through reading a variety of news articles and other informational texts, learners discover the political turmoil and intense ethnic and religious tensions that envelop the Ivory Coast today. Class members research the historical...

Scholars test their reading comprehension skills with an interactive that focuses on the Sioux tribe. After reading an informational text, learners answer 10 questions. 

Learners explore the interdependence of the animals and plants in tropical rainforests. They explore the importance of conserving biodiversity and tropical food chains. They create a tropical forest food chain and identify species that...

Here is an ongoing activity intended to build interest in local, national, and world news. The class is divided into four groups of approximately five students each. The groups are responsible for monitoring the daily news. They compose...

After a study of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the impact his death had on the country and on Reconstruction policy, class groups analyze primary sources that recount the writer’s response to Lincoln’s death. As guided...

Young scholars develop their own ideas about the world around them. This lesson helps them improve their descriptive adjective vocabulary while they discuss perceived differences between nations through stereotypes.

In this Boy Scout citizenship merit badge worksheet, students complete 8 pages of multiple part, short answer questions about citizenship in the nation. They define, describe, and tell what it means to be a good citizen.

Fifth graders visit the National Portrait Gallery to be introduced to politics, portraits, Presidents, and pretenders. They design campaign posters as a follow-up activity.

Does your school compete in a spelling bee? Do you want your seventh graders to learn challenging new words? Here's a list of 100 words to prepare your kids for the National Spelling Bee. Since the words are from the 2010-2011 school...

Free speech, privacy, and cyberbullying are the focus of a series of activities that prompt class members to engage in discussions about these interrelated topics. They view a segment from PBS’s series on bullying, read...

Why are some immigrant groups in the United States embraced while others become disenfranchised? To answer this question, teams investigate why groups emigrated to the US, why some of these these peoples were...

Students research the impact of European voyages of discovery and colonial influence on different aspects of American culture. They access a number of online sources and reference maps to trace the influences of England, France, Holland,...

Help your class determine why European was able to dominate the African continent. They read 5 excerpts, each related to a reason why Europe colonized Africa. Then they answer 4 critical-thinking questions.

Primary source documents provide a realistic context for pupils to explore. Included are 5 experts relating European ideals and methods for colonizing and controlling the African continent. Middle schoolers answer 4 critical-thinking...

Warm up the class with this political cartoon analysis. They use the provided guiding questions to analyze a cartoon depicting issues of debate regarding Federal debt. Critical thinking is a must with this worksheet.

Develop media smarts by considering the power of celebrity involvement in world issues. A look at the work of such celebrities as Angelina Jolie, Oprah, and Bono prepare learners to develop their own media campaign for a global...

USDA National Nutrient data is available at your fingertips! This application is a vast library of more than 8,000 nutritional labels for commonly eaten foods. Search and sort foods by a variety of categories.

Learners discuss what they like about parks and make a list of different things they like to do there such as swing, run, play ball, ride a bike, or go on a hike. They discover the locations of some examples of National Parks and that...

Students analyze the meaning and uses of definite articles in Spanish. They read a pamphlet on the national park in Canaima, Venezuela, and discuss the similarities and differences between national parks in the U.S. and Venezuela.

Students identify, research and interpret the national debt and deficits of the past through today and why it has risen significantly in the last 20 years. They analyze the size and impacts and discuss the various policy measures for...

Young scholars analyze the federal budget of the United States. In this national debt lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details of the balancing the federal budget. Young scholars respond to...