Does a ban on vending machines infringe on student rights, or do school officials have an obligation to monitor foods sold on school grounds? Your class members will explore the educational, health, and financial issues related to...

Have you ever wondered where the money comes from to pay for your school, teachers, supplies, and building? The 1989 Supreme Court case Edgewood ISD v. Kirby lays a framework for open discussion on the funding of public schools. Using a...

Students research on the Web and in magazines and newspapers what a variety of school districts have decided on student travel during the War in Iraq. Students examine the rationale the administrators or state officials use for canceling...

Students act as a public relations firm representing the school district and use photography to develop positive attitudes toward all programs. They brainstormed alternative methods to use photography and selected the photographic essay.

Learners investigate a possible health problem in the local school district through inquiry into attendance records, activities, maps, graphs, and data tables. The simulation continues as solutions for the problem are sought.

Young scholars examine their individual rights at a public school. In groups, they identify the most common ways of expressing themselves and why they should limit their speech in public. They compare and contrast two cases in which they...

Students are introduced to the various types of schools used throughout history. In groups, they compare and contrast Native American boarding schools, schools in the 1800s and the schools of today. They write in their journals...

Difficult redistricting concepts are covered in a context that will make it understandable to your government scholars. They begin with a KWL on the term redistricting and then watch a video to answer some questions. They...

Alone, or as part of the intended unit on chemical reactions, this activity allows learners to experience an exothermic reaction. Here, learners add calcium chloride to a baking soda solution and watch the temperature rise! They will...

Is CTE the right choice for me? Introduce the class to career and technical education through an exploratory lesson, fourth in a series of six career readiness activities. After an introductory video, scholars determine possible careers...

Students identify different responsibilities they have at home and at school. For this responsibilities lesson plan, students identify the responsibilities they need to follow through on and what happens when they don't. They put...

Learners examine how race relations effect the kinds and amount of educational resources individual schools receive within a school district.

Students read primary source documents to examine what a typical school day was like in the early 1900s. They discover how African-American children were taught differently than whites. They compare and contrast past school days to...

Action is the heart of change. Encourage class members to not only identify critical social justice issues in their school or community but to take action as well. As individuals or as groups, they research a situation, develop a...

Students research dating abuse, particularly as it affects teens in general and specifically when technology like cells phones and the Internet is involved. They develop and use a survey on dating abuse in thier school and use the...

Students use quilt patterns to illustrate ratios. In this fractions lesson, students color quilt patterns using given fractions and ratios of colors. A finished "quilt" is assembled from the work of the students. This is an...

Students research and discuss pros and cons of study abroad during times of war, and document decisions and positions of local school administrators on topic. Students then write editorials voicing their opinions.

Students are introduced to the terms of apportionment and redistricting. Using a Census map, they identify the states that had the highest and lowest numbers of change during the past ten years. They examine a map of voting districts and...

Who is buried in this tomb? Trek to a local cemetery, take pictures of markers, explore records, and conduct interviews to bring to life the stories behind the stones. Use Olympus and Tool Factory to coordinate and gather information...

Students gather images that are part of portfolio to be shared throughout the course of one school year. They complete written reflections based upon the images that are attained. The primary sources for the images is using a digital...

High schoolers examine a debate over teaching sex education in public schools. After reading an article, they discover how school officials are trying to inform their students but please a diverse audience. They answer discussion...

Students research the Tim Hardaway story using internet resources. Students examine sexual identity and sports issues. As an additional assignment students will interview their campus athletic director to find out how such issues are...

Mystery is an exciting genre for young readers to investigate. The plots are so intriguing! Here is a series of lessons featuring Sherlock Holmes stories that invite learners to enter the world of the mystery genre.  Based on what...

Eleventh graders examine the history of integration as it applied to Virginia high school in Prince Edward County. They evaluate a map of Virginia counties, read and analyze a first person narrative of a young girl involved in a boycott...