Browse Lesson Plans

American Robin: A Robin's Menu Through the Seasons

Explore and write about what kinds of plants and animals robins eat.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

Civic Engagement

Define a project and meet with a community partner. Present the community problem and proposed solutions to a special session of the city council.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

Constitutional Convention

Simulate the writing of a constitution for the hypothetical country of Permistan.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

Controversial Public Policy Issues

Conduct an opinion poll on-racial profiling. Physically engage students by having them move around from “Agree” to “Disagree” to “Undecided” positions during discussion.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

Electoral Politics

Prior to the 2002 mayoral election in Newark, New Jersey, students study the candidates’ positions on issues they have chosen to track.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

Europe - European Cities

Create a brochure promoting a European city and write a letter proposing future plans to improve it.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

Europe - European Integration? European Union Membership Activity

Role-play representatives from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Ukraine, apply for entry to the EU and make a presentation to the EU Council of Ministers.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

Freedom of Religion

Simulate a U.S. Supreme Court hearing on a First amendment case about a Texas school district delivering prayers over the intercom.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

Global Forces / Local Impact - Philadelphia's Schuylkill River

On a class field trip to historic Bartram’s Garden, pupils learn how the local watershed area of the Schuylkill River has changed over time.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

Global Forces / Local Impact - What is Quality of Life? An Indonesian Case Study

Make global comparisons of quality of life indicators with those of Indonesia.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

Latin America - Mexico: Motive to Migrate

Consider the several push-pull factors involved in the migration of Mexican workers to the Maquiladoras of Monterrey, and to the U.S. for seasonal work, then back home to north central Mexico.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

Latin America - Volcanoes, Trenches, and Plate Boundaries

Study the locations of trenches and volcanoes and learn the relationship between them. Discuss the pros and cons of living near a volcano.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

North Africa / Southwest Asia - How a Country's Boundaries Are Shaped

Examine the past and present boundaries of Jerusalem and the reasons why and how these came about.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

North Africa / Southwest Asia - The Gift of the Nile: Egypt and Its River

Examine how human interaction with the environment has altered the annual flooding of the Nile River and what the implications are for the region.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

North Africa / Southwest Asia - Gaza: The Two Perspectives

By looking at different perspectives in news articles and working in small groups, develop a better understanding of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.