Browse Lesson Plans

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 - 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 America - Analyzing Philadelphia's Historical Maps

On a field trip to see historic maps, analyze how resources influence settlement patterns, and how land- and cityscapes change due to urbanization.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

North America - Enterprise Communities in Denver

Use data and models to define the location of economically distressed neighborhoods located in Denver.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

North America - San Antonio Growth and Expansion

Consider the impacts of human migration on physical and human systems and ask "where will the future growth of San Antonio occur?"

Discipline: Social Studies and History

Patriotism & Foreign Policy

What should the U.S. relationship with the rest of the world be? And what artifacts should be selected for a Museum of Patriotism and Foreign Policy?

Discipline: Social Studies and History

Public Policy & the Federal Budget

Create, present, revise, and defend a Federal budget, and then reflect on what was learned.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

Rights and Responsibilities of Students

Write summaries of Supreme Court cases that involve the constitutional rights of students. Role-play with lawyers presenting a hypothetical case to Justices who deliberate and present their opinions.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

Russia - Yours, Mine, and Ours: Determining Boundaries

Learn about conflict by participating in a role-playing activity in the context of the fictional region of “Ugeria".

Discipline: Social Studies and History

Sub-Saharan Africa - Health Ratings for Sub-Saharan Africa

Research and consolidate demographic data, calculate health ratings and discuss conclusions.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

Sub-Saharan Africa - Kenya: The AIDS Epidemic

Through a role-playing exercise, understand the dissemination, causes, and effects of the AIDS epidemic in Kenya.

Discipline: Social Studies and History

Sub-Saharan Africa - South Africa Land Allocation

With a map and an assigned role, determine how to allocate land.

Discipline: Social Studies and History