In this lesson, students explore the free exercise clause in the first amendment by reading about various court cases throughout history. Discussion questions are provided. In an associated close-reading activity, students will review the two tests used by the Supreme Court in the Sherbert and Smith cases and apply the tests to the 1972 case of Wisconsin v. Yoder.

This activity engages students in an analysis of the 2008 speech by Barack Obama on race. Students will then create an annotated version of the speech that has them analyze and comment upon Obama's use of history, rhetoric, and language in his message. Students can also create a hypertext of this assignment in order to publish works in different media.

In this lesson, students read primary and secondary source documents about the Supreme Court cases National Socialist Party of America v. Village of Skokie (1977) and Brandenburg v. Ohio (1968) and freedom of speech. Students then answer analysis questions about the case. There is a teacher answer key included in the lesson.

This lesson-plan focuses on students analyzing, critiquing, and examining the language and meanings of historical and cultural documents such as The Pledge of Allegiance and the First Amendment. Through this activity they will also examine the impact and meaning of language, as well as the relevance of the meaning behind the words of each document. All handouts are downloadable and printable from this site.

This lesson is the first of a two-part series focused on how scientists perform their work. These lessons make use of a book called The Frog Scientist, by Pamela S. Turner. Students will read the book and view and analyze supplemental resource materials to better understand how scientists are using the scientific method to study human environmental impact.

Students consider how ordinary citizens contributed to and experienced the fall of the Berlin Wall. They then develop scrapbooks depicting how people experienced the wall and use the books as symbolic bricks in building a classroom Berlin Wall.

In this lesson, students consider how ordinary citizens contributed to and experienced the fall of the Berlin Wall. They then develop scrapbooks depicting how people experienced the wall and use the books as symbolic bricks in building a classroom Berlin Wall.

Students will read scientific text about top predators in Arctic marine ecosystems and how they may be affected by global climate change. Students will work individually or collaboratively to write a report based on the scientific text they have read and participate in a large-group discussion session based on their analysis.

The graphic novel Persepolis is set in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Most students are unaware of the changes associated with the events during that time, but the repercussions of the revolution are still being felt throughout the world. In this lesson, students work in small groups to research a specific topic related to Iran, using a WebQuest to focus their research on relevant and reliable information. After the research is complete, students present their information to the class through a technology-enhanced presentation.

In this lesson, students will read and analyze primary source documents, then participate in a discussion focused on the questions about the scientific method and the nature of Galileo's conflict with authorities in the Roman Catholic Church.

Washington's first message to conference with subheadings, numbered paragraphs, and some basic definitions added. A full audio is available, as well. 

Students will be able to explain the sources of German nationalism -- including cultural, intellectual, religious, political, and social -- and describe the tensions between nationalism as cultural or linguistic "sameness," e.g. , "German," as well as nationalism as defined by loyalty to a national political institution, e.g. , "Germany." Students will also analyze the creation of the German Empire as constructed "from above" by Prussian leadership through political institutions, economic interest, diplomacy, and war and the consequences of this for political, religious, and nationalistic opponents of German unification. Lastly, students will examine the co-option of traditional political factions such as liberals and conservatives by German unifiers and the emergence of new political groups as various national minority parties, including the Catholic Center Party and the Social Democrats, as a result of unification.

This resource includes a unit lesson designed to provide students with the opportunity to perform a close reading of the Gettysburg Address. The resource includes activities, text-dependent questions, vocabulary and writing assessments.

In this lesson, students read primary and secondary source documents about the Supreme Court case Gibbons v. Ogden and federalism. Students then answer analysis questions about the case. There is a teacher answer key included in the lesson.

This video from Shakespeare Uncovered explores the origins, unique characteristics and challenges presented by the 17th century Globe Theatre. Students will take a glimpse into the world of Elizabethan theater by watching actors perform scenes from Shakespeare’s plays on the stage of Shakespeare’s Globe, a modern-day replica of the Globe Theatre located one hundred feet from the original.

In this Teaching with the News lesson, students analyze the issues that frame the current debate on U.S. policy towards Iran and recent international negotiations on Iran's nuclear program.

In this fourth unit of eight total, Think Alouds (pages 27-33 of the pdf), students will apply skills to investigate and understand text.

This cross-curricular resource contains a primary source and a secondary source document on wealth and trade unions. Accompanying the readings are text-dependent questions, an academic vocabulary list, a writing prompt and sample student responses.

This news brief from April 2007 describes the genetics of lactose intolerance and how the trait is expressed in various human populations. This article includes a set of discussion and extension questions for use in class. It also includes hints about related lessons that might be used in conjunction with this one.

Students will complete close textual reading questions aligned with Common Core shifts for literacy. Scroll to "ELA 11-12 A Modest Proposal" to access download.