Browse lesson plans

Respecting differences

This guidance and drama unit offers students the opportunity to identify prejudices and understand how certain character traits such as tolerance, respect, and kindness affect their choice of behavior. Since this lesson addresses sensitive issues, teachers should avoid situations that could be hurtful to individuals or groups. This unit can be adapted to almost any age group or ability level.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Development, Guidance, Healthful Living, and Theater Arts Education)

By Daryl Walker and Judy Peele.

Seeds of change

This lesson plan offers middle school students an overview of the physical and emotional changes of adolescence. Students will explore emotions experienced each day and how these emotions can impact behavior. Students will examine their school behaviors and identify ways to change negative behaviors into positive behaviors.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Guidance)

Surviving those scholarship interviews!

This activity is designed to provide an opportunity for students to practice interviewing skills. It is particularly geared toward those students who will be facing competitive scholarship interviews (Teaching Fellows, Moreheads, civic organizations, etc.).

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Guidance)

By Sharon Waugh.

That was then, this is now

Students will explore various career topics and study technological changes over last 30 years.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Guidance)

By Cary Lane Cockrell.

Transcripts and academic planning

This lesson teaches students the importance of planning the courses they need to take for college admission, understanding high-school transcripts, and how to calculate a GPA.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Guidance)

Try to see it my way; I'll try to see it yours

This lesson includes guided class discussion and a hands-on activity demonstrating the importance of clear communication in avoiding misunderstanding and conflict. Students use wooden blocks in a building activity that allows them to actually experience the difference in their own and another student's perception and understanding of verbal building instructions.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Guidance)

By Karen Osborne-Rowland.

TV careers: Reality vs. fantasy

In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 1.6

In this lesson for grade seven, students discuss compare television portrayals of careers with reality.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance)

By Jen Presley.Adapted by Kenyatta Bennett and Sonya Rexrode.

Understanding stress

Students will learn about short term and long term effects of stress, and play "Stress Attack" to observe physiological responses to stress. Three stress-relieving exercises will be practiced. A simple activity before and after the exercises will demonstrate the effectiveness of the exercises.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–5 Guidance)

By Pat Nystrom.

Using reference materials

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 1.1

In this lesson for grade 6, students gain an understanding of how classified ads are used to search for jobs.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance)

By Jennifer Brookshire and Julie McCann.

When will I ever use this in real life?

In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 1.8

In this lesson for grade seven, students research careers and determine how people with these occupations use English, math, and science skills.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance)

By Jen Presley.Adapted by Kenyatta Bennett and Sonya Rexrode.

Who's unique?

Encourages students to examine their ideas about how they are different and similar to each other by participating in an activity and then discussing their thoughts.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–5 Guidance and Healthful Living)

Why I am me timeline

Student develops a timeline that correlates personal life events with world events. Research and bibliographic skills are incorporated.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Guidance and Information Skills)

By Rita Briggs.

Why work hard in school?

This lesson plan for seventh- and eighth-grade students teaches the importance of working hard and earning good grades. Activities differ for each grade level. They provide a great way to focus students at the start of the school year.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–9 Guidance)

Women's ACC Basketball Tournament School Day curriculum

Four collections of basketball-based units for grades K–8 teach all areas of the curriculum through the lens of the 2013 Women's ACC Basketball Tournament.

Format: activity/lesson plan

Resources on the web

CHARACTER COUNTS!

This most widely implemented approach to character education provides a framework based on basic values called the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Josephson Institute

Content Knowledge: a Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 Education

Benchmarks and standards for many curriculum areas; lessons aligned with national standards. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: The Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL)

The economics of income: If you're so smart, why aren't you rich?

The purpose of this lesson is to help you explore the relationship between education and income. The lesson will focus on the following question: “Why do some people earn more income from their labor than others?” (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Guidance)

Provided by: EconEdLink

Free Online MIT Course Materials

At this site MIT provides a number of great resources for high school teachers and students. These include video demonstrations, AP level practice problems and exam questions, hands on learning examples, and links to further resources from MIT education outreach... (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: MIT

The Gateway to 21st Century Skills

Quick and easy access to educational resources found on various federal, state, university, non-profit, and commercial Internet sites. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: GEM Exchange

How long is your life?

High school students have rarely been asked to look at their future beyond where they will be going to college or what job they think they will have. This EconEdLink lesson asks them to think in a long-term perspective. By using a timeline, they will map... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Guidance, Healthful Living, and Social Studies)

Provided by: EconEdLink