newspaper racks

Who’s Missing From Mainstream Media? (lesson plans)

by Marsha Rakestraw A few years ago at our graduate student residency, one of the students led an activity in which small groups looked at the prevalence of men, women, and people of color as authors of articles in different sections of the newspaper, such as Style, Sports, Business, and Arts. They found that men…

Read more »
heroes & enemies

Heroes and Enemies

We’re often told to look for heroes we can turn to for inspiration. How often do we seek out what we can learn from people we dislike, or those who’ve done evil? This activity explores what we can learn from both our heroes and enemies (what to do and what NOT to do). This activity…

Read more »
Resources: Where in the World?

Where in the World?

Students “shop” for T-shirts to help them make the connection between what they wear and the conditions under which it’s made. Recommended for grades 9 and up. Time: At least two days   Common Core Standards for this activity (pdf): Download Common Core for grades 9-12.   Find out how some of our other activities…

Read more »
Resources: Who Am I?

Who Am I?

Many people know that pigs root around in the ground, that cows have four stomachs, and that chickens have wings, but some of these beings also make friends, remember faces, can play video games, and other characteristics that people often attribute only to humans. This activity for grades 2-5 serves as a great introduction to…

Read more »
Resources: Whom do you Pet?

Whom Do You Pet & Whom Do You Eat?

What are our relationships with different kinds of animals, and why do those relationships exist? Lead students in an activity which explores why we treat different types of animals differently, and how we can  learn to view them with different eyes. Recommended for grades 5 and up. Time: 60 minutes   Common Core Standards for…

Read more »
Resources: Which harms less?

Which Harms Less?

Great for a larger assembly, this activity asks students to compare pairs of similar products to consider which of the two helps more and harms less. Recommended for grades 5 and up. Time: 15-30 minutes   Common Core Standards for this activity (pdf): Download Common Core for grades 5-8. Download Common Core for grades 9-12….

Read more »
Whale breaching the ocean's surface

Whale’s Stomach

Students learn about the impact of our “throwaway society” by exploring all the different kinds of trash found in a whale’s stomach. Recommended for grades 3-8. Time: 15-45 minutes   Common Core Standards for this activity (pdf): Download Common Core for grades 3-5. Download Common Core for grades 6-8.   Find out how some of…

Read more »
kids

Leave Only Footprints

Everyone has an ecological footprint. Participants use paper footprints to simulate the impact of their choices on the earth. Extension activities allow students to explore their ecological footprints and what choices can be made to reduce them. Recommended for grades 6 and up. Time: 45 minutes Common Core Standards for this activity (pdf): Download Common…

Read more »
Resources: Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Participants explore the hidden lives of their everyday stuff by investigating how ordinary products come into existence & who/what has been helped or harmed in the creation & distribution of that product. Recommended for grades 6 and up. Time: 45 minutes to several weeks   Common Core Standards for this activity (pdf): Download Common Core…

Read more »
Resources: Two Apples

Dos Manzanas

En este rompehielos, los participantes aprenden lo importante son las palabras y las acciones cuando se exploran sus efectos en dos manzanas. Recomendado para todas Duración: 5-10 minutos

Read more »