This page provides lessons and student submission ideas about the current state of affairs in the United States. These ideas range from terrorism, attack on September 11th, bio-terrorism, civil liberties, and racial profiling. Please submit your work. The approved entries will be located in the Presentation section.

 

Choose from one of the following lesson & topic themes in order to get a list of possible activities:

Discussion/Composition/Debates: The discussions, compositions and debates range from terrorism, attack on September 11th, bio-terrorism, civil liberties, and racial profiling. Some articles are provided to facilitate these activities.
Hands on Projects: This section provides many ideas that allow students to produce something. Some of them require the use of Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Flash.
Critical Thinking: Students will read about various possible hoaxes that have occured primarily through e-mail. They must determine if the information is a hoax or if it actually happened. Once they have researched the topic and come to a conclusion, they must defend their position. Afterwards, the teacher can give the truth based on findings that were primarily gathered from Urban Legends Research Center.
Investigating Islam by Brett Baron-Marianetti *

Objective: Students will see Islam as they see Christianity (or Judaism), as a religion with many different ways of worship and many varied sects, including the very liberal interpretations and the extremists with carefully structured ways of worship. They will see that Islam covers all races and continents. They will learn the origins of the religion and its ties to Judaism and Christianity.

Creating a webquest: by Jordan Pincus *
Social Studies, 12th grade at Forest Hills High School
Honorable Mention, Teacher Lesson Plan in Media Workshop's September 11th Contest

Overview: This is a mini-unit on the (proposed) anti-terrorism legislation and its potential impact on the Fourth Amendment rights. It is geared toward American Government students. It should take place over a 2-3 week period with additional instruction, guidance and enrichment as necessary. It should not be held to a rigid schedule. (Some enrichment readings from the New York Times are not currently available for this contest.) These lessons were conducted at Forest Hills High School during November-December, 2001.

9/11 America Web by Mr. J. Zwerling *
English, 12th grade at Brooklyn Comprehensive Night High School
First Place, Teacher Lesson Plan in Media Workshop's September 11th Contest

Overview: In response to the tragedies of 9/11, Mr. Zwerling designed a project based unit integrating Language Arts, current events, journalism, and computer technology to provide a forum for student expression. The unit culminated in student created digital and hard copy portfolios, and this work is highlighted in a CD and magazine.

What are your recollections of September 11, 2001? by Dennis *

Transition: Today, through poetry, we are going to look at one person's reactions to the events of September 1lth. The author of the poem lives in Manhattan and works near the World Trade Center, He wrote this poem shortly after the event.

Post-September 11th Lesson Plan by Stacy Fell-Eisenkraft
Humanities, 8th Grade
Honorable Mention, Teacher Lesson Plan in Media Workshop's September 11th Contest

Objective: to raise awareness, to push the students to take a critical lens to the media surrounding them.