Classroom

Lesson Plans

Lesson Plan February 01 2017

Lesson plan: Invent your own device to battle invasive species

Stunning fish who were once kept as pets are destroying Florida’s coral reef ecosystem. In this PBS NewsHour lesson plan, students will learn how scientists are using a new invention, a lionfish zapping robot, to combat this harmful invasive species. They will then create their own invention to ward off invasive species in their community or region.

Lesson Plan January 24 2017

President Trump's First 100 Days

Examine Trump's first hundred days from his first term

A general view of the exterior of the Comet Ping Pong pizza restaurant in Washington

Lesson Plan December 13 2016

How to teach your students about fake news

Fake news is making news, and it's a problem. This lesson gives students media literacy skills they need to navigate the media, including how to spot fake news.

Lesson Plan November 01 2016

Know Your Vote, Know the Issues

Every election year and for years after elections, there are several major issues that persistently trouble Americans. Every election year, politicians pledge that they will address these issues, and nearly every year they fall short of many peoples’ expectations. In this lesson, we examine problems surrounding health care costs, funding higher education and preserving social security. Then, students look at how the current presidential candidates are proposing to address these issues, and formulate a short media presentation.

Lesson Plan October 25 2016

Lesson Plan: To Vote or Not to Vote

Explore why voting is an important responsibility for citizens

Lesson Plan October 24 2016

Student Reporting Labs: How well are our wells?

In the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Lab video, "Water Scarcity for New Mexico Natives," Las Cruces High School students describe climate changes and human activities which impact quality and availability of groundwater. In the lesson plan, students gather information from a low-cost physical model, choose a part of the groundwater and well problem, propose a solution and defend their proposal.

Lesson Plan October 16 2016

Student Reporting Labs STEM Lesson Plan: Solar Cars and S'mores

Can you think of innovative ways we can use the sun to provide us with energy? In this NewsHour lesson, students will design their own solar cars and research how to make their vehicles ecologically friendly.

Lesson Plan October 03 2016

Student Reporting Labs: Talking trash and your environment

OverviewGlobally, plastic is the most abundant type of marine litter. This activity allows students…

Lesson Plan September 28 2016

9 points about gerrymandering and how redistricting impacts elections

Most states have some rules for redrawing district lines, but cases of gerrymandering in order to give one party an electoral advantage over the other remain widespread.