Abraham Lincoln: A Good Man? or A Good Man!

In this lesson, students use video from American Masters: Bill T. Jones: A Good Man along with primary sources to investigate the life of Lincoln and write a one page argument essay on whether Lincoln was "a good man."

Analogies - The Baka of Cameroon, West Africa

Students complete analogies and connect them to information about the Baka of Cameroon, West Africa.

Analyzing and Comparing Perspectives on Issues - Gorillas

Students compare and contrast their perspectives on raising gorillas in captivity with their peers and with scientists. They summarize their perspectives and the perspectives of others.

Analyzing an Issue From Three Perspectives - Smoking in Public Places

Students note various perspectives on the debate about smoking in public places in NYC and create an interview to research the perspectives of peers and community members. They write a report to present their findings and opinion on the issue.

Analyzing Information - Can Pigs be Pets?

Students identify a main idea as well as analyze, evaluate and interpret new information, personal experiences and prior knowledge to form an opinion which they then write about.

Ancestors Talk Through Drums

In this segment from EGG:the arts show, meet Camilo Gaetan who is becoming a master drummer.

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Artistic Interpretation in The Little Mermaid

This video from Great Performances: The Little Mermaid from San Francisco Ballet features a scene from the first act of the ballet in which The Poet (a role based on the real life author Hans Christian Andersen) exits the real-world and enters a watery paradise under the sea.

Artistic Interpretation of a Classic: The Author’s Role

This lesson uses video segments from Great Performances: The Little Mermaid from San Francisco Ballet to help students explore the role of the author in relation to his/her work.

The Book

In this video segment from Jakers! Abuelita describes her life as a migrant worker.

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The Buzz about Fact and Opinion

Students differentiate between fact and opinion on a handout with statements about bees.

Carl Sandburg: Poet of the People

This video from American Masters: The Day Carl Sandburg Died describes Carl Sandburg’s early years and how he came to be known as the “poet of the people.”

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Cats

In this video segment from Nature, learn about cats and consider the possibility that the cat may become the number one choice of pet owners.  

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Cause and Effect Relationships - Silence of the Bees

Students write an essay that synthesizes the cause and effect relationship the disappearance of bees will cause.

Chalk Sculpture

In this video segment from Art in the 21st Century: Paradox, two artists create a public art piece using giant pieces of chalk.

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A Character's Perspective - Colonial House

Students watch a video segment that shows the reactions of colonists and native people when they encounter one another for the first time during a colony settlement reenactment. Students then select a character and write a letter from that character’s point of view that describes the meeting.

Character Study: Scout Finch

This video from American Masters: Harper Lee: Hey, Boo focuses on the character of Scout, why she’s important to the story, and her impact on American culture.

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City Horses Part I

Carolyne DeGrammont of the Cedar Lane Stables in Queens, NY talks about why she enjoys horses in this video segment from Wild TV.

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City Parrots

In this video segment from WILD TV, learn about wild parrots that breed and nest in Brooklyn.

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City Pigeons

Learn about the history of pigeons in this video segment from WILD TV.  

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Cloud

A round up of wild horses proves too strenuous for a young colt in this video segment from Nature.

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