Grade Level: Middle School

Inclusivity and Difference

Warm-up While technical issues with the video are being handled, allow participants to choose their art supplies and explain that they are free to make art while participating in class and listening to each other. Invite participants to think about their hopes, goals, and fears about participating with the group.  Stimulus (9 minutes) Watch video Inclusivity and Difference

Understanding Animal Farm

Understanding Animal Farm by George Orwell Materials Steps involved 1. Introduction Journal: Can you think of an instance where you found it difficult to stand up for what you believe in because of the beliefs of those around you? Were you able to overcome this obstacle? Why or why not? 2. Watch the “Animal Farm Understanding Animal Farm

Flowers for Algernon

A Utilitarian Perspective The attached PowerPoint (also found on the Resources tab of this lesson plan) introduces Mill’s idea of higher and lower pleasures by incorporating short videos showing forms of both higher and lower pleasures. Students will discuss, first, whether it is possible to distinguish between high and lower pleasures and, if so, to Flowers for Algernon

Immigration: a complex issue

Topic: Immigration This is a complex topic and can best be discussed in the context of concrete examples. In general, immigration is the movement of people from one tribe or nation to another. Immigration has been occurring since humans appeared on the planet and has always been viewed through different lens.  Background  Some brief historical Immigration: a complex issue

Weather and Emotions

Notes about Lesson Plan Warm-Up Question  How does the weather affect the way we feel and behave?  Matching Weather Events with Emotions  Inquiry Building on Matching Activity  Reflection about how our minds have changed 

The American Revolution

Loyalty or Rebellion? Warm-Up: This or That?  To warm-up the students’ philosophical thinking and introduce them to the primary theme of the lesson (rebellion or loyalty), facilitate 2-5 rounds of “This or That?”  Directions:  Prompts  *Throughout this activity, you might notice a trend that students’ opinions on whether to rebel or stay loyal are contingent The American Revolution

Power and Hierarchy

Treating Others as Persons Notes About Lesson Plan Warm-Up Question  What is the difference between treating someone like a person versus treating something like an object?  (Optional Historical Background, if using to supplement discussions of slavery) In the United States of America and in other places in the world, there have been institutions that failed Power and Hierarchy

Measuring with Accuracy and Precision

Key Definitions  Introduce two measurement concepts and write the definitions on the board.  Sorting Objects  Creating Criteria What do all the examples in each category have in common?  Meta-Reflection How did this activity go?  Ask students:  Or, instead of the whole activity or just the concluding meta-reflection, you can conduct a Community of Inquiry using Measuring with Accuracy and Precision

Life Cycles

Notes on the documents in the Resource tab Introduction  Introduce the concept of “life cycles” to the class, highlighting that even though there are differences in the life cycles of various species, the general steps of birth, growth, reproduction, and death are involved in all living things’ life cycles.  Independent + Collaborative Thinking