You might not think colorful party balloons are deadly, but each year thousands of marine and land animals are maimed or killed by balloon waste. Read about the dangers of balloons. Then, use the worksheet to design new decorations that won’t harm animals or the environment.
Green Design Challenge: Earth Friendly Packaging
Almost everything we buy comes in a package. Whether the packaging is made of cardboard, glass, plastic, or something else, the waste often crowds landfills, causing pollution. Some waste is burned, which pollutes the air. Read about some different kinds of packaging and use the worksheet to design earth-friendly packaging.
Create an Earth Day Action Poster
Earth Day 1970 was a huge success. It led to new laws to protect our air, water, soil, and animals. Today, people all over the world take part in Earth Day activities each April 22nd. Read about some issues that impact our planet. Then use the worksheet to create an Earth Day poster.
Green Design Challenge: Make a Green Home Pledge
Your home is a great place to begin “going green.” Read about some simple ways you can save water, use less energy, and reduce waste where you live. Then, use the worksheet to make a green plan for you and your family.
Green Design Challenge: Earth Friendly Eating
You can help keep our farms and earth healthy by making smart food choices. Read about some ways you can help. Then, use the worksheet to create an earth-friendly meal.
Maggie’s Civics Corner
Animals are a wonderful way to teach rights and responsibilities in a safe and welcoming way. In these lessons, The Rendell Center’s dog, Maggie, offers her insight on what it means to be a citizen of the United States. These lessons present a fun way to introduce civics concepts to K-3 students, and to help them consider ways to help others and show they care.
Read Aloud Lessons
Reading aloud helps students learn how to use language and retain key points of the story, while improving their information processing skills, vocabulary, and comprehension. The Rendell Center’s Read Aloud lesson plans, designed for elementary school teachers, offer titles incorporate into their curriculum, provide insights into the book selected to enhance the read aloud session, and deliver activities for presenting civics learning in a fun, memorable way.
Hispanic and Latino Heritage and History in the United States
Since 1988, the U.S. Government has set aside the period from September 15 to October 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month to honor the many contributions Hispanic Americans have made and continue to make to the United States of America. Our Teacher’s Guide brings together resources created during NEH Summer Seminars and Institutes, lesson plans for K-12 classrooms, and think pieces on events and experiences across Hispanic history and heritage.
Civic Art Project: From Her Beacon
Students will work collaboratively to create a mural of the Statue of Liberty to show the statue as a representation of freedom and a symbol of welcome to immigrants coming from other countries. This lesson can be adapted for different grade levels. High school students will read a poem and incorporate some of its ideas into their mural. Elementary and middle school students will incorporate words and phrases inspired by the statue into their mural. This activity supports Art, Social Studies, Civics, and English Language Arts standards and can be used as a cross-curricular project across these classrooms. Teachers across the curricula are encouraged to work together to bring this activity to life.
Stars and Stripes Forever: Flag Facts for Flag Day
Students will learn what a symbol is and how this particular symbol—the American flag—is an important part of our everyday lives. Learning the history of the flag will help instill in students respect for our national symbol and help them learn appropriate etiquette regarding our flag. Students will learn that other symbols of our country, such as the president and certain holidays, like Flag Day, are important to us as well. Students can also contribute symbols from their familial, ethnic and national cultures to show the diversity of American society and its links to other parts of the world.