Timely resources to help K-12 educators encourage social responsibility and foster social & emotional learning. Find out more.
TeachableMoment Lessons
Featured Lessons
A collection of activities and strategies designed for exploring and discussing current events with elementary-age children.
A collection of lessons, tips and videos—solid concrete ideas about how you can integrate restorative practices into your classroom this fall, or anytime!
A listing of novels that take a positive, visionary approach to the subject of climate change, focusing on fighting and adapting to climate change. Includes discussion questions.
SEL & RP
Activities to support students' social and emotional learning and restorative practices
Current Issues
Classroom activities to engage students in learning about and discussing issues in the news
Tips & Ideas
Guidance and inspiration to help build skills and community in your classroom and school
Filter TeachableMoment Lessons By:
The Bush administration's secret surveillance program, launched soon after 9/11, is the source of a lasting controversy, including a fight over the Protect America Act. Two student
What did the framers say about presidential power and why? How would the presidential candidates use this power?
Students consider official testimony and reports measuring the progress--or lack of it--in Iraq.
Includes an array of action opportunities for students.
Three student readings explore background on Guantanamo, the use of presidential power, the legal and physical treatment of detainees, and the facility's future. Discussion
Two student readings consider the controversy over charges that the U.S. is sending terrorism suspects to other countries where they are held in secret prisons and sometimes
A preliminary exercise aims to provoke student interest in the Morse v. Frederick student freedom of speech case. Two student readings, discussion questions, and a student roleplay
Two student readings examine the "signing statements" Bush has attached to various pieces of legislation, including the the Detainee Treatment Act. Are they constitutional?
Are our telephone calls and e-mails part of the secret surveillance program inaugurated by President Bush after 9/11? Two student readings and several suggested activities explore
Filter TeachableMoment Lessons By:
The holidays are not always a joyful occasion, especially for those facing hardship or stress. In this activity, students share their feelings about the upcoming holidays and
Students create a web and define the word "resilience," read a blog about the resilience of one Brooklyn school community that was hit by Hurricane Sandy, and consider what being
Students learn about "demographics" and exit polls, examine exit polls from the 2012 election, and create their own school poll.
Students discuss two related issues and their impact on voters: the election's focus on ""swing states"" and the winner-take-all Electoral College system. Students discuss these
Students talk about the 2012 election and President Obama's statement in his acceptance speech that "democracy does not end with our vote." Students then consider the issues that
We offer suggestions to introduce the topic of Hurricane Sandy in the classroom and ideas on ways to teach about it, with links to helpful articles and resources.