Timely resources to help K-12 educators encourage social responsibility and foster social & emotional learning. Find out more.
TeachableMoment Lessons
Featured Lessons
26 prompts with accompanying graphics, providing you with enough opportunities for connection and engagement for every weekday in a month (and a few extras!).
Six classroom activities focused on sharing appreciations and gratitude that you can use this month, or anytime!
A collection of tips, strategies and lessons to help you focus on community care in your classrooms; ensure all students feel heard; and address current events in your class.
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
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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
Three student readings offer a case study of what happened to one mentally ill prisoner; a summary of a critical report on America's prisons; and some additional facts and figures
The controversy over Don Imus opened a discussion that deserves students' consideration. A student reading offers samples from TV, radio, the record industry and other media
The controversy over the ex-radio host's comments is an opportunity to consider racism and sexism in our society. Two student readings with suggestions for discussion, writing &
The proposed Employee Free Choice Act makes this a teachable moment for students: why is union membership declining in this country? Is organizing too difficult? A document-based
Three readings, all based on Jonathan Schell's book The Unconquerable World: Power, Nonviolence, and the Will of the People, invite students to learn about, discuss, and act upon
Two student readings examine, compare, and provide commentary on the U.S. wars in Vietnam and Iraq. Suggested discussion questions, writing assignments, and subjects for inquiry
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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.
Talking with children about current events can be rough terrain but it's important because it provides a way to build compassion and critical thinking and, at the same time
Students discuss the most important issues for them in the presidential election and research these issues as homework. Then they stage a mock debate with teams playing the roles
Students discuss the history of voting rights and the current push to restrict voting, including the arguments for and against.