In this lesson, junior high students consider two instances of exponential population growth--one at the local community level and one at the world level--as a way of illuminating some of the problems posed by growth and the limits that may curtail it. (RM)

This simulation helps students in grades four to eight see their planet as one environment with limited resources shared by all. Students learn that the earth is a large system comprised of small systems, that systems are interdependent and often have irreplaceable parts, and that resources are not equally divided among countries. (RM)

These activity cards represent a way for teachers to supplement the content of the curriculum with activities that address the concept of conflict. Students become aware of conflicts in their lives and discover individual methods for coping with those conflicts. The cards contain action-oriented activities to enable students to learn through…

Intended to challenge students in grades 4-9 to deal creatively and constructively with conflict, this interdisciplinary resource book contains 40 reproducible student worksheets that can be incorporated into social studies, science, and language arts curricula. Teaching techniques include modeling, mediation, problem-solving, brainstorming, role…

Ten lessons on the evolution of the nuclear arms race, the nature and consequences of using nuclear weapons, and new ways that conflicts among nations might be resolved are presented for the junior high school level. The unit contains age-appropriate materials to equip students with skills and knowledge to understand what choices can be made to…

These learning activities will help children in grades 1-8 learn about issues concerning nuclear war and disarmament and help them develop their own framework for decision making in the nuclear age. The introduction discusses curriculum objectives and the procedures for implementing the curriculum. A sample letter to parents and instruments for…

Having a twofold purpose, this booklet serves as an instructional guide for teachers and as a text for junior high students. Emphasis is upon students learning to think reflectively about major issues facing a Democratic society and to analyze various claims that they read and hear everyday in the world around them. An objective of the study is to…

This booklet presents four different scenarios of conflict from United States history. Students take on the roles of some of the characters in the conflicts to learn the differing viewpoints of the situations. Each simulation presents five sections: "background information"; "meet the people"; "investigator…

Student activity pages, teacher background information, and lesson ideas for teaching about law in social studies classrooms are presented. The first section, "Law and Alabama History," focuses on law at the state level. Included are a brief history of Alabama's court system and prison system, a summary of rules for safe driving, a law…

This document is the final component of a K-eighth-grade program on crime resistance. Major objectives of the program are to help teachers promote and maintain positive student attitudes and behavior, assist students in meeting their responsibilities, and help students insure their own and other people's safety and welfare. Specific objectives of…

This teacher's guide provides 10 interactive lesson plans to educate youth about the consequences of violence. The lessons explore the different kinds of violence in society, conflict resolution through mediation, the behaviors that constitute sexual harassment, statistics on violence, ways to avoid domestic violence and the use of deadly force,…

Vulnerability to crime is examined in this seventh-grade component of a teacher-developed K-eighth grade crime resistance education program. The description of the entire program, which introduces this component, states that major objectives are to promote and maintain positive student attitudes and behavior, assist students in meeting…

A creative reading comprehension activity developed for multi-grade (6-8) English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) social studies classes is described. The activity was developed as part of a project integrating language and culture in social studies instruction. Researchers worked with an ESL teacher and a social studies teacher to create a series of…

Students, grades 7 through 9, will examine and hopefully gain understanding of the process for effecting change within the structure of a Democratic society in this quinmester course of study. Focus is upon the reasons, limits, methods, and effectiveness of American dissent bringing about social change. The responsibility of citizenship in a…

This study of the effort and failures to maintain world peace in this century is intended as an elective, quinmester course for grades 7 through 9. It encompasses the concept of nationalism and the role it plays in the decisions that lead to war, and organizations that have tried and are trying to preserve or bring about peace. Among other goals…