Social
Studies Lessons for High School is designed for social studies
teachers to use with their government and history courses. It was developed
in response to a shift in education throughout our country: a move away
from rote memorization and toward the critical thinking skills necessary
for many of the new performance assessment programs.
Each lesson will enable teachers to teach seven specific critical thinking
skills in a step-by-step process. The information has been adapted for
old media and new media formats. Web sites will be provided that will
allow teachers to choose the most appropriate resource for the selected
activity. All selections can be copied for classroom use. Teachers may
adapt activities to allow students to complete assignments via the web.
Robert
O. Black is a social studies teacher at the Harbor City Learning Center,
and former Teachers Network web mentor.
 |
Issue
Analysis Lesson |
 |
 |
Introduction
This lesson is included because of the many public issues that students will encounter in a government course. Have students practice frequently with the template using issues they find in newspaper articles, weekly news magazines, or in the following web sites.
Sample Web Sites
Time Magazine
Baltimore Sun Paper
ABC News
CNN News
NY Times
USA Today
The lesson plan and sample student response sheet were developed to match:
Standard
Students will evaluate the impact of governmental decisions and actions that have affected the rights of individuals and groups and have affected the maintenance of order and/or safety.
Indicator
Students will use evidence and/or reason to support or refute ideas, issues, or positions.
Below is the issue summary on the Helmet Law that students will use in this lesson. Make an overhead transparency or individual student copies.
| This year the state government will review the controversial state law requiring that helmets be worn by all motorcycle riders. After hearing testimony from interested groups, legislators are expected to vote on whether or not to renew this law. |
