Maxine Phillips

Students untangle facts and myths about Thanksgiving through reading, discussion, and roleplaying through tweets.   

Through reading, discussion, and small group activities, students learn about three relatively unknown women in the civil rights movement: Diane Nash, Virginia Durr, and Claudette Colvin.    

In small groups and class discussion, students share knowledge about Christopher Columbus and his voyages, learn about the impact of Columbus, and consider some ecological and political results of the encounter 

Students learn about the history of discrimination against LGBTQ people in the U.S., and about why June is Gay Pride Month. They explore gay rights movement history, learn about LGBTQ trailblazers, and consider the important role of allies. 

Students learn about the history and importance of play, and consider games, good and bad.

When disaster strikes, we want to help. But how? In this lesson, students learn about the factors that contribute to natural disasters, and consider what we might do about them. 

Students learn about the Nobel Peace Prize and the 2013 winner, learn about and discuss the controversy over this year's prize, and make their own nominations for the 2014 prize.

The widely hailed documentary about a French teacher and his elementary class is a paean to conformity, says reviewer Maxine Phillips.