Resource Library

This lesson will introduce students to the geographic features of the Indian Ocean and the critical role of the monsoon in determining maritime trading patterns before the 16th century. Students will research various historic ports along the borders of the Indian Ocean and determine possible ways that local rulers attracted merchants.

American Field Guide is an online program of PBS that provides access to outdoors programming content and accompanying materials. Their Teacher Resources section provides lesson plans that weave segments of video together into units of inquiry around specific topics. Topics include economic use of natural areas, the rock cycle, landfills, prairie habitats and many others.

This activity explores the coffee industry through economics. A fun "Coffee Dollar" activity has students allocate portions of a theoretical dollar to the different workers involved in the coffee industry, from the grower to the retailer.

Students will examine the complexity of large-scale, slave-worked agricultural enterprises, the origins of rice production and the role it played in the economy of the antebellum South, and how before "cotton was king," the plantation system had already been producing crops such as rice, indigo and tobacco. Teaching materials include maps, readings, photos and drawings.

Students examine the basic purpose and work of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the involvement of African Americans in the CCC. They focus on issues such as the benefits gained and problems faced by African Americans who worked in the CCC and the attitude and approach of different New Deal officials towards the black men in the CCC.

This New York Times article explores how the surge in electricity-consuming gadgets, including cellphones, iPods and personal computers, has led to greater energy consumption. The article also discusses the role of the government, industry and trade organizations on energy usage.

Students will learn about the environmental, economic and political issues surrounding global climate change policy and will specifically compare the emissions of the U.S. and China, the two largest producers of emissions that cause global warming.

The "e²"-television series from PBS focused on three main topics: transportation, energy and design. Resources for teachers include video from the episodes with pre- and post-viewing discussion questions. There are also extension activities to help students explore each topic more deeply by conducting their own research and applying their knowledge to real-world situations.

In this lesson students will learn that there is more to music than the musicians; the quality and craftsmanship of the instruments are also important. After examining the craftsmanship of high-quality acoustic guitars and discussing the importance of behind the scenes music careers, students will turn their attention to how instrument production affects local and international economies and ecologies.

Using the Nebraska rangeland as an example, students will explore the concept of public lands. Students will learn the intended use of public lands and the conflicts that arise among users by examining the history, politics and science of range management. The lesson plan includes reading, group discussion and activity, research and a reflective paper.