Get ready to celebrate Banned Books Week!

Students brainstorm reasons why certain books might have been banned and discuss common reasons why books are challenged.

Grades   7 – 12

Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, was integrated in 1957.

After viewing some footage from the actual event, students jot down thoughts and feelings of the Little Rock Nine. Students then write a bio-poem that might have been written by one of these students on this historic day.

Grades   9 – 12

F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, was born in 1896.

After reading The Great Gatsby, students work in pairs, select a chapter from the novel, and rewrite it from the point of view of a different character.

Grades   9 – 12

John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, was born in 1775.

Students use the Timeline Tool to organize details about Chapman's life, the Venn Diagram to organize information, and the Shape Poems Interactive to create poems about apples or Johnny Appleseed.

Grades   3 – 8

Thomas Nast was born on this day in 1840.

Students explore free speech issues, search the newspaper or Internet to create a list of current events, and draw original political cartoons.

Grades   9 – 12

Scotland Yard was established this day in 1829.

Students explore the resources on the Scotland Yard website and compare the advice given to London's citizens to the advice available from the local police department.

Grades   9 – 12