PBS Logo NPR Logo
Public Media for Central Pennsylvania

Monthly Activities for Grades 9-12

August 2023

August has the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People (Aug 9). Celebrate the Indigenous people and cultures of our world with us this month. We’ve curated resources to use in your classroom related to this observance and more. Explore these PBS LearningMedia resources on these topics to incorporate into your classroom or home:

A Black woman with glasses in a printed red top holds a microphone.

Arts: Angels Sang to Me

AJ Isaacson-Zvidzwa is a BIPOC woman, violist, composer, and musicologist who lives with mental illness. AJ wrote the song cycle, Angels Sang to Me, for a soprano and string quartet to explore her journey with mental illness.

Suggested for Grades 9 to 12

Explore this Activity »

 

A graphic of a monster in the forefront and the scientist, Frankenstein, in a white apron in the background.

English Language Arts: Frankenstein Is More Horrific than You Might Think

Now celebrating its 200th anniversary, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was a revolutionary text that pioneered the sci-fi genre. On the surface, it’s a novel about a scary monster, but the sympathetic description of a soulful creature makes us rethink the label.

Suggested for Grades 9 to 12

Explore this Activity »

 

Several teenager silhouettes with one disolving

Health & PE: Hiding in Plain Sight

Ken Burns Presents Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness, A film by Erik Ewers and Christopher Loren Ewers follows the journeys of more than 20 young Americans from all over the country and all walks of life, who have struggled with thoughts and feelings that have troubled—and, at times—overwhelmed them. Hiding in Plain Sight […]

Suggested for Grades 9 to 12

Explore this Activity »

 

Math: Cryptology Files

Learners take on the role of cryptologists to decode clues using pre-algebraic substitution and order of operations. Can you crack the code and stop an international smuggling ring? The activity integrates geography and mathematics, and is best for grades 8 – 12.

Suggested for Grades 9 to 12

Explore this Activity »

 

A man with a mask snipped in front of the Washington Capital building

Media Literacy: Misinformation Nation Collection

Scientific information is shared through the news, advertisements, and social media platforms by sources with differing intentions and levels of expertise. Unfortunately, science misinformation, information that contradicts what established science tells us to be true, can mislead and confuse people and potentially endanger their health and wellbeing. Learn the science behind why misinformation is shared, […]

Suggested for Grades 9 to 12

Explore this Activity »

 

Science: Achievements of Stephen Hawking

In this lesson, students learn about Stephen Hawking – his personal history, his struggle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), his thought processes and how he developed his groundbreaking ideas about Black Holes, the Big Bang, and the discovery of Hawking Radiation.

Suggested for Grades 9 to 12

Explore this Activity »

 

He's My Brother

Social Studies: He’s My Brother – Disability, Differences, and Possibility

Individuals with developmental disabilities and their families often endure deficits in social services they receive. He’s My Brother tells the story of a close-knit family impacted by this deficit as they are faced with considering the future wellbeing of eldest sibling, Peter, who was born deafblind. Peter requires intensive daily support, not only to get […]

Suggested for Grades 9 to 12

Explore this Activity »

 

World Languages: Diversity in Latino Culture

In this interactive lesson, students explore the rich diversity within Latino culture using WGBY’s bilingual program Presencia. The lesson explores the variety found within Latino food, music, and art and introduces individuals who honor and celebrate their culture. Students build their vocabulary with Spanish words and expressions and grow in their appreciation of how diversity […]

Suggested for Grades 9 to 12

Explore this Activity »