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Literacy

549 Activities

Literacy

Words carry power, so let’s use them to make an impact! Learners build voice and communication skills through reading, writing, poetry, journalism, and public speaking. They also explore self-expression and the stories of others.

Activities

Hate Speech vs. Free Speech

History and Society • Literacy

45m

Grades 6 - 8

Hate Speech vs. Free Speech

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45m

In this activity, students will discover that the First Amendment guarantees Americans the right to free speech but that not all speech is protected. They will define the concept of hate speech, explain when it is protected, and explain when the government can step in to limit it. Students will analyze different real-life situations to determine if hate speech should be protected and explaining their reasoning to the whole group.

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Hate Speech vs. Free Speech
History and Society • Literacy
45mGrades 6 - 8

Early African Civilizations and Cultures

History and Society • Literacy

1h

Grades 3 - 8

Early African Civilizations and Cultures

By Pulitzer Center

3 - 8

1h

In this activity, students exercise their research and presentation skills while learning about the cultures of early African civilizations. Facilitators will model inquiry and research by co-creating a presentation on the kingdom of Ndongo, featured in the picture book Born on the Water, with the whole group. Students will then complete their own inquiry into an early African civilization and share their learning with their peers.

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Early African Civilizations and Cultures
History and Society • Literacy
1hGrades 3 - 8

Research and Understanding (Student Reporting Labs)

Digital Media and Communications • Literacy

50m

Grades 6 - 12

Research and Understanding (Student Reporting Labs)

By PBS

6 - 12

50m

Students will identify what they know and don’t know about their story’s topic. Once students know what they don’t know, they will use curiosity to guide research that will result in better developed stories.

This is activity 8 of 16 in the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs Module. Visit the Module to learn more before getting started.

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Research and Understanding (Student Reporting Labs)
Digital Media and Communications • Literacy
50mGrades 6 - 12

Improvisation: Fictional Characters in Daily Life (Grades 9-12)

Literacy • Arts

45m

Grades 9 - 12

Improvisation: Fictional Characters in Daily Life (Grades 9-12)

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45m

Students improvise skits to show how fictional characters might respond to everyday situations and challenges. This activity demonstrates how fiction can differ from real life.

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Improvisation: Fictional Characters in Daily Life (Grades 9-12)
Literacy • Arts
45mGrades 9 - 12

Free Speech for Students

History and Society • Literacy

45m

Grades 9 - 12

Free Speech for Students

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45m

In this activity, students will review the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, focusing on freedom of speech. They will learn that this freedom is a cornerstone of American culture and democracy, and it extends to students at school. Students will evaluate Tinker v. Des Moines along with a present-day case focusing on students’ first amendment rights.

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Free Speech for Students
History and Society • Literacy
45mGrades 9 - 12

Tricky Conversations (Grades 9-12)

Social and Emotional Awareness • Literacy

45m

Grades 9 - 12

Tricky Conversations (Grades 9-12)

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45m

Teens may struggle to talk about a wide variety of personal subjects with parents, teachers, peers, and siblings. In this activity, teens will role-play a variety of conversation topics and evaluate their performances. (Note that the activity incorporates subjects such as honesty, friendship, academic achievement, and general health and wellness. However, it excludes controversial and emotionally sensitive subjects, such as sexuality and gender identity.)

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Tricky Conversations (Grades 9-12)
Social and Emotional Awareness • Literacy
45mGrades 9 - 12

What Makes a Good Interview? (Student Reporting Labs)

Digital Media and Communications • Literacy

50m

Grades 6 - 12

What Makes a Good Interview? (Student Reporting Labs)

By PBS

6 - 12

50m

Preparation and practice are the keys to a successful interview and amazing story. This lesson uses a famous art project, Humans of New York, to reverse-engineer good interview questions and techniques.

Before you write your own interview questions, understand your goal: to get soundbites that connect with your audience, illuminate the topic and move your story forward.

This is activity 10 of 16 in the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs Module. Visit the Module to learn more before getting started.

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What Makes a Good Interview? (Student Reporting Labs)
Digital Media and Communications • Literacy
50mGrades 6 - 12

Character Mash-Up (Grades 9-12)

Arts • Literacy

45m

Grades 9 - 12

Character Mash-Up (Grades 9-12)

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45m

In this activity, students choose well-known characters from books, movies, and other media. Then, they form groups of 3 to plan and perform a short skit about the character.

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Character Mash-Up (Grades 9-12)
Arts • Literacy
45mGrades 9 - 12

Visualizing the Legacy of Slavery: Gallery Walk and Quote Museum

History and Society • Literacy

45m

Grades 6 - 12

Visualizing the Legacy of Slavery: Gallery Walk and Quote Museum

By Pulitzer Center

6 - 12

45m

Students will learn about the ways in which slavery’s legacy persists in U.S. systems and society by examining images and text in an engaging gallery walk activity. They will also practice visually communicating tone and information to others by creating a group “quote museum.”

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Visualizing the Legacy of Slavery: Gallery Walk and Quote Museum
History and Society • Literacy
45mGrades 6 - 12

Create Your Life Vision

Social and Emotional Awareness • Literacy

45m

Grades 9 - 12

Create Your Life Vision

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45m

A vision board or poster can help people visualize what their ideal life would look like, which is considered an essential goal-setting step in finding true success. Students form a deeper understanding of their needs for a balanced, happy, and healthy life.

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Create Your Life Vision
Social and Emotional Awareness • Literacy
45mGrades 9 - 12

Public Speaking: Wrap it Up

Literacy • Digital Media and Communications

45m

Grades 6 - 8

Public Speaking: Wrap it Up

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45m

Students compete to make the most engaging summary, or wrap-up, for a presentation.

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Public Speaking: Wrap it Up
Literacy • Digital Media and Communications
45mGrades 6 - 8

Journey in Time: Searching World War II Primary Sources

History and Society • Literacy

45m

Grades 3 - 5

Journey in Time: Searching World War II Primary Sources

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45m

Students search primary sources on a scavenger hunt for information on the 1930s and 1940s, the era of World War II.

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Journey in Time: Searching World War II Primary Sources
History and Society • Literacy
45mGrades 3 - 5

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Copyright © 2026, Mizzen Education, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to empower, uplift and support out-of-school time educators.

Copyright © 2026, Mizzen Education, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to empower, uplift and support out-of-school time educators.