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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.

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Activities

Early African Civilizations and Cultures

History and Society, Literacy

Grades 3 - 8

Early African Civilizations and Cultures

Pulitzer Center

3 - 8

1 Hour

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 CulturesHistory and Society, Literacy
1 HourGrades 3 - 8

Hate Speech vs. Free Speech

History and Society, Literacy

Grades 6 - 8

Hate Speech vs. Free Speech

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

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 SpeechHistory and Society, Literacy
45 MinutesGrades 6 - 8

Character Mash-Up (Grades 9-12)

Arts, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

Character Mash-Up (Grades 9-12)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

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
45 MinutesGrades 9 - 12

What Makes a Good Interview? (Student Reporting Labs)

Digital Media and Communications, Literacy

Grades 6 - 12

What Makes a Good Interview? (Student Reporting Labs)

PBS

6 - 12

50 Minutes

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
50 MinutesGrades 6 - 12

Free Speech for Students

History and Society, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

Free Speech for Students

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

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 StudentsHistory and Society, Literacy
45 MinutesGrades 9 - 12

Tricky Conversations (Grades 9-12)

Social and Emotional Awareness, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

Tricky Conversations (Grades 9-12)

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

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
45 MinutesGrades 9 - 12

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

Literacy, Arts

Grades 9 - 12

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

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

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
45 MinutesGrades 9 - 12

Research and Understanding (Student Reporting Labs)

Digital Media and Communications, Literacy

Grades 6 - 12

Research and Understanding (Student Reporting Labs)

PBS

6 - 12

50 Minutes

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
50 MinutesGrades 6 - 12

Journey in Time: Campaigns

History and Society, Literacy

Grades 9 - 12

Journey in Time: Campaigns

Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45 Minutes

Students read, analyze, and discuss news reports from the same event—the New Hampshire primary—for 4 different presidential campaigns.

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Journey in Time: CampaignsHistory and Society, Literacy
45 MinutesGrades 9 - 12

Superhero Lair Part 1

Literacy, Arts

Grades K - 5

Superhero Lair Part 1

OregonASK

K - 5

45 Minutes

Students read books about superheroes and make superhero lair.

This activity is a part 3 of a 5 activity series: Creating a Superhero, Creating Superhero Suits, Superhero Lair Part 1, Superhero Lair Part 2, and Superhero Comics.

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Superhero Lair Part 1Literacy, Arts
45 MinutesGrades K - 5

Journey in Time: Searching World War II Primary Sources

History and Society, Literacy

Grades 3 - 5

Journey in Time: Searching World War II Primary Sources

Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45 Minutes

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 SourcesHistory and Society, Literacy
45 MinutesGrades 3 - 5

Public Speaking: Wrap it Up

Literacy, Digital Media and Communications

Grades 6 - 8

Public Speaking: Wrap it Up

Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45 Minutes

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

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Public Speaking: Wrap it UpLiteracy, Digital Media and Communications
45 MinutesGrades 6 - 8

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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.