• Lesson 1: Where Is the Lost City?
• Lesson 2: Evidence for Atlantis

• Lesson 1: The Birth of the Modern Olympics
• Lesson 2: Olympic Tribulations

• Lesson 1: A New Home in the Stars
• Lesson 2: Why Explore the Universe?

• Lesson 1: Metaphors in The Lord of the Rings
• Lesson 2: The Creator of Middle Earth

• Lesson 1: Buddhist Economics
• Lesson 2: Anti-Globalization: Problems and Solutions

• Lesson 1: Healthy, Wealthy and Wise
• Lesson 2: Money Isn’t Everything

• Lesson 1: Where Did They Go?
• Lesson 2: An Explosive End?

• Lesson 1: Lucky Accidents
• Lesson 2: The Mystery of Oak Island

• Lesson 1: The Battle of Agincourt
• Lesson 2: Band of Brothers

• Lesson 1: An Ancient and Modern University
• Lesson 2: The Growth of Asian Universities

• Lesson 1: Island Biogeography
• Lesson 2: How Many Species Become Extinct Each Year?

• Lesson 1: I Love Your Wings!
• Lesson 2: Making Outcasts

Lesson 1: Where Is the Lost City?

The reading in this lesson introduces the Greek philosophers Socrates and Plato and the story of the lost city of Atlantis. Students may have heard about other lost cities, some of which have been found, like Machu Picchu in Peru and Pompeii in Italy. Ask students to research and report on these and other lost cities.

Lesson 2: Evidence for Atlantis

The reading in this lesson introduces the scientific search for Atlantis, focusing on the Greek island of Thera. Ask students to investigate this or another archaeological dig and report to the class.

Lesson 1: The Birth of the Modern Olympics

The reading in this lesson introduces the history and early importance of the Olympics and their modern revival by Pierre de Coubertin. Ask students to research a local Olympic athlete and write then share a short biography.

Lesson 2: Olympic Tribulations

The reading in this lesson introduces some of the problems the Olympics have endured, including widespread cheating at the earliest Olympics. Ask students to make a list of the many positive benefits that hosting the Olympics brings to a city.

Lesson 1: A New Home in the Stars

The reading in this lesson is a letter to the editor promoting a museum and space exploration. Ask students to write a list of the reasons why people should explore space.

Lesson 2: Why Explore the Universe?

The reading in this lesson is a letter that takes the opposite point of view of the letter in Lesson 1; it challenges ideas about progress and space exploration and suggests the money would be better spent elsewhere. Have students make a list of all the world’s major problems and rank them in order of most- and least-deserving of attention.

Lesson 1: Metaphors in The Lord of the Rings

The reading in this lesson introduces the trilogy of novels The Lord of the Rings and explains that it includes metaphors, such as the struggle between good and evil. Ask students to look at another famous book they know and examine any metaphors that it might have.

Lesson 2: The Creator of Middle Earth

The reading in this lesson gives the biography of the author of The Lord of the Rings, J. R. R. Tolkien. Biographies of famous writers are often as interesting as the stories they write. Ask students to summarize the biography of another famous writer they know.

Lesson 1: Buddhist Economics

The reading in this lesson introduces the concept of Buddhist Economics, which is not based on everyone always trying to earn and spend as much as they can. Ask students to make a list of ten things that would make them happy and the cost of each one.

Lesson 2: Anti-Globalization: Problems and Solutions

The reading in this lesson introduces the idea of globalization and some of the problems with anti-globalization protesters. Ask students to research globalization and report to the class on some local products that are now sold internationally.

Lesson 1: Healthy, Wealthy and Wise

The reading in this lesson discusses different aspects of wealth. Ask students to imagine that they have a million dollars to donate to a good cause, such as a charity. What cause do they think would have the greatest benefit? Why?

Lesson 2: Money Isn’t Everything

The reading in this lesson explores the relationship between money and happiness. Ask students to make a list of the ten things that make them happiest and decide which ones depend on money.

Lesson 1: Where Did They Go?

The reading in this lesson discusses the history of fossil hunting and introduces several theories about how dinosaurs disappeared. There are many famous dinosaur hunters, including young Mary Anning. Ask students to research and report on one of these dinosaur hunters.

Lesson 2: An Explosive End?

The reading in this lesson introduces other popular theories about how dinosaurs died. Ask students to research and report on one of the theories and decide which one sounds most likely.

Lesson 1: Lucky Accidents

The reading in this lesson consists of four stories of lost treasure in England, the Middle East, China and the Philippines. Ask students to research further about one of these treasures and find out more details about the story.

Lesson 2: The Mystery of Oak Island

The reading in this lesson introduces the mystery of Oak Island. The mystery continues and people are still looking for treasure there. Students may use the Internet to look for the latest information on what is being done.

Lesson 1: The Battle of Agincourt

The reading in this lesson explains the Battle of Agincourt, one of the great battles of the medieval age. Ask students to research another great battle and explain how it might have changed history.

Lesson 2: Band of Brothers

The reading in this lesson introduces the same story of the Battle of Agincourt but in William Shakespeare’s retelling of it in his play Henry V. Encourage students to read and perform a scene or two of the play. The full text is easily available on the Internet.

Lesson 1: An Ancient and Modern University

The reading in this lesson introduces Oxford University, the oldest English-speaking university in the world. Ask students to research the history of a local university and the people involved in setting it up.

Lesson 2: The Growth of Asian Universities

The reading in this lesson introduces Asian universities with their roots in China and explains how they differed from European universities. Ask students to make a list of what might be different between local and international universities. Students can look up university home pages on the Internet.

Lesson 1: Island Biogeography

The reading in this lesson introduces the idea of biogeography as it relates to the extinction of different animal and plant species. Ask students to research about one of the many creatures, such as the dodo or passenger pigeon, which have gone extinct over the past few hundred years.

Lesson 2: How Many Species Become Extinct Each Year?

The reading in this lesson introduces arguments against extinction predictions and the disappearance of natural resources. Ask students to imagine what would happen if the world suddenly ran out of a major commodity such as oil and report to the class.

Lesson 1: I Love Your Wings!

The reading in this lesson introduces the idea of body enhancements through plastic surgery, from extra thumbs to wings. Ask students to make a list of the ways people now artificially change their appearances.

Lesson 2: Making Outcasts

The reading in this lesson is an argument against people who decorate their bodies to excess with tattoos and body implants. Ask students to make predictions about what people might look like in a few years if these trends continue. For example, people may soon insert lights under their skin so they glow at night.