The Focused Topics program offers a collection of flexible, topic-focused Units designed to address issues that matter to students today. Each Unit can be delivered independently, making it easy for teachers to integrate content on a flexible basis to meet emerging classroom needs.
Within these Units, you will find lessons that utilize collaborative learning strategies, purposeful discussions, kinesthetic movement, and/or engaging group activities.
The current Units within this Program include:
Where to Find Units in the Focused Topics Program?
Within the Programs menu of your Open Parachute account, locate Focused Topics:
Eco-Anxiety
This four-lesson unit has been designed for fourth to sixth-graders to help them deeply understand how eco-anxiety (worrying about our planet) can be transformed into proactive, real-world actions. In this unit, students will learn to recognize their own eco-anxiety, dive into both thought-changing and action-based coping strategies, and develop a plan for activism to build a better future for themselves and each other. Upon completing the unit, students will have a clear understanding that they can make a lasting impact with their thoughts, choices, and actions!
What Is Included in the Unit?
The four lessons can be implemented in sequential order or in isolation, depending on your student's diverse needs and available time. Each lesson is between 17- 20 minutes long and requires little to no materials. These four lessons can also be implemented without using technology.
The four lessons in this unit include:
Understanding Eco-Anxiety
Thought-Changing Strategies for Eco-Anxiety
Action-Based Strategies for Eco-Anxiety
Turning Eco-Anxiety into Eco-Action
Social Media Awareness
This four-lesson unit helps students in Grades 4-6 develop the awareness and skills needed to navigate social media responsibly, safely, and respectfully.
The lessons focus on helping students understand the many purposes of social media and the different ways people use various platforms to communicate and share information. The lessons highlight the concept of long-term digital footprints, encouraging students to think critically about how their online words and actions can shape their reputation over time. The unit also emphasizes the importance of empathy and kindness in digital spaces, giving students practical strategies for responding to negative interactions in healthy and constructive ways.
What Is Included in the Unit?
The four lessons can be implemented in sequential order or in isolation, depending on your students' diverse needs and available time. Each lesson is approximately 30 minutes long and contains handouts designed to support student learning.
The four lessons in this unit include:
*Please note, you must be logged in to access lessons.
When and why might you utilize this social media mini unit?
This unit can be implemented at any point in the school year when students are actively engaging with digital tools or show an increased interest in using social media. This mini-unit could be especially valuable for students to explore at the start of the school year, before extended school breaks or holidays, or even after a specific online behavior incident. Each lesson is short and flexible, so teachers can deliver the full mini-unit over a few weeks or select specific lessons to meet the organic needs of the classroom.