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Lesson Plan
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

Crack the Case: History's Toughest Mysteries

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Young sleuths don their trench coats, tip their fedoras, and grab their notepads to investigate one of four famous unsolved mysteries. After examining multiple primary and secondary sources related to their cold case, they propose a...
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Activity
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

Famous American Research Project

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd Standards
Designed specifically for lower elementary pupils, this is a great biographical research project in whichĀ studentsĀ research aĀ famous American, and then design creative poster boards to help them "become" the famous American they have...
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Lesson Plan
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

Analyzing Early American Figures: Analyzing History

For Teachers 8th Standards
Who were they? High school freshmen brush up on their research skills by investigating an important person in American history. They select a name, fill out a KWHL chart, and research why their person is important. Scholars then complete...
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Lesson Plan
2
2
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

Native Resistance: Native Resistance Then and Now

For Teachers 8th - 11th Standards
Native Americans lost so much—and gained so little in return. Scholars explore Native Americans' resistance to the United States government. The instructional activity uses primary sources to explore the different forms of protest and...
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Lesson Plan
2
2
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

Fighting For Freedom: The Stono Rebellion and Free Frank McWhorter

For Teachers 8th - 11th Standards
Travel back in time to the Stono Rebellion. Young historians research historical figures who played a role in African Americans' fight to escape slavery. Scholars research material, complete handouts, participate in group discussion, and...
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Unit Plan
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

Scientists Who Changed the World

For Teachers 2nd - 5th Standards
Class members investigate a scientist whose discoveries changed the world. They craft interview questions and develop a script for a mock interview with the famous scientist that captures their personality and their discoveries.
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Interactive
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

Where Was the New Deal?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young historians delve into the origin of federal social programs to understand the impact of the New Deal. An informative activity explores some of the New Deal programs, such as the Civilian Conservation Corp, using historical...
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Interactive
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

The School Lunch Program and the Federal Government

For Teachers 6th - 12th
The school lunch program is rooted in the struggles of the Great Depression and is still assisting families today. Academics research documents and images relating to the creation of the school lunch program. Scholars use a worksheet to...
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Lesson Plan
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

House History Comes Alive

For Teachers 7th - 12th
How reliable is oral history?. The resource uses the oral history website to help academics understand the pros and cons of using the recollections to teach others. Scholars complete a worksheet, draft a letter to representative, and...
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Interactive
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

Indian Nations vs. Settlers on the American Frontier: 1786–1788

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Once Americans won the Revolutionary War, their quest to gain land did not end. An interesting activity focuses on Americans' expansion into the frontier following the war and how it conflicted with Native Americans living in the area....
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Activity
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

Listen Up! PSA for Change

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Challenge scholars to speak up about a topic by creating a public service announcement or social media blitz about an issue they feel passionate about. Have them research their issues, then decide the best way to take their messages to...
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Lesson Plan
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

Creating Civil War Multimedia

For Teachers 6th - 10th Standards
What was it like to live through the Civil War? Learners investigate the question by creating multimedia presentations. With a scaffolded approach that includes research, creating a biopic poem, storyboard, and then polished multimedia...
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Lesson Plan
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

Famous Historical Figures Lesson Plan: Who Am I?

For Teachers K - 12th Standards
History detectives select a famous person to research, fill a bag with items associated with their subject, then ask class members to guess the historical figure represented by the artifacts.
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Website
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

What's the Big Idea About Archeology

For Students 4th - 8th
The American Museum of Natural History offers a website sure to engage young anthropologists. Learners can dig into a site that offers an explanation of the field of archaeology, the kinds of questions archaeologists ask that launch...
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Lesson Plan
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

Ambitious Women Artists at Work

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Ambition is the keyword of a lesson that focuses on the contributions made by famous female artists. Specifically looking at European artists, Luisa Roldan and Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun, scholars examine a piece of their work then...
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Unit Plan
1
1
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

Grade 11 Literacy in Social Studies: Research Paper

For Teachers 11th Standards
The lesson guides young academics through the steps in producing a 10-page research paper on any topic in American history. Historians begin by formulating a thesis and gathering resources, then move on to creating an outline, and end...
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Lesson Plan
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

An African American Represents Alabama during Reconstruction

For Teachers 4th Standards
The era after the Civil War saw a flourishing of African Americans exercising their rights. Using graphic organizers and Internet research, pupils consider the legacy of Benjamin Sterling Turner, who sat in Congress. Afterward, they...
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Lesson Plan
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

Extranjeros and Expansion

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
A three-part lesson gives light to the Unites States expansion from the view of Texans, New Mexicans, and Californians. Through videos and written activities, scholars work collaboratively to research specific individuals and their...
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Lesson Plan
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

What's In a Name?

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
What is in a name? Eager historians trace the geographical history of places in the United States with Spanish names. Using a worksheet activity, clues, and web research developed in conjunction with the PBS "Latinos in America" series,...
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Activity
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

Black History Month Report

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
As part of Black History Month, class members investigate in depth the life and work of an African American musician.
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Activity
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

The Pied Piper of Hamelin: The Mystery of the Children of Hamelin

For Students 5th - 8th Standards
Which is more likely: 130 children followed a magical piper out of Hamelin and disappeared forever, or that they died of the plague? Or could they haveĀ escaped from Hamelin via a secret tunnel to Transylvania? Learners investigate...
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Unit Plan
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

America's History in the Making: Classroom Applications Two

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Reading between the lines helps discover important information! The 11th lesson of a 22-part series on American history has scholars use historical thinking skills to uncover the deeper meaning behind the words on a page. Using backward...
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Lesson Plan
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

World History Lesson Plan: Uncovering Essential Questions

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Have you ever noticed a news story revolves around an essential question? Scholars research methods of reporting historical events. Working in groups, they use an interactive module to gather information on a historical topic, uncovering...
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Unit Plan
Lesson Planet: Curated OER

America's History in the Making: Using Digital Technologies

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
How can digital technology of today link us to the events of the past? Scholars use technology to uncover the vast number of historical resources available in lesson 12 of a 22-part America's History in the Making series. Using databases...