Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Town Meeting with Class

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students discover civic responsibility and the purpose of town meetings.  In this U.S. Government lesson, students investigate how the government is involved with almost every decision made in a city, no matter how big or small....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let Freedom Ring

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Learners go to the computer lab to engage in this thoughtful lesson on our national symbols. Students access the internet, and solve an on-line puzzle of a national symbol of freedom. The symbols are the Eagle, The Statue of Liberty, The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pets are Popular with U.S. Presidents

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students discuss their pets and read about pets that have lived in the White House. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a vocabulary activity and pet survey, then the students read the news article and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Affects of Environment on Native American Culture

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research the culture of the Native Americans.  For this U.S. History lesson, students are given the major geological areas where the Indians lived prior to the arrival of the Europeans, then they create a notebook that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oral Assessment Plan

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students practice active listening skills.  In this literacy and U.S. history instructional activity, students predict the hardships pioneers using the Mormon Trail might have faced. Students view the movie "Children of the Wagon...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thanks Be To You

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students research U.S. history by completing a worksheet activity in class. In this historical figure lesson, students identify the contributions and risks taken by the former African-American leader Martin Luther King Jr. Students read...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Do Solemnly Swear: Presidential Inaugurations

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students read about the most recent presidential inauguration, and then use primary online resources to answer general and specific questions about U.S. presidential inaugurations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Cents of Independence

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Have your class explore the history of Texas using this comprehensive lesson! They read about Texas' march toward statehood, the Alamo, and more. There is a series of worksheets, graphic organizers, and a rubric which make this activity...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

This Is America! Flag Collage

For Teachers K - 12th
In a visual essay of their thoughts about "What America Means to Me," kids of any age can create a collage about their country. Originally intended to be created physically, learners could share their projects online by using an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Greatest Educational Change America has Ever Seen

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine the history of the penny.  In this Lincoln Bicentennial One Cent teachers guide, students connect the life of President Abraham Lincoln to the 1-cent coin in his honor through a variety of lessons and activities. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life on the Trails

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore U.S. Geography by completing a worksheet. For this west coast geography lesson, 4th graders discuss the Santa Fe and Oregon-California trails and the people who traveled them in the 1800's. Students define...
Lesson Plan
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Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Classroom Paper Recycling

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
After reading about the history and recycling of paper, creative crafters collaborate to think of a new process for making recycled paper. A complete teacher's guide and student worksheets are included. There is no written procedure for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planning A Railroad Online Lesson

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students plan a route across Donner Summit using topographical maps in order to understand the challenges involved in constructing the railroad in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In this history lesson, students first discover how to read...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Effects of WWII on SC

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders compare how the events in the Charleston Harbor affected South Carolinians versus people in other parts of the U.S. In this American history instructional activity, 4th graders watch a video clip, discuss sections of a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Document Based Question: Erie Canal

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders read the provided documents about the Erie Canal to discover the impact that this transportation systems had on the New York community. In this history lesson, 4th graders first analyze the documents and answer the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Presidential Bookmarks

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research a U.S. president of their choice. They create bookmarks that include basic facts about and a photograph of the selected president. Students print and trade their bookmarks with their peers.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraits: Grades 3-5

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the contributions of African Americans of the 20th century. In this African American history lesson, students examine portraits of Muhammad Ali, Romare Bearden, Lorraine Hansberry, Judith Jamison, and Leontyne Price in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build a Black History Database/Timeline

For Teachers K - 12th
Students research famous people and events in Black History then break the biographies and events down into specific information related to dates in history. They
Unit Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian In Your Classroom: The Music in Poetry

For Teachers K - 12th
Take poetry off the page and put it into terms of movement, physical space and, finally, music with this series of three lessons from the Smithsonian Institution. This resource introduces students to two poetic forms that originated as...
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Langston Hughes Was a Dreamer Too

For Teachers K - 12th
Encourage your pupils to imagine their own dreams for the future. After studying three poems by Langston Hughes and listening to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech, young poets craft their own dream stanza. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stories of Freedom and Justice: Learning Resources

For Teachers Pre-K - 12th
Young scholars are introduce to the topic of nonviolence and civil rights by watching a video. In this stories of freedom lesson plan, students examine the Supreme Court's role in interpreting the U.S. Constitution. Young scholars...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Good Citizens

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students consider what qualities and values make a good citizen. Students compare the requirements to become a U.S. citizen in 1896 to current requirements. Students create a country and write out the qualities a good citizen would possess.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cover the Music

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore U.S. history by listening to musical pieces in class. In this Civil War era lesson, students discuss the types of musical instruments that were available to soldiers during the war and the themes of their songs. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It Wasn't a Bullet

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore U.S. history by researching disease in class. In this Civil War injury lesson, students identify the different causes of death most soldiers faced while fighting in the war. Students role-play and write a diary entry as...