Curated OER
The Nature of Matter
Students compare and contrast how the theory of atomic structure has changed over time. They explore how different people have contributed to our knowledge of the atom and its structure. Students identify how matter is made of discrete...
Curated OER
Survival in Antarctica
Explore the harsh climate of Antarctica and its wildlife. Participate in experiments to determine how humans survive in the continent's climate, and address the difficulties faced by scientists.
Curated OER
The Constitutional Convention: What the Founding Fathers Said
Students critique the Creation of the U.S. Constitution. They list some ideas proposed and debated during the Constitutional Convention. Discussion of the important issues requiring compromise are examined.
Curated OER
The Constitutional Convention: Four Founding Fathers You May Never Have Met
Middle schoolers read biographies of their assigned Founding Father. They present an oral argument that their assignee deserves to be better known by making connections between regional politics and postions defined by character.
Curated OER
Trails of Understanding: The Earliest Immigrants
Learners research Native American tribes. In this human migration lesson, students determine how tribes lived and established cultures. Learners create PowerPoint presentations that feature their findings.
Curated OER
The Death Penalty
Students examine the controversy surrounding the death penalty. In this capital punishment activity, students explore the ethical concerns and religious beliefs regarding the death penalty. Students conduct research, interview people,...
Curated OER
War and Religion
Students analyze perspectives of war. In this war and religion lesson, students collaborate to research anti-war and pacifist positions on war as well as "just war" theory. Students compose essays regarding perspectives of war.
Curated OER
Recruiting a Few Good Citizens
Students write persuasive speeches to recruit soldiers for a Civil War company. In this Civil War U.S. history and writing lesson plan, students work in groups to create a recruiting poster and write a speech to persuade soldiers to join...
Curated OER
Whose Side Are You On?
Learners role play, persuading and staying neutral during arguments. In this viewpoint instructional activity, students examine the viewpoints of soldiers in the Spanish-American War and role play. After a discussion, some learners try...
PBS
The Sixties: Hitsville USA
James Jamerson. You probably heard him but may not have heard of him. But fans of Motown Records will certainly recognize his contributions to the sound that desegregated popular music during the 1960s. Challenge young history detectives...
Curated OER
Primary Sources and Protagonists: A Native American Literature Unit
Introduce your middle schoolers to the lives of past Native Americans. First, learners work together to put photographs in a sequence. Then, using their sequence, they create stories to share with the whole class. No matter how old your...
Curated OER
Geography of China (Tibet)
Sixth graders study the geography of Tibet. They create maps of Tibet. Students predict population, land area, water area and coastline length of the United States and Tibet. Students compare and contrast the day-to-day lives of people...
Curated OER
Recycled CD Bulletin Board Christmas Tree
Students create a bulletin board display of a Christmas tree out of painted CDs.
Curated OER
Fielding Fears
Learners consider how real the threat of terrorism might be after military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and then explore the terrorist attacks of May, 2003.
Curated OER
Gender Equity in Jobs
Students discuss jobs/roles in everyday life. In this social science lesson, students examine the fact that jobs or roles that were once gender specific no longer are. Students realize that any gender can have any job as long as that...
Curated OER
Comparison of hometown life with that of life in a Canadian city
Young scholars research cultural characteristics of a Canadian city with that of their home town. They complete a map handout, providing the relative location on a large map and the absolute location on a provincial map. Students work...
Curated OER
Progressive Movement
Sixth graders define what progressivism is and find events of the Progressive Movement. In this Progressive Movement lesson, 6th graders create their choice of a poster, flyer or brochure to invite others into the progressive movement....
Curated OER
South Carolina Voices: Lessons From the Holocaust
Students explore World History by researching the Holocaust. In this Nazi Germany lesson, students identify the ghettos and death camps that many Jewish civilians were sent to in order to be controlled and later killed. Students...
Curated OER
George Washington's Revolutionary Journeys
Students take a closer look at historical maps. In this American Revolution activity, students examine the provided historical maps and documents to determine the assignments that George Washington assigned to subordinates during the...
Curated OER
"Construction Work" Art Activity
Students explore architectural styles and define architectural terms. They construct a building using various architectural elements, and display their buildings, identifying each of the architectural components they used.
NET Foundation for Television
1850-1874 Beef Moves to Nebraska
Just how long was the Long Drive? Learners investigate the movement of cattle in the Great Plains during the mid-1800s. They incorporate photographic, newspaper, video, and primary source evidence into their posters, artwork, and written...
National Museum of the American Indian
To Honor & Comfort Native Quilting Traditions
"Native American history leaps boldly off the colorful quilts and patchwork designs." Learners discuss Native American identity and symbolism by reading about a variety of Native quilters and their unique art process, and participate in...
Curated OER
Encouraging Answers
What is the celebration of Columbus Day really about? Older learners use inquiry-based methods to find out who Columbus really was and what motivated his journeys. They take on the roles of town officials who must consider whether or not...
Earth Day Network
The Neolithic Revolution
With the abundance of food products we can easily access in our society today, it is easy to forget the toll this can take on our global environment. Young learners will discover how the transition to agriculture and domesticated living...