Lesson Plan
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The Gift of the Nile: Egypt and its River

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students begin with a piece of a puzzle that shows an artifact from ancient Egypt. They find others who have pieces that go with their puzzle piece. Students work in these groups to construct a relief map of the Nile River Valley.
Lesson Plan
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A Treaty Tail: U.S. - Indian Treaty Councils in the Northwest

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students view a painting as a document to find out about the Indian Treaty Councils.  In this artist's perspective lesson, students study the conflicts as shown in various pictures.  Students answer questions about what they...
Lesson Plan
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The Four Corners Region of the United States Cultures, Ruins and Landmarks

For Teachers K - 8th
Students who live in the inner city are introduced to the four corners region of the United States. In groups, they examine how the region differs compared to where they live and their culture. They develop maps of the area and locate...
Lesson Plan
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Character Education Podcasts

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students study character traits. In this character education lesson, students create podcasts highlighting a particular character trait. Students broadcast one podcast per week.
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Twentieth Century Entertainment: When Work is Done

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students determine how Americans enjoy leisure time. In this 20th century America lesson, students research primary sources to study how Americans gained leisure time during the century and what they did with it.
Lesson Plan
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Traveler's Trunk

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students analyze and interpret artifacts from the 1920s and explore the Great Migration. In this 1920s history instructional activity, students review background information about the Great Migration and use artifacts to study history of...
Lesson Plan
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Public Displays of Contention

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners consider historic events or movements that may be viewed as controversial by different groups of people, and then create proposals supporting the inclusion of specific artifacts to be displayed in related museum exhibit
Lesson Plan
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Everyone has Interesting Stuff

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine a random collection of artifacts. In this deductive reasoning and cultural awareness lesson, students will pair up and examine a given artifact. Each student will attempt to use the artifact's attributes and apparent...
Lesson Plan
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The Ancient Cliff Dwellers of Mesa Verde

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners research evidence discovered during Mesa Verde archaeological dig, view images of ancient artifacts, simultate real dig and reconstruct items buried on school grounds, and create newsletter or video tape skit.
Worksheet
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The Story Within Worksheet

For Students 6th - 8th
In this reading artifacts worksheet, students imagine they have arrived on earth from another galaxy and write a description of an object they have found. Function, form , and meaning of the object are revealed when students answer 6...
Worksheet
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Photograph / Special Object Worksheet

For Students 6th - 9th
In this fieldwork application activity, students utilize a photo or object that they brought to class to study. Then they follow the directions on the activity and interview a classmate, using the 13 questions, about his or her photo or...
Organizer
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Mapping Material Culture Worksheet

For Students 6th - 8th
In this folk regions worksheet, students study the objects by visiting the URL links, and then decide whether each of the 25 belongs in the North Louisiana, South Louisiana, or New Orleans folk regions.
Activity
Shell Education

Leaders from the 1790s

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The Founding Fathers contributed to the United States in many ways. Class members explore various Founding Fathers through research, group work, and realia. The final product of group work are posters and artistic representations of...
Lesson Plan
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Milestones of Flight

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Discover seven of the most historic aircraft and spacecraft in the collections of the National Air and Space Museum. By research into the major milestones of aviation history your young scholars will recognize features that enable...
Lesson Plan
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Fun-Factory - NOT!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students design a solution to a problem based on the Industrial Revolution. In this design lesson plan, students come up with architectural designs and present them to teachers in a simulated factory.
Lesson Plan
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Creating An Understanding of the Past/Through The Art of George Catlin and Native American Artifacts

For Teachers K - 6th
Students explore Native American culture. They observe and discuss the paintings of George Catlin. Students examine the lives of the Pawnee Native American Indians during the time period of 1830-1840. Numerous cross curriculum activities...
Lesson Plan
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Forward March: Continuing Frederick Douglass' Footsteps

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers view numerous artifacts from the life of Frederick Douglass. Using the objects, they discover the many parts of his life and develop a hypothesis about the significance of the objects in his life. They identify the...
Lesson Plan
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History at Home: The Object Box

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine "artifacts". In this anthropology lesson, students analyze possible uses for objects such as washboards, hot water bottles, and old magazines. Students record and share their speculations with their classmates.
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Shoebox Dig

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students participate in a simulation in which they dig for artifacts in a shoebox filled with objects. In groups, they record the types of material and artifacts found in each layer. To end the instructional activity, they answer...
Lesson Plan
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A Maya Masterpiece

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students analyze the symbols presented in a Maya artifact. They create collages that depict a theme related to contemporary life in their community, and write brief analyses explaining the symbolism of the images they chose.
Lesson Plan
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A Journey To Africa: Art And Artifacts

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers create a multimedia presentation based on a piece of African Art. They use the art piece to demonstrate the culture and ceremonies of the area in which it was produced. They research facts for a Power Point, write a...
Lesson Plan
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Using HyperStudio

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Second through eighth graders use the software "HyperStudio" to create a presentation of their choice on Native American lifestyles. One thing I like a lot about this lesson, is that the students are the ones who get to choose and...
Lesson Plan
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The Ancient Civilization of Mali

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Students explore the ancient civilization of Mali and examine various historical and cultural aspects of the civilization. In this ancient civilization of Mali lesson, students examine trade with respect to geographic locations, discover...
Lesson Plan
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Environment, Technology, and Culture of the Chumash People

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers develop an understanding of the interrelatedness of technology, culture, and environment as illustrated by the Chumash culture. They research the tribe and complete a table for the Chumash people describing their...