Unit Plan
New York City Department of Education

Geography and Early Peoples of the Western Hemisphere

For Teachers 5th - 7th Standards
Young historians discover the early people of the western hemisphere. The unit explores how the land changed, how it was used and homes of early Americans such as Incas, Mayans, Inuits, Aztecs, and Pueblos. Individuals also examine these...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Site and Situation: Right Place at the Right Time

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars put their geography skills to work. For this geography skills lesson, students research maps and other primary and secondary sources to simulate the site selection process for the Pennsylvania Railroad Shops post World War...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wow! You're Eating Geography

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine patterns of food producing areas, and identify foods that are grown locally, in the U.S., and around the world. They map and graph the major food crops of their local area, the U.S., and other countries, and discuss the...
Unit Plan
New York City Department of Education

Colonial America and The American Revolution

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
How did the founding of the American colonies lead to a revolution? Use the essential question and sample activities to guide learners through a series of history lessons. Additionally, the packet includes effective strategies to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Underground Railroad and The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discover racism and slavery by completing a role playing activity. In this U.S. history lesson, students analyze documents from the Civil War era and describe the Fugitive Slave Law. Students view a video on YouTube about the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Eerie Canal

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Pupils discover bodies of water in the United States by investigating the Eerie Canal.  In this U.S. Geography activity, students discuss Lake Eerie and the canal that was built in order to transport goods.  Pupils research the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Did My Lunch Come From? A U.S. Regional Tour

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the regions from which their food comes. In this social studies activity, students identify the different agricultural products that are found in the major regions of the United States. Students create a lunch menu.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bank Loans Money to Start Businesses

For Teachers 4th - 6th
After locating Latin American countries on a world map, children read about how microbanks are loaning money to help start small businesses. Involving both current events and economics, the teacher introduces the article with a map...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where We Live

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students forecast future population growth of the U.S. Virgin Islands. In this U.S. Census lesson plan, students explain the factors that influence population density on the U.S. Virgin Islands, including geography and economic activity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Civil Rights Movement

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students compare and contrast African-American, Asian-American, Chicano and Native-American movements with the civil rights movement and are exposed to the sociopolitical and economic factors involved in the rise of social movements.
Lesson Plan
Tennessee State Museum

An Emancipation Proclamation Map Lesson

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Did the Emancipation Proclamation free all slaves during the Civil War? Why was it written, and what were its immediate and long-term effects? After reading primary source materials, constructing political maps representing information...
Lesson Plan
Oklahoma Bar Association

Into Which Caste Have You Been Cast?: India's Caste System

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
What was it like to fit into a certain class with no choice in the matter? Learners experience the caste system in a role-play activity, work individually on handouts to enhance their learning, and participate in an evaluation activity...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using History to Teach Tolerance: A Ripple of Hope

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars investigate the prejudice and racism that has existed in the U.S. for centuries by attending a field trip.  In this equality lesson plan, students visit the Tolerance Museum and discuss the history of the U.S....
Worksheet
Curated OER

Focus on Russia; From Communism to Capitalism

For Students 6th - 9th
In this Russian history worksheet, students respond to 12 short answer questions about Communism and Capitalism. Students also use the provided maps of the Russia and the U.S.S.R. to help them answer the questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What in Our World Affects the Way People Live

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study various maps that show geographical features and population. They compare the maps and make inferences about how various geographical features influence the population and human activities of an area.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Made in the USA

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Learners map products made in the United States. They discuss regional interdependence and identify goods the U.S. produces and trades. They describe how economic links make Americans more alike, and locate major manufacturing centers in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States 1846-48

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate how the United States acquired land after the Revolutionary War ended. In this establishing borders lesson, students use maps to identify territories acquired by the US and the states that later developed. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

More Than One Grain of Rice

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore mathematics, geography and agriculture by studying world rice production. In this production of rice lesson, students read One Grain of Rice and use a worksheet grid to calculate how much rice was received. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Currency Exchange and the Gang of Fifteen

For Teachers 4th - 10th
Students demonstrate the ability to comprehend and calculate currency exchange rates.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prehistory Web Quest

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders identify how geography and climate determine the lives of early hominids, the characteristics of hunter-gatherer societies, how animals affected the lives of early hominids, and how hominids overcame their physical...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explain the importance the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 and the role it played in the Cold War. After studying the crisis, 6th graders compose an essay describing the crisis and how the U.S. became vulnerable to nuclear...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

As Simple as Beans: Canada's Population

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars gather facts about Canada from various maps. In this Canada lesson, students use beans to relate the populations of the U.S. and Canada. Young scholars create population distribution maps based on the placement of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Push/Pull factors in Immigration

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore the push/pull factors experienced by immigrant families. They interview a parent and an American about their family's immigration history. Students write a summary of the interview and compare the push/pull factors of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Does It Come From?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore where agricultural commodities used in snack foods are grown. They choose a snack food and locate the top five states that produce the food that the snack is made from.