Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Simple Machines, Ben Franklin and the Technology of the 1700s
Benjamin Franklin was an inventor, and he was fascinated by the mechanics of machinery. Using a fun exploration, pupils examine simple machines from the pre-Industrial era. Then, they must identify and build their own using common objects.
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AFRICAN-AMERICAN POETRY BEFORE EMANCIPATION
Explore poetry written by African-Americans before emancipation. 8th graders create collages, and explain why they chose specific stanzas. They display the collages on the class bulletin board that demonstrate an understanding of the...
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American Colonial Life in the Late 1700s: Distant Cousins
Students explore daily life and its influences in the late 1700s for two families in different colonies- Delaware and Massachusetts by becoming historical detectives. After gathering information from artifacts to make inferences about...
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Native Lands: Indians in Georgia
Students investigate the Native Americans of the Muscogee Creek and their use of the land. In this U.S. history lesson, students investigate the importance of the deer for the Muscogee Creek peoples' way of life and the many uses they...
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Native Lands: Indians in Georgia, How Do We Know What We Know?
Students examine Native American oral traditions. In this Georgia history lesson, students discuss Native American oral traditions and research stories of migration. Students create their own oral history projects that feature their...
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George Washington in Song
Students establish similarities to George Washington's time in office with the song "Yankee Doodle." In this U.S. History lesson, students learn the song "Yankee Doodle" then create a timeline of the song and a timeline of George...
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Masks
Young scholars examine traditional masks from Southwest Indian groups and create their own mask based on Internet research. They share their mask with the members of their class.
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From Rags to (Paper) Riches: Explore Colonial Papermaking
Students explore Colonial papermaking. In this Colonial America U.S. history lesson, students analyze two poems written in the 1690s about the Rittenhouse paper mill to learn about papermaking. Students produce their own paper and...
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Ancestors in the Americas: Lesson One
Students are introduced to the characteristics of documentaries and making films. Individually, they write their own proposal for an idea of a documentary making sure to identify the point of view of which it is going to be filmed. ...
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Corn in Legend and Myth
Seventh graders compare myths and legends about corn and use creative abilities to act them out. In this corn legends lesson, 7th graders read background information about corn and its importance. Students work in groups to research...
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Celebrate Beef
Students read about the history of cattle, discover new technologies, and fill out worksheets about cattle use. In this cattle lesson plan, students identify states that raise cattle and draw pictures of how cattle is used.
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Cut Outs: Shapes and Symbols
Students create collages based on Juan Quick-to-See Smith's "Ode to Chief Seattle." In this shapes, symbols and Native American lesson, students examine the "Ode to Chief Seattle" and Henri Matisse's cutout work. Students design their...
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Northwest Coast Indians: Winter Celebrations Potlatch
Upper elementary learners engage in a study about the Potlatch as a Northwest Coast Indians social custom. Groups of pupils plan their own Potlatch ceremony; incorporating activities and creating gifts much like the ones that the Indians...
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Northwest Coast Indians: Spring and Summer Salmon
Here is a fabulous lesson about the cultures of the Northwest Indians. Through an exploration of a story about the Salmon People, learners study the practice of harvesting salmon and the cultural importance of salmon to the Northwest...
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Fur Trading
Learners take on a role such as a farming community, hunting community or a trading post. They decide which products they focus on and then trade with the other groups.
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Catch the Gullah Beat: Rhythm and Percussion
Students explore the Gullah culture. In this social studies lesson, students construct and play instruments similar to those of the Gullah people.
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Political Cartoons and Dr. Seuss
High schoolers study political cartoons by Dr. Seuss. They create their own political cartoons on a current event.
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Animals in Art
Students look at how animals are shown in literature and art as representing emotions, telling a story, or sending a message in this elementary school Language Arts and Visual Arts lesson.
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Voices From Your Heart
Students create individual representations of Chinese calligraphy symbols in this cross-curricular lesson for the elementary Language Arts or Art classroom. One enrichment activity is included.