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Unit Plan
Curated OER

European Exploration, Trade and Colonization

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students complete many activities including mapping, reading books, and Internet research to learn about European exploration. In this European lesson plan, students study geographical mapping, trade, and colonization.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

European Explorer IMovie

For Teachers 5th
Film is a wonderful way to communicate any concept or idea. Fifth graders will use IMovie and GarageBand software to create a IMovie about one of eight European explorers. They will chose an explorer, research his travels and life, then...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

European Explorers

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders research European Explorers lives. They create a Word Document, or slide show based on their research.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

de Soto's Expedition: An Alternate Route

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Exploration Age lesson, 8th graders compare historical maps with new maps focusing on the route of Hernado de Soto.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

European Exploration

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders analyze key European explorers and focus on where and why they explored. They research who sponsored the explorers as well as the accomplishments of the explorers. They discuss the lasting effects of the expeditions in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early Travel Routes

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore explorers in the Pacific Northwest by examining primary source documents. After the research is finished students write a journal as if they were one of the explorers. Visual aids are needed as well.
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Lesson 1: On the Road with Marco Polo: A Boy in 13th Century Venice

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners investigate Marco Polo's life as a young boy in 13th century Venice. They analyze maps, explore various websites, complete a chart and answer discussion questions, and create a travel brochure about visiting 13th century Venice.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Explorers

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars examine the importance of culture and economy changes that occurred due to the great explorations. In this explorations lesson, students create a list of major explorers. Young scholars focus on one main exploration and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Explorers

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders illustrate the routes taken by different explorers on a world map. They explain the need for the different exploration voyages. Students explore the web for information that may contain different points of view or...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploration of North America

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine some famous explorers who have helped to discover our country. They discuss explorers from three countries today. They are: Spain, Portugal, and England.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It’s a Big, Big World

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students examine the role of the explorers. In this explorers and conquistadors, students create word puzzles (Wordles) regarding the time period in history. Students conduct research regarding a particular explorer and create foldables...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early Explorers

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research European explorers.  In this world history lesson, 5th graders will compare eight European explorers and identify important factual information about each.  Students will be engaged through game-play and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Treaties

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore Canadian history by investigating the First Nations. For this Aboriginal treaty lesson, 2nd graders identify the specific agreements made between European settlers and Aboriginals which caused the formation of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

On the Road with Marco Polo

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students follow Marco Polo's route to and from China. They explore the geography, local products, culture, and fascinating sites of those regions. They record their findings.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marco Polo Takes A Trip

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students identify Marco Polo and discuss why he took his trip, indicate on map routes Marco Polo took to China and back, describe challenges of traveling along Silk Road, list several interesting aspects of 13th Century Chinese culture,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Horse and Rider: The Pony Express in Utah

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research the Pony Express. In this Pony Express lesson, 4th graders discover the reasons behind the development of this business and the technology that ended it.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colonization

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore why the Americas attracted Europeans, why they brought enslaved Africans to their colonies, and how Europeans struggled for control of North American and the Caribbean.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eastern Europe: Passport to Understanding

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explore Eastern Europe. They analyze data on select countries. Students prepare a short oral presentation on the country they researched. They locate their country using an interactive map.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mastering the Sea

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students investigate what life was like on early 19th century ships. They participate in a Webquest, explore the website for the movie, 'Master and Commander,' watch movie excerpts, take an interactive tour of a ship, and answer...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students, in groups, create a profile of different Pacific Northwest explorers. They develop PowerPoint presentations and maps to showcase their findings.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Human Rights And Refugees: The Right To Asylum

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, define asylum and identify when people have the right to asylum. They examine specific cases of asylum in recent times and consider some of the difficulties refugees face.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pre-Columbian Settlements and People

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders describe the social, political, cultural and economic life and interactions among the people of California from the pre-Columbian societies to the Spanish mission and Mexican rancho periods.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Cherokee: Trail Where They Cried

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students read the Trail of Tears about the Cherokee Nation removal and write a letter pretending they are the grandparent of a Cherokee child. In this Trail of Tears lesson plan, students understand the changing of boundaries.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Columbus' Perception of the New World

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
students investigate readings relating to the voyage of Columbus in 1492 and to make historical connections based on those readings. They form pairs to share insights and answer specific questions, and share information in a final class...