National First Ladies' Library
Eleanor Roosevelt: Economics, Discovery and Daily Life
Examine the causes and effects of the Great Depression and the role of Eleanor Roosevelt during the era. Pupils take an inventory of their home for wants and needs, and conduct online research on The Great Depression. They then convert...
Curated OER
Taxi: A Book Of City Words
First graders engage in a literature study that helps them to focus on the concepts of goods and services. They describe the various skills people may need at home, school, and work. Students create a map of businesses found in the city.
Curated OER
Housing Project
Find everything you need for a two-week home construction simulation project for your high school economics class. They come up with the plans for a custom home including the cost per square foot, interest rate, mortgage term, down...
Curated OER
Money Matters to Me
Fourth graders explore economics by identifying financial goals. In this consumerism lesson plan, 4th graders discuss money matters and how to conserve an income when they get older in order to achieve their goals. Students collaborate...
National Endowment for the Humanities
History in Quilts
Learners investigate the use of cloth-based art forms intended to pass down traditions and history. They research types of quilts, quilt characteristics and then identify how Freedom Quilts were historically used in the US.
Curated OER
Economics, Ecology, & Ethics
Students are introduced to the concepts of economics in a ethical way. In groups, they examine a shift in an economy and discover the effects of the shift. After reading an article, they evaluate it and they write their own conclusion...
Curated OER
The Origins of the Cold War, 1945-1949
Students investigate the early years of the Cold War and the origins of containment. Both supporters as well as critics are probed to examine the differences that emerged in the months following the end of the war in Europe. This unit...
New York City Department of Education
Geography and Early Peoples of the Western Hemisphere
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...
Curated OER
Picture the Future
Students create a digital portfolio about their activities for several school years. Students compile pictures and copies of their best work onto flash drives. Students combine the pictures and text each year to create a cumulative...
Curated OER
Job Prompt Entries
Students explore the role of journal writing. In this written communication lesson, students discuss the purpose of journals as well as cohesive devices. Students then respond to 2 writing prompts that require them to write using...
Curated OER
What a Relief Map
Middle schoolers create a map using cookie dough. In this geography instructional activity, students research the physical features of a country, draw a diagram and design and create a map out of cookie dough.
Curated OER
Home Sweet Home-Far From Home
Young scholars observe slides of U.S. coastal geography. They study topography and vegetation maps for one region. They gather geographic facts on a guided worksheet. Students pretend to be colonists. They decide what kind of economic...
National First Ladies' Library
Secretary of Commerce
Middle schoolers gain understanding of economic history of United States in twentieth century by examining role of Department of Commerce. Student groups each analyze one quarter of twentieth century by researching role of Department of...
Curated OER
Many Cultures
Fourth graders study about several aspects of human culture, specifically those in California. They examine California's agriculture, industry, and economic changes; and cultural changes since 1850.
Curated OER
Virtual Vacation
Young scholars are members of teams traveling and exploring the Pacific States Region of the United States via the Internet. Each team travels virtually to its destination to become experts on geography, history, tourism, nature, and...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
A Geography Lesson
Fewer and fewer people have a strong grasp of world geography, but this activity helps students understand geopolitics by creating their own original historical map. The activity requires selecting a country from the list provided,...
Curated OER
The Ultimate Vacation
Students use research skills to solve a problem. They research information needed to plan a vacation. Students create a letter, a flyer, an itinerary, an activity list, cost spreadsheet, a reference page, table of contents and a title page.
Curated OER
Where Will You Go?
Fifth graders research and plan an imaginary vacation. In this travel planning lesson, 5th graders work in pairs to use an atlas, calendar, review airplane schedules, encyclopedias, magazines, and the Internet to research information...
Curated OER
How To Care for a Finished Quilt
Pupils determine how to care for a quilt. They work in pairs to create a report and present it to the class. They identify bed covers and pillows and discover quilts are expensive and time consuming to make. They also take notes on...
Curated OER
Literature and the "Age of Anxiety" (1920s and 1930s).
Students examine historical events of the 1920s, World War II and the Cold War. They discover how literature reflects the economic, political, social, religious and historical concerns of a culture. Students compare literature writings...
Curated OER
On the Cutting Edge
Introduce the background of design and designers and their role in communicating their thoughts to others. In groups, you can assign participation in a writing cluster on various designers and write paragraphs to submit to magazines. To...
Curated OER
Savers & Borrowers: Financial Markets in the United States
Investigate the current financial market and have your class explore savings, borrowing, financial markets, mutual funds, and the stock market. This four-part lesson is designed to help students become knowledgeable and informed consumers.
Curated OER
Social Changes in America Caused by World War II
Students research and examine the social changes that occured in the United States during World War II. In pairs they conduct research using a variety of resources, and organize and compose a "Guide to Life" for veterans returning home...
Curated OER
The Science and Technology of Food
Learners examine the guidelines the United States Department of Agriculture places on food. In groups, they create a list of the foods they consume and discuss the political and environmental implications of purchasing the food. They...