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Curated OER

Activism and Social Reform in America from 1800-1850

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students discuss idea of social status, examine antebellum social reform movements, and compare and contrast experiences of activists who sought to improve workers' lives, end slavery, reform immigration laws, and establish voting rights...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Changing Face Of America

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students explain historical and contemporary patterns of immigration to the United States. They observe immigrant markers in the cultural landscape and identify trends in population change in the local state and community.
Lesson Plan
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Urban Ecosystems 3: Cities as Population Centers

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers discover that throughout history cities have been centers of population but that human exploitation of fossil fuels was key to the growth of large cities worldwide. They research urban growth through a number of websites.
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Curated OER

Creating an Online Disease Pamphlet Using Online and Print Resources

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Eight grade health learners choose a disease to research. They compose their information and create a brochure to give to people who are affected by their chose disease. They address the history, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Changing Coral Reef

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students record changes in the composition of a coral reef.  In this Coral Reef lesson, students recognize the needs of Coral Reef species to survive.  Students chart changes in population over time. Students write an essay...
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Australia and Argentina: A Study in Contrast

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study world events and their effect on economic growth. They research and interpret graphs to determine explanations for economic growth. Students compare the World Wars and the Great Depression to the growth of Argentina and...
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Site and Situation: Right Place at the Right Time

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students put their geography skills to work. In this geography skills activity, students research maps and other primary and secondary sources to simulate the site selection process for the Pennsylvania Railroad Shops post World War II....
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Then and Now

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students conduct research and use census data to compare different times and places. In this census lesson, students interpret data from charts and graphs, comparing census information from two time periods as well as from two different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Demographic Transition - A Contemporary Look at a Classic Model

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students examine classic demographic transition (DT) model, explain assumptions and limitations of model, construct graphs of contemporary demographic change, and explain contemporary demographic patterns in the context of the classic DT...
Lesson Plan
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Water Quality and Dissolved Oxygen

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the relationship between dissolved oxygen and organic materials and aquatic organisms. This is a 3-lesson series in which students explore dissolved oxygen and then design an experiment testing the effects of changes.
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Local and Global Sustainability Unit

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the characteristics that define a sustainable community at the local and global level. They create and prioritize a list of traits, read and discuss a magazine article, and create a poster.
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What are the Challenges?

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Students discuss energy. In this energy challenges lesson plan, students read about greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change. Comprehension questions from the reading are provided. 
Lesson Plan
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Postcards from California: A Unit on Geography, Social Studies, History and California's Resources

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine patterns that influence population density in the various regions of California. The unit's three lessons utilize graphic organizers for the interpretation and presentation of data.
Lesson Plan
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Science: Arsenic and Old Lace

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils read about specific instances of arsenic in history and share these stories with each other. They identify, after reading the articles and sharing, what role arsenic played, how arsenic enters the system and what its effects are....
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Where Do Your Veggies Grow?

For Teachers 1st
First graders investigate the origins of vegetables. In this Science instructional activity, 1st graders identify where fruits and vegetables come from. Students describe how people utilize plants.
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And the Rains Came Down: A South American Rainforest

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students examine the characteristics of a South American tropical rainforest. They analyze maps, develop graphs, listen to the book, The Great Kapok Tree, and create a rainforest mural.
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Historical Indian Treaties and Aboriginal Population

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders navigate an online atlas of Canada and compare the land area of of historical Aboriginal peoples in Manitoba to present-day figures.
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"I've Been Working on the Railroad" - Federal Land Grants and the Construction of the Illinois Central Railroad in Mid-nineteenth Century Illinois

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders, in groups, design a self-sufficient community. Groups present the communities they've designed. They compare and contrast the communities presented. They research the theories of Johann Heinrich von Thunen online and...
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Understanding "The Stans"

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners explore and locate "The Stans" in Central Asia to create, write and illustrate maps, graphs and charts to organize geographic information. They analyze the historical and physical characteristics of Central Asia via graphic...
Lesson Plan
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Health, Pollution, and Safety: Why Should We Care?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the impact of reducing the carbon dioxide emissions. They identify ways alternative fuels can lessen the effect of emissions on communities. Working in teams they conduct research from various community and Internet...
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Deerfield Debates Its Future: Education

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students consider the effect of technological development, industrial growth and changing population on education in historical Deerfield Connecticut. They review many primary resources to investigate history and write a response to...
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Will You Pick My Cotton?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Use this cross-curricular history lesson to work on your students' informational writing skills. After listening to songs and stories related to Sultana, they engage in a several activities to boost their understanding of slavery and...
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Tools of the Trade: The Use of Geographic Tools

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the tools of demographic analysis and apply them to real-world situations. They analyze maps, define terminology, and write an information paper for the appropriate government agency to recommend an action or policy change.
Lesson Plan
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The Demographics of Mortality

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view the Dynamic POPClocks on the U.S. Census webpage and discuss their meaning. They explore age-related death rates of the human population and collect information about the deaths of humans and organize them into a life table.