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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Walking Down Main Street: The Changing Times of a Railroad Town

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students explore the historic district via a scavenger hunt. In this community history instructional activity, students complete a scavenger hunt using historic postcards and clues as guides. Students create a timeline demonstrating...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Choosing a President - Writing an Essay

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students practice note taking while listening to a lecture on a particular US President. In this essay writing lesson plan, students research and take notes on a particular part of a president's life, they then write an essay that...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
US House of Representatives

Women Pioneers on Capital Hill, 1917–1934

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
As part of a study of the women elected to Congress from 1917 to 1934, groups research and then design a museum exhibit that describes the life and the congressional service of one of these women.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gettysburg 360

For Teachers 9th - 12th
An interactive site allows scholars to explore the Gettysburg battlefield up close, read soldiers' accounts, and view images of the event. In addition, enrichment activities enhance young historians' experience with Gettysburg 360.  
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. and Canada: How are We the Same? How are We Different?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Get high school geographers to compare and contrast Canada and the United States. They begin by drawing a freehand map of North America, then complete readings to gain insight into Canada. The text is not provided; however, another text...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Across Five Aprils/Civil War

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study the Civil War novel, Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt. They review vocabulary and literary elements and write a "Brother Against Brother" essay about coming face to face with a brother in one of the battles of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Washington and the Modern Presidency

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the precedents set by George Washington. In this presidential history lesson, 8th graders discuss the challenges Washington faced as president and how he shaped the presidency to suit his leadership skills....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Immigrant Experience In America

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners study immigration, Ellis Island, and tenement life from 1890 to 1924. Each student create an identity of an immigrant and write an essay in the first person. Essays describe what they found when they arrived in New York City.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I'm Number One!

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders complete a unit of lessons on the first seven presidents of the U.S. They conduct research, write a four-paragraph essay, and create posters and speeches for a simulated campaign convention.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Washington's Newburgh Address

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students write a persuasive essay that compares George Washington to someone overcoming an obstacle. In this American History lesson, students study Washington's Newburgh Address and the character traits of the president. They write an...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. Constitution - Selecting the President

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students study how the electoral college works to select a U.S. President.  In this history lesson plan, students examine the U.S. Elector College methods then answer questions and write an essay that relate to the state where they live.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Buying, Selling, and Trading in Antebellum South Carolina

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the role of general stores in the development of communities. In this South Carolina history lesson, students study the economic development of early U.S. communities. Students write essays and create advertisements...
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Lesson Plan
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Teach With Movies

Learning Guide to: Schindler's List

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Take your history class through Schindler's List with a learning guide, which offers an introduction to the film and a variety of discussion questions and related assignments. There are several useful resources in the sidebar, such as a...
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Activity
Union Elementary School District

Famous Dead People Project

For Teachers 4th - 5th Standards
Despite the slightly off-putting title, the instructions and activities detailed in these project guidelines for researching a noteworthy figure will serve as a fantastic supplement to your next famous person research assignment. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African-Americans and the Military

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the key figures in African-American military history. They discover how African-American military history reflect both discrimination and the often heroic struggle to overcome discrimination. They examine the key periods...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to the Caribbean

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the history and culture of Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. They conduct research on Christopher Columbus, create a quiz, watch a video about Cuba, and write an essay comparing and contrasting Puerto...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sectionalism, Popular Sovereignty and Secession

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read and discuss background material on several key decisions that played a role in the Civil War including the Missouri Compromise, the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dredd Scott Decision. They create a timeline and write an essay.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civic Virtue in Democracy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify and describe characteristics of civic virtue. Following a class discussion, they create their own definitions of civic virtue. They write essays based on their own definitions and formulate conclusions on the state of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Politics and Leadership

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners research a historic leader and analyze how a philosopher's writings influenced the ruler in an essay. In this philosophy of government lesson plan, students view a video and participate in a class discussion on how great...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Civil War: A Nation Divided

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the clash between the North and the South. In this Civil War lesson plan, students watch segments of the Discovery video "The Civil War: A Nation Divided". Students conduct further research pertaining to the economies...
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Lesson Plan
Heritage Foundation

Substantive Amendments: Amendments I and II

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The First and Second Amendments remain some of the most famous, even to this day. Learners read about several clauses from the US Constitution through a variety of captivating activities including before and after reading, group work,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History and Geography: Making a New Nation

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine the contributions of the different groups that built the American Nation. They identify the successive waves of new immigration, explain their attraction to America, and study the importance of Ellis Island.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wilson and American Entry into World War I

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the events that led to American entry into World War I. For this American history lesson, students examine the policies of Woodrow Wilson at the dawn of the war, analyze challenges to the neutrality policy of the U.S.,...
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Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

Chief Executives Compared: The Federalist Papers

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Delve into the responsibilities of the president by looking at President Hamilton's opinion of the presidential office in his own words. The second in a three-part series, the resource also offers an interesting compare-and-contrast...