National History Day
A Clever War: Scientific and Technological Advances in World War I
Technology—changing lives and transforming war. Your tech-loving historians examine photographs and primary documents to explore how technology changed not only World War I, but also how it moved society forward. They apply their...
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Events and Effects of World War I
Ninth graders explore the main events, key people, outcomes and lasting effects of World War I. They research the lasting effects of World War I on the 20th Century and discuss the Treaty of Versailles and its effects on Germany.
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Eyewitness to History W.W.I.
Eleventh graders take a closer look at the weapons used to fight World War I. In this World War I lesson, 11th graders complete a reading assignment, discuss it, and form research groups. Students work in the groups to...
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Land of the Rising Guns?
Students discuss the decision after World War II of Japan's to follow a policy of pacifism. After reading an article, they identify the ways Japan is strengthening its military. They watch a video to discover how their Constitution was...
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The Technological Impact on 1950's Culture
Students examine the impact of technological advancements on Cold War America. For this 1950's America lesson, students research politics, Cold War society, suburbia, and consumerism during the decade in order to better understand...
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Victory in the Pacific
Students explore the overall Allied strategy in the Pacific from 1943-1945 and assess its effectiveness. They explore the reasons why the atomic bomb was used and why use of that weapon was controversial.
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Fallout
Students view a short film about the results of dropping the atomic bomb at the end of World War II. They research controversies surrounding the use of the bomb and nuclear weapons. They write two editorials about the issue.
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Why Is North Korea Going At It Alone?
Students examine the division of North and South Korea. They identify the ideological differences and the tensions between the two countries. They discuss the threat of nuclear weapons as well.
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Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome Unit Plan
Students make two T charts, one for Sparta and one for Athens, showing pros and cons for living in either city-state. They use the physical information from the map and the cultural captions given for Athens and Sparts to come to their...
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Research Activity: Grades 10-12
Students discuss the war in Iraq, Adam Michnik's essay "We, the Traitors," and the notion that we bear a collective responsibility to rise up against oppression, within a modern geo-political context. They each write a research report on...
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Horsepower: Harnessed for War
Students explore the technology of war. In this war technology lesson, students research the fighting styles of the Vikings, the Normans, and Medieval Knights.
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What are the components of war?
Young scholars identify components of war. They connect relationships by developing webs. Students illustrate their comprehension of war in multimedia and produce a dialectical analysis of this illustration.
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Kansas in the Movies, the Cold War Period
Students are instructed using a cross curricular type of lesson. The time period that they focus upon is the founding of the Soviet Union as a superpower in the world after WWII. The rise of communism is also taken into consideration.
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Personal Accounts of the Korean Civil War 1950-1953
Ninth graders evaluate primary source documents from the Korean Civil War to compare and contrast them to different countries. They identify the boundaries of the Korean Civil War and work in groups to investigate the story of a Korean...
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The Arms Race - From the Beginning to the End
Ninth graders focus on the political and technological developments of the Cold War. They, in groups, read and summarize the speech they are given. They should provide a short presentation based on their interpretation.
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Lord of the Rings: Borrowed Mythology
Young scholars complete a research project. In this mythology lesson plan, students identify the similarities between world mythology and The Lord of The Rings trilogy. Young scholars complete character plot diagrams for each episode of...
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Can You Make It? Using Natural Resources to Survive
Seventh graders describe the natural resources used to make the tools and weapons which best suited the needs of the Cherokee Indians. They will collect information regarding the making of a tool or weapon, and then explain to others...
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Atomic Age Critical Thinking
Students research and discuss issues surrounding the atomic bomb and the concerns it raised and the consequences of dropping the atomic bombs on Japan. A variety of sample questions are provided to engage discussion.
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Dancing in the Desert: The Genie
Fifth graders study nuclear destruction using visual literacy. In this nuclear destruction lesson, 5th graders work in groups to examine a group of pictures that show the destruction of a home by a nuclear blast. They discuss the type of...
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UN resolution on Iraq
Students take a quiz and examine the decision making exercise: How the UN Security Council makes decisions on global security. Three main areas covered: UN membership, UN Security Council and the UN resolution.
ProCon
President Ronald Reagan
At 69 years old, Ronald Reagan was the oldest man ever to be elected president in the United States. After reviewing a thorough history of Reagan's presidency, pupils read the main pro and con arguments to determine if he was a good...
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Document-Based Essay on U.S. Reaction to North Korean Nuclear Policy
High schoolers compose essays on nuclear policies. In this North Korea lesson, students examine political cartoons and primary documents regarding nuclear build-up by North Korea. High schoolers write essays about North Korea's military...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Understanding the Koreas
Though this resource was designed in 2005, US tension with North Korea remains a relevant topic for exploration and understanding. Unfortunately, this lecture and reading-based lesson is unlikely to engage the class. The end product is a...
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Gauri and Prithvi: Nuclear South Asia
High schoolers examine South Asian relations. In this international affairs lesson, students explore the relationship between India and Pakistan as they participate in role play activities and conduct research regarding the relations...