Alabama Department of Archives and History
Marketing a Bad Idea: Why So Many People Joined the Klan in the 1920s
How did the Klu Klux Klan manage to gain so many members during the 1920s? Class members examine Klan documents and promotional materials to gain an understanding of the propaganda techniques used to attract members.
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Islam and Islamic Culture
Whether democracy will ever take hold in Islamic nations continues to be a topic of great debate. Here, a series of questions, research, and discussion provide a foundation for class members to come to their own conclusion which they...
Curated OER
Continuity and Change
Students identify those freedoms most important to them and identify characteristics of a "good" rule. They then develop "good" rules for the world and identify how decisions or rules made today might affect the future.
Historica-Dominion Institute
Underground Railroad - Secondary
This is a one-day activity to explore the Underground Railroad and its impact on Canadian immigration. Class members explore the government's immigration policies in the past and present. It requires viewing a short video clip and...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Understanding China: The Prospects for Democracy in China
This document provides useful information for a unit on democracy in China. While it does not include detailed activities, it does have a list of democratic principles, and important facts about China that facilitate understanding of its...
Curated OER
Snow Goggles
Students assemble snow goggle models and discuss how snow goggles change the amount of light shining in their eyes.
Curated OER
Ecology Explorers: Historical Air Photo Interpretation
Students identify and analyze land use changes over time with historic aerial photographs, and classify different land use into categories.
Curated OER
Scarcity of Land Throughout the World and in Hawaii
Students discuss the importance of "land." They review the four types of land classification--urban, rural, agricultural and conservation--and participate in an activity involving an apple that demonstrates the use of land in Hawaii....
Curated OER
Coaxing Flower Bulbs
Students complete an experiment for coaxing flower bulbs into growth. In this flower growth lesson plan, students research various types of flower bulbs that may be used to complete a coaxing experiment. Students then complete a flower...
Curated OER
An Introduction to Islam and Muhammad
Students view a video regarding Islam and take notes on the video as they watch it. They complete a vocabulary sheet, timeline sheet, and worksheet regarding what they learned about Islam.
National Endowment for the Humanities
"Old Southwest" Humorists and George Washington Harris
Young scholars discover the work of George Washington Harris and his influence on American humor. For this George Washington Harris lesson, discuss cultural differences in the United States and read Sut Lovongwood stories by George...
Curated OER
King Cotton
Fifth graders explore the cotton plant. For this cotton lesson, 5th graders research the process of growing cotton. Students explore the economic and cultural differences in the states that grew cotton for trade and industry.
Curated OER
Archaeologists Reveal King Tut's Mummy
Students look at pictures of a sarcophagus, then read a news article about King Tut's mummy. In this current events lesson plan, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion, pictures, and a vocabulary activity, then students...
Curated OER
Finding Historical Evidence: David Brion Davis
Students study the Tran-Atlantic Slave Trade and learn to evaluate historical arguments. In this slave trade lesson, students read about the Atlantic Slave System. Students take notes on slave trade and make a timeline for the...
Curated OER
African Myths
Students discover the role of storytelling in the African culture. In this multicultural lesson plan, students discuss the elements of the African myth and record them on the board. Students visit an African folktale website and read...
Curated OER
Plants and Animals: Partners in Pollination
Students describe the complementary relationships between pollinators and the plants they pollinate, identify adaptations that flowers have developed to "encourage" pollination, and create and draw their own "designer" flowers.
Curated OER
The Westward Movement
Students study the westward movement through examining stamps. In this westward movement lesson plan, students draw conclusions, determine cause and effect relationships and examine the westward movement of the United States by...
Curated OER
Social and Cultural Issues in the Civil Rights Movement
Students watch videos, listen to speeches and analyze the information that is presented about the civil rights movement. They examine visual art of the period.
Curated OER
Patriotic Music: Three Cheers for the Red, White & Blue
Students examine the patriotic songs of the 1940's and compare them to those of today. They identify elements that classify a song as patriotic, listen to several examples and complete Venn diagrams contrasting different examples.
Curated OER
The July Crisis: Can You Stop the Great War?
Students role-play as diplomats from countries involved in World War I who have received telegrams stating they must prepare presentations on their country's position about the war. They have 45 minutes to reach a peace accord, or they...
Curated OER
Stealing Home: Chavez Ravine
Students research the Chavez Ravine community of Los Angeles and the displacement of residents for the construction of Dodger Stadium. They discuss Chavez Ravine in terms of property rights versus eminent domain.
Curated OER
Primary Source Adventures: Runaway Slaves Lesson Plan
Fourth graders examine social changes in Texas during last half of ninteenth century relating to the institution of slavery. They brainstorm methods that unhappy slaves may have used to avoid obeying their masters, and read and discuss...
Curated OER
Heroes Here and There
Students explore the concept of philanthropic heroes. In this everyday heroes activity, students compare and contrast media and famous heroes with everyday heroes. Students discuss heroes in small groups and then come together in large...
Curated OER
Cowboy Tourism
Students disucss the role the tourist industry played in popular perceptions of cowboys and Indians. They discuss the image of cowboys, as it is presented in fashion and contemporary advertisements. Students read about a town in Montana...