Poems carved into the wooden walls of the Asian immigrant prisons on Angel Island provide upper elementary graders an opportunity to study not only the story behind the poems but to also focus on the figurative language employed by the...

Class members use the think-pair-share strategy to compare the views of W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington and to consider how each man's backgrounds influenced his philosophy.

Students analyze Japanese tanka poetry. In this Japanese poetry lesson, students identify analyze the structure of tanka poetry. Students complete the activities at the given links for the lesson and compose two tanka poems.

Students watch a video titled Discovering Angel Island: The Story Behind the Poems about immigrants that came through Angel Island. In this Angel Island lesson plan, students respond with a journal entry.

Contemplate what music learners listen to and why they listen. Can they find poetry within music lyrics? Specifically hone in on blues lyrics and ruminate upon the social issues prevalent in the themes. Particular song lyrics coincide...

Students create poetry and verse, using all 5 senses to paint a visual image of life in a Japanese-American internment camp.

What is stereotyping, and how do we handle stereotyping in our daily interactions? Your young historians will not only have the opportunity to learn about the first African American woman to publish a short story–Frances Ellen...

Tenth graders examine the artistic legacy of trains by comparing the representations of trains in the painting of Turner and the photographs of Terry Evans. They write an essay, story or poem using their own observations of trains,...

Students explore early 20th century steel making.  In this U.S. history steel making lesson, students view and describe a postcard and a picture depicting exaggerated aspects of the steel industry.  Students listen to a poem...

Students acquire a working knowledge of the geographical concepts: absolute location, relative location, longitude and latitude. They analyze primary sources that shows the physical and human characteristics of the places along the 1899...

Students read and analyze stanzas of Civil War poem, The Flags of Michigan, to get perspective on what life was like and how Americans viewed Civil War, rewrite stanzas in modern language, and share new versions of poem with classmates.

Students watch a video, view websites, and discuss the Chinese Exclusion Act that took place on Angel Island. For this Chinese exclusion act lesson plan, students discuss the interrogations that went on and fill out worksheets bout the...

The emotional and spiritual oppression of slavery in the African-American experience is the focus of this lesson. Middle schoolers analyze various texts by Frederick Douglass and Maya Angelou related to freedom and oppression....

Seventh graders research the life of Fredrick Douglass. In this Fredrick Douglass instructional activity, 7th graders read about his life and discuss it. They write poetry describing his experience as a slave and create their own...

Second graders brainstorm what they already know about George Washington and complete a KWL chart as a class. They create a list of words that describe him and write a poem with other classmates. To end the lesson plan, they make a...

Eighth graders identify advancements made during the Industrial Revolution. Through listening to songs and reading other passages, 8th graders explore the working conditions of children during the Industrial Revolution. They examine...

Young scholars compare the social, cltural and politicalp roblems of the 1920s with the 1960s.

Students identify the social, culturaland political problems of the 1920s and compare them to the problems of the 1960s. They research both eras and then make a presentation to the rest of the class.

Students define and discuss philanthropy. They research a philanthropist and write a three-paragraph essay summarizing what they have learned , including their own roles as philanthropists. They also plan and initiate personal acts of...

Pupils explore the concept of neighborhoods and identify primary and secondary colors. In this colors and community lesson, students read the book Harold and the Purple Crayon and then discuss the concept of a neighborhood. Pupils view...

Students analyze the cause, results, and critical historic figures and events of the American Revolution. In this American Revolution lesson, students review Paul Revere's significance and the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Students...

Students use primary and secondary sources, using the Internet and other media.