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Johnny Tremain
Students study the Revolutionary War. In this colonial America instructional activity, students read Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes. Students discuss chapter 1 as they respond to the provided discussion questions.
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Cotton Pickin' Before and After the Civil War
Students explore the impact of cotton. In this economics lesson, students listen to a lecture presented by their instructor on the Southern crop of cotton and its impact on the South prior to and following the Civil War. Students...
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Early America
Students explore what a leader represents. In this social science lesson, students discuss what the traits, qualities, or characteristics are of a leader. Students also understand that leaders existed in America's past and in the present...
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Early American Leaders
Students discover what the qualities or characteristics of a leader are by describing the traits of the principal of the school, followed by the leader of the town, state and country. In this leadership lesson, students will take the...
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Conflict and Compromise
Young scholars examine opinions about the Boston Tea Party. In this colonial America lesson, students analyze several primary sources about the Tea Party and then write essays that reveal efforts to compromise as well as efforts to...
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American Beginnings
Eleventh graders examine the role of historians. In this American History lesson, 11th graders analyze document based questions. Students write a summary of these documents.
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Let Freedom Ring
Students go to the computer lab to engage in this thoughtful lesson on our national symbols. Students access the internet, and solve an on-line puzzle of a national symbol of freedom. The symbols are the Eagle, The Statue of Liberty, The...
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Knowing the Ropes
Students become familiar with the Core Democratic Values that are the fundamental beliefs and constitutional principles of American society which unite all Americans. Each student is responsible for finding three pictures in magazines...
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The Rule of Law
Students examine the rule of law and government in this civics lesson. They discover the origins and how it impacts them on a daily basis. They also analyze its role in the judicial system.
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Our System of Checks and Balances
Students study the governmental system of checks and balances between the individual branches. The balances are reviewed and the goal of the lesson is to develop and answer the question, "What are some ways the three branches of our...
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Stamp Act
Fifth graders write about the Stamp Act and pretend they are being taxed by the British and write how they feel. In this Stamp Act lesson plan, 5th graders view a taxation simulation.
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Find the Flag
Students explore the flag. In this social studies lesson, students search for flags in a picture. When students locate a flag, they will read a fact about the flag, how to display it and how to care for the flag.
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Teaching Grammar in Context: Using Sentence Combining to Teach Subordination
Reinforce sentence styles with this lesson, which prompts young grammarians to build complex and compound-complex sentence structures. They respond to non-print text and identify subordinators as parts of speech procedure. They spell...
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Obstacles to Perseverance
What does it mean to persevere. Young historians review the definition of perseverance then brainstorm a list of obstacles colonists and revolutionaries had to overcome during the American Revolution. Using this list, they identify...
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The Supreme Court: The Judicial Power of the United States
Students learn basic facts about the Supreme Court by examining the United States Constitution and one of the landmark cases decided by that court.
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Colonialism/The Arab/Israeli Conflict
Investigate critical historical issues using primary source documents then gather and evaluate information regarding the Jewish and Arab claims to land in Israel. Learners use their findings to prepare detailed timelines of events during...
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Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion
Learners explore the economic, political, racial, and religious roots of Manifest Destiny. They read articles and analyze how the concept influenced the nation's westward expansion. Students discover the motivations and expectations of...
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Simulation: Revolutionary Town Hall Meeting
Secondary historians simulate events leading up to the American Revolution. They assume the roles of patriots, loyalists, or neutrals in a town meeting set prior to the Revolution. As Patriots and Loyalists make their arguments, neutrals...
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TURNING POINT IN HISTORY:The War of 1812
Students act as investigative reporters and research battles or events of the War of 1812. They write an original article, which may include a map, drawing, or illustration.
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The Haitian Political Crisis: What Role Should the U.S. Play in Foreign Governments?
Learners examine the political situation in Haiti. They share their opinions on the role the United States should play in foreign governments. They identify the causes of the turmoil in the country as well.
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Differing Expectations
Young scholars examine the expectations that colonists had for lives prior to the revolution. In this colonial America lesson, students read primary documents that feature the perceptions of white men and minorities during the time...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Magna Carta: Cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution
High schoolers use the Internet to read a brief description of Magna Carta (link provided). They "walk through" the document with the teacher, identifying four major themes. High schoolers read and discuss "The Rhetoric of Rights:...
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Free Speech or Hate Speech?
Students see the difference between protected and prohibited speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment. They explain why free speech is essential to a democracy and consider how best to deal with speech they find offensive.
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I, Juan de Pareja
Students examine a work of historical fiction based on the life of an actual person who modeled for the painter, Diego Velazquez. Elizabethy Borton de Trevirio's story, "I, Juan de Pareja" provides opportuities for the reader to discover...