Curated OER
Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858
High schoolers examine the transcripts of the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates and create a platform for each candidate in the 1858 Senate race. They utilize the candidates' arguments to explore the historical and political impact.
Curated OER
Celebrate Beef
Pupils read about the history of cattle, discover new technologies, and fill out worksheets about cattle use. In this cattle lesson plan, students identify states that raise cattle and draw pictures of how cattle is used.
Curated OER
Where is Rice Grown?
Fifth graders create a timeline of the development of rice as an important crop. In this agricultural history lesson, 5th graders read about the history behind why rice was grown and where it is grown. Students demonstrate their learning...
Curated OER
Keeping the Home Fires: The lives of Western women
Fourth graders explore the various trails that settlers took West from Missouri. They examine the reasons that people took these trails as well as the kind of people who made the journeys. They examine the Oregon, the Mormon, the Santa...
Curated OER
Mormon Era
Students learn the history of the Mormons and are able to explore items made during the Mormon era by creating their own by hand. For this Mormon Era lesson, students create covered wagons, can lanterns, candles and sourdough bread as...
Curated OER
How much rice to US farmers grow?
Fourth graders examine rice farming. In this rice farming lesson, 4th graders compute how much of the world's rice the US produces. Students gain information about the history of growing rice and how much rice other countries grow as...
Curated OER
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Fourth graders read excerpts and research the Internet to learn about the expeditions of Lewis and Clark and their impact on the United States. Students fill out a KWL chart as they learn.
Curated OER
Trails to the West
Eighth graders research American history of the 1850's. In this American history lesson, 8th graders write about how different American groups looked at the idea of Manifest Destiny. Students then draw the Oregon and Santa Fe Trail.
Curated OER
Grade 8 Unit 4
Eighth graders analyze aspirations and ideals of the people of the new nation, in terms of its physical landscapes and political divisions, and the territorial expansion of the United States during the terms of the first four presidents.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Newscast on the Battles of the Ironclad Ships
Fifth graders create multi-media newscasts based on their knowledge of Civil War battles of the ironclad ships.
Curated OER
Civil War and Beyond
Sixth graders play a game. In this Civil War lesson, 6th graders discuss the beginnings of the Civil War and define vocabulary words associated with the war such as abolitionist and Emancipation Proclamation. Students play a game of...
National First Ladies' Library
The Debate on Slavery
Young historians research the debate over slavery; some students take the pro-slavery side and others the anti-slavery side. They take the role of a character such as a plantation owner, a legislator, a free Black, a slave, or a northern...
Curated OER
How We Got to Kansas-Nebraska
Students explore the causes of the Civil War. In this instructional activity on slavery students use primary sources to examine the evolution of the issue of slavery and in the American political system. Students will then write a...
Curated OER
The Adventure Begins: "Boys I Believe I Have Found a Gold Mine!"
Young scholars view and discuss historical documents regarding Native Americans and Californians prior to the gold rush in the 1940's. They complete a variety of activities designed to show what they have learned from these sources and...
Curated OER
Rural America in Transition
Students examine the changes in rural America in an economic sense. In groups, they research the problems rural areas face in the 21st century. They examine the economic policies in effect and how they help or hurt rural America.
Curated OER
Connecting Past and Present...Virtues of Military Veterans
Middle schoolers explore personalities of those who served as medical personnel in American Civil War, compare qualities those troops possessed to qualities shown by troops currently serving in Armed Forces, and express appreciation to...
Curated OER
Local Mobilization for War
Tenth graders analyze how government policies led to complete concentration in war effort, evaluate how patriotism was encouraged by many local and state groups, and discuss fate of Japanese Americans.
Curated OER
Elections for Elementary Students
Young scholars explore various websites that explain how primaries, caucuses, and general elections function. They view sample ballots, and analyze the executive branch, U.S. presidents, and citizenship.
Curated OER
The Pony Express
Fourth graders answer four math questions based on their reading of a short story on the history of the Pony Express.
Curated OER
Lewis and Clark Encounters with Native Americans
Students research what the exchange was between the various Native American groups and Lewis and Clark. They are able to write reflections after truly considering the issue with the help of research.
Curated OER
Harry S Truman National Historic Site
Students examine the early years of Harry Truman to determine how his upbringing influenced his character. His political career from county judge to president is explored and some of the decisions made as a politician, evaluated.
Curated OER
Sectionalism, Popular Sovereignty, and Secession
Students examine sequence of national events that resulted in the Civil War by using primary sources, and creating timelines and maps.
Curated OER
The Battle of Pea Ridge
Students examine the battle of Pea Ridge during the Civil War in Arkansas. They write a 3 point paragraph on the Battle of Pea Ridge between the Union and the Confederate troops.
Curated OER
Maps: U.S, Time Zones
Students perform various activities to demonstrate knowledge of time zones. They connect with an interactive map to discover what time zone they are in. They create clocks out of paper plates and simulate different time zones.