Curated OER
Life in Ancient Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
Learners study the ancient African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. They brainstorm what they know about ancient African kingdoms before investigating the trade and barter situations, and researching one of the kingdoms for an oral...
Curated OER
Manifest Destiny--a Simulation
Students participate in a simulation activity to help them explain the attitudes involved during the Manifest Destiny period in American history. It provides a clear demonstration of territorial disputes.
Curated OER
Segregation: From Jim Crow to Linda Brown
Pupils examine the African American social, economic, and political conditions between 1896 and 1953. In this segregation lesson plan, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of the plight of African Americans'...
Curated OER
Impact of the Civil Rights Movement on American Policies, Laws and Procedures
In this history worksheet, students participate in a voter registration simulation where their trying to get Black Americans registered to vote in Mississippi in 1961. Students create a "memory trunk" that documents their experiences.
Curated OER
Under the Blood-Red Sun
Fifth graders explore U.S. history by reading an award winning book about World War II. In this Japanese internment camp lesson, 5th graders read the book Under the Blood-Red Sun and discuss the entrapment of Japanese-Americans on our...
Curated OER
The Settlers are Coming, but the Natives are Here
Learners examine interactions between Native Americans and settlers. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students participate in a classroom simulation and then write paper about how the Native Americans and settlers could keep the...
K20 LEARN
Allotment in Indian Territory: Land Openings in Indian Territory
To understand how the allotment policy embedded in the Dawes Act, passed by the U.S. government in 1887, affected the tribal sovereignty of Native Americans, young historians examine various maps and documents and Supreme Court...
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Join, or Die: Reenacting the Albany Conference
The Albany Congress was one of the first attempts at colonial unity. While it was an effort against the French during the French and Indian War, it was one of the events leading up to the American Revolution. Scholars consider the...
Partnership for Educating Colorado Students
Mayan Mathematics and Architecture
Take young scholars on a trip through history with this unit on the mathematics and architecture of the Mayan civilization. Starting with a introduction to their base twenty number system and the symbols they used, this eight-lesson unit...
Channel Islands Film
Island Rotation: Lesson Plan 1
How do scientists provide evidence to support the theories they put forth? What clues do they put together to create these theories? After watching West of the West's documentary Island Rotation class members engage in a series of...
Curated OER
Texas Native Americans
Fourth graders research the Native Americans of Texas using the Internet. They create a Power Point presentation over the four Indian tribes of Texas - Caddo, Jumano, Karankawa, Apache.
Curated OER
Archaeology and Prehistoric Native Americans
Students study the terms paleontology and archaeology and examine how they can help us learn about prehistoric Native Iowans. In this archaeology lesson students discuss these terms and view a video on Native Americans.
Curated OER
A Practical Experiment In Colonization
Role-play and simulation exercises are fantastic ways to help learners understand the reality behind many social and historical events. Pretending they are colonists, upper graders choose a location, create a history, establish laws, and...
Carolina K-12
Choice, Conflict, and Compromise at the County level
With all the hubbub surrounding national elections, it's easy to forget the importance of local government. After learning about county governance and voter turnout for local elections, young citizens demonstrate how local...
Curated OER
Asian Americans and U.S.-Asia Relations:
Eleventh graders research the events that led to the Japanese American internment. They write a list of things that they take for granted that the Japanese Americans didn't have while they were interned.
Curated OER
Understanding Reconstruction in South Carolina
Eighth graders interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Reconstruction activity, 8th graders research the role of Reconstruction in South Carolina by simulating the environment of East Bay...
Curated OER
Common People of the American Revolution
Eleventh graders study the people of the American Revolution. In this American History lesson, 11th graders participate in a simulation that explains the different people of this time.
Judicial Branch of California
Articles of Confederation…Well, They Were Trying!
Different currencies, multiple armies, unreliable protection from thieves: class members experience these challenges playing a game that demonstrates life under the Articles of Confederation. After playing the game—which takes them on a...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Educating European Immigrant Children Before World War I
As if surviving a journey to America wasn't enough of a feat for early 20th century immigrants, they then needed to settle into American life. Learn about the ways New York public education attempted to meet the needs of its students,...
Curated OER
Gather the Stones!
Review how gristmills affected the lives of the Pennsylvania community. The class uses documents and pictures to explore the purpose of the gristmill. They simulate members of the community and write a paper about colonial forces...
Curated OER
One Room School House Reading Lesson
Learners explore schools during the Colonial period. In this American history lesson, students participate in a simulation of school days in Colonial America. Learners visit a museum and use the schoolhouse as a setting for their...
Curated OER
Famous Figures in History
Pupils investigate famous people in U.S. history. In this American history lesson, students read about famous people such as Helen Keller and Einstein. Pupils think of ways they might become famous.
Curated OER
Intro To The American Revolutionary War (2nd)
Eighth graders explore the events of the American Revolutionary War. After reading The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, as an introduction to the lesson, 8th graders participate in a simulation to experience the Nation of Ms. Goldwasser...
Channel Islands Film
Cache: Lesson Plan 1 - Grades 9-12
Archaeologists have discovered a cache of Native American relics. They want to preserve these relics by removing them from the rapidly eroding site to a lab where they can be studied. Native American traditions demand that the items...