Lesson Plan
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Surveying: 19 Chains and 50 Links

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Through an interdisciplinary lesson, emerging engineers explore the history of surveying systems. After discussing various systems, they perform surveys on printable pages. Using their geometric skills, they physically stake out plots...
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Discovering the Journal of Augustus Pelletier

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore journals. In this Discovering the Journal of Augustus Pelletier lesson plan, students read the historical fiction book and conduct research activities to validate events in the plot that reflect the Lewis and Clark...
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The Road to the American Revolution

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the causes of the American Revolution. In this American Revolution lesson, 5th graders examine the people, places, and events that led to the outbreak of war in the colonies.
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The Gettysburg Address

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the implications of the Gettysburg Address. In this Civil War lesson, students read a handout regarding Gettysburg Address, analyze an excerpt of the speech, and complete the provided worksheet activities.
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Develop a Bird Feeder Watch List

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore biology by identifying animals on their school ground. In this bird species lesson, students create and utilize a simple bird feeder to attract birds near their classroom at which point they observe the color, size and...
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Cemetery Mapping Lesson

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore historical records. In this cemetery mapping lesson, 8th graders analyze local community data as they examine gravestones and read epitaphs. 
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Zora Hurston Teacher's Guide

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students explore American culture by reading classic literature in class. In this African-American history instructional activity, students read the story Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree while identifying the work and contributions...
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Breaking News: International Coalition Attacks Libya (March 20th, 2011)

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore current events by completing a list of worksheet activities. In this Libyan history lesson plan, students read a news article discussing the problems with Gaddafi in Libya and the effect it is having in the Middle East....
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Catch the Gullah Beat: Rhythm and Percussion

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students explore the Gullah culture. In this social studies lesson, students construct and play instruments similar to those of the Gullah people.
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Balloons

For Teachers K - 12th
Students explore the different types of balloons.  In this materials lesson students can complete several experiments including building their own hot air balloons, making balloon animals and experimenting with static...
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The Rewards of Caring

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils explore the concept of democracy. In this character education lesson plan, students discover enlightened self-interest and discuss a quote from Alexis de Tocqueville.
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Personal Stories and Primary Sources: Conversations with Elders

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students learn from their elders. For this oral and social histories lesson, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of the America in which their grandparents grew up. Students conduct interviews with elders in...
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Thanksgiving

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
Teach little learners about the first Thanksgiving.  For this Thanksgiving lesson, students discover what it was like to live during that time period.  Students compare and contrast the first Thanksgiving to their own.
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Brucemore Mansion

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners take a closer look at Brucemore Mansion. In this Iowa history lesson, students research what life was like at the mansion during the Gilded Age and through history. Learners also research the responsibilities of servants as well...
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Barter Day

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research bartering. In this bartering instructional activity, 5th graders investigate bartering as a way to trade for goods and services. Students experience bartering first hand while playing a game.
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To Come to Illinois - Or Not?

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students analyze primary documents to determine whether the author is pro- or anti-emigration. They outline reasons for or against immigration to Illinois during the early 19th century.
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A Journey to Language Arts

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore events of the Lewis & Clark expedition. Students observe a PowerPoint presentation. They demonstrate journal writing using first person point of view. Students describe life in North America during the early 1800s.
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John Lawson's Emigration Impact: Short Essay

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students review John Lawson's writings to discover the impact they had on emigration to America. Using the writings, they analyze the influence of them and review the early settlement of the colonies. They write their own essay sharing...
Lesson Plan
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Evita: The Woman Behind the Myth

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students explore the meteoric rise of Eva Duarte Peron, First Lady of Argentina. Born in poverty, Eva Peron rose to become the most powerful woman in Latin America and one of the most powerful women in the world.
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Children of Loneliness: Immigration and Intergenerational Stories

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students evaluate Anzia Yezierska's story, "Children of Loneliness," in relation to Jewish immigrants coming to America. They discuss the connections in the story to their own coming to America and their roles as parents. After...
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History or Mis-story?

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore some of our country's founding myths and legends by participating in an online poll. For example, did George Washington really chop down a cherry tree, then confess to his father about the deed, saying, I cannot tell a lie?
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The Regions In Which I Live

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate different regions. Beginning with the idea that a neighborhood is a region, students explore maps to discover that towns, states, and countries can also be considered regions. Students create a book, with...
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What's Important?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students, through teacher modeling and guided practice, explore four steps/rules of summarizing. In groups, they read a short passage and then, by applying the summarization rules and skills, write an effective summary of it.
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Native American

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students investigate how early European exploration and colonization resulted in cultural and ecological interactions among previously unconnected peoples. They comprehend that Europeans had misconceptions about Native American literacy...