Unit Plan
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Aztec and Mayan Mythology

For Teachers 6th
Here's a fresh take on a mythology unit. Use the myths of the Mayan and Aztec peoples of Mesoamerica instead of the more traditional Greek and Roman stories. This abstract suggests possible approaches and resources that can be...
Lesson Plan
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Life as a colonial silversmith

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the life experiences of people who lived in colonial Boston prior to the American Revolution. They define key terms including Loyalist and Patriot. They write a journal entry as Nathaniel Hurd, a silversmith.
Lesson Plan
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Japan Communication

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The Japanese communicate in very different ways than people in the US. Using three essential questions as a guide, learners look at different scenarios (included) and compare customs seen here and there. All the materials you need are...
Lesson Plan
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U.S. and Canada: How are We the Same? How are We Different?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Get high school geographers to compare and contrast Canada and the United States. They begin by drawing a freehand map of North America, then complete readings to gain insight into Canada. The text is not provided; however, another text...
Lesson Plan
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A Storytelling Festival

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the native cultures of the Americas, to learn some aspects of oral storytelling, and to share their knowledge with others. They, in groups, write a story that should say something important about the culture from which...
Lesson Plan
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“Pardon This Interruption-Columbus Has Landed!!!”

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research, design, rehearse, record, and present a 60 second Public Service Announcement, based on Columbus' arrival in the America. The students, working in groups, utilize the design process in creating their PSA. This lesson...
Lesson Plan
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Wet World in Danger

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students investigate the reasons why wetlands are threatened especially by people. They study the wise use of water to preserve wetlands.
Lesson Plan
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Commercials...What Are They Saying?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars identify how culture and experiences influence people's perceptions of places and regions. They list and apply the generalizations pulled from these observations.
Lesson Plan
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Garb and Grub Across the Globe

For Teachers 1st
First graders discuss what part of the world their ancestors came from. They locate the locations on a map and discuss the differences and similarities of each continent and their people. They become familiar with the traditional...
Lesson Plan
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Rethinking Perpetrators, Bystanders and Rescuers: The Case of Max Schmeling

For Teachers 6th - 12th
The focus of this instructional activity is personal choice and how changing circumstances can affect one person's ethical choices. During the Holocaust, people made choices, and by placing individuals in the appropriate historical...
Lesson Plan
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Math: Matching Rods and Religion

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Math and religious studies are integrated together using using cuisenaire rods and Kid Pix for this problem-solving exercise. In pairs, they match different colored rods to represent various groups of people. Meanwhile, students at...
Lesson Plan
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Preserving the Harvest: Dry it Out!

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Young scholars explore how people preserved their food in the past. In food preservation lesson, students create different models that enable someone to dry out food, such as a food dehydrator. Young scholars also...
Lesson Plan
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Identity of Women in Portraiture

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students look at portraits to learn history. Making connections is done with the identification of details found in the portraits. The gallery depicts the historical times of the Revolutionary War in Colonial America.
Lesson Plan
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Safe In the City

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read a report about the most dangerous cities in America. Using the internet, they research their own community in regards to how safe it is. They interview local law enforcement and determine the degree of local danger. They...
Lesson Plan
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Hispanic and English Literature

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders listen to a brief history lesson about the 40's and 50's mid-West America and the Migrant workers that worked the fields. Next, learners will read a short story written by Tomas Rivera (both in Spanish and English)....
PPT
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The Railroads: The First Transcontinental Railroad

For Teachers 9th - 11th
The move West was greatly effected by the first transcontinental railroad. Present your class with well-organized information regarding major causes, players, and effects the railroad had on the face of an expanding America. Note: A...
Worksheet
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Totally Trivial - "A"

For Students 9th - 12th
High school high schoolers can hone their research skills by utilizing the Internet to find the answers to the trivia questions presented in this on-line worksheet. All sorts of questions are posed: everything from questions about famous...
Lesson Plan
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I Can Balance. You Can Balance.

For Teachers K - 5th
There are many, many reasons why people do not maintain an energy balance. Talk to your young learners about balance, what gets in the way of eating healthy, and things that get in the way of doing physical activity. Some obstacles may...
Worksheet
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Primary History: Children of World War II - The War Effort

For Students 9th - 12th
Learners examine the war effort during World War II by designing a poster, and writing a letter home from the perspective of a soldier arriving home. They also discuss how much British children knew about America. In addition, they do...
Lesson Plan
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Multicultural Bingo

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Create classroom community with this Bingo icebreaker, which has the group finding out interesting details about one another. For this version, individuals have a 25-square grid, each square containing one multicultural experience or...
Lesson Plan
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The Influence of Physical Geography

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the limits and demands of their physical world and how it relates to the survival and well-being of people.
Lesson Plan
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Westward Expansion

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students locate California and New York on a map and explore available means of travel in the 19th century. Students explore the role of trade in pioneer America and simulate various barter transactions.
Lesson Plan
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Feelin' Swing, Part 2

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Upper elementary schoolers listen to and reproduce the rythm of Mary Lou William's musical piece, "Scratchin' in the Gravel." The swing song was written at a time that women did not play jazz. She broke the rules by playing and writing...
Lesson Plan
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Perceiving the Prairie

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders explore the changing concept of "prairie" through written and artistic works. They write their own poem or essay describing the prairie after discussing how differently people perceive the prairie.