Smithsonian Institution
POWs
Why did Vietnam POWs and their families receive more media attention than POWs in previous wars? To answer this question, class members view artifacts, read articles, and engage in class discussion. Individuals then assume the...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Special Order 40
The city of Los Angeles' 1979 Special Order 40 states: "LAPD officers shall not initiate police action with the objective of discovering the alien status of a person." After reading a fact sheet that details the history of Special Order...
Curated OER
Personal Travel Guide to a Chinese City
Scholars become travel guides in this group research project to investigate a Chinese city or region for a presentation. Heavily based on Internet research, the activity requires participants to jigsaw the final project, so each team...
Curated OER
Comparing Cities and Their Common Functions
Ninth graders begin the lesson by watching a PowerPoint on the functions of cities. In groups, they use the internet to research various cultures throughout history and the cities that were formed at the time. They present their findings...
Curated OER
World War II Quiz 1
In this World War II worksheet, students answer short answer questions about the history and geography of World War II. Students complete 13 questions.
Curated OER
Firestorms: The Bombing of Civilians in World War II
Learners examine the implication of civilian targets in war. In this World War II lesson, students investigate the history of bombing practices in war. Learners zero in on World War II bombing practices as they discuss precision and area...
San Antonio Independent School District
Global PC and Google Earth
Learners take notes on the physical geography of an assigned country, as well as its type of economy, major cities, and the student's own first impressions of the country, with this graphic organizer.
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Hetch Hetchy: The Story of San Francisco's Water
How did San Francisco supply enough water for its residents over the last two centuries? Learn about droughts and water conservation in California, as well as specific historical events that led to the water system today. Kids read...
Curated OER
Land of the Rising Guns?
Students discuss the decision after World War II of Japan's to follow a policy of pacifism. After reading an article, they identify the ways Japan is strengthening its military. They watch a video to discover how their Constitution was...
Curated OER
How Cultures Differ-Two Different Perspectives on the Same Event
Students examine the author's running race from two different cultural perspectives to see just how different the effects of culture can be. They practice thinking about an issue from different perspectives and create a script that can...
Radford University
Parallel Lines Cut By a Transversal
Perhaps planning a city isn't so difficult after all. Scholars first perform geometric constructions and investigate how parallel lines are useful in real-world situations. They then work on a city design project, drawing street maps,...
Curated OER
The Case of Vanishing Farmland
High schoolers consider decisions about how to use resources that are in short supply. Students role-play different perspectives in a land-use simulation, and examine land use issues around the world. This interesting lesson sheds light...
Curated OER
Shari'ah: An Islamic Law Simulation
Consider the role that shari'ah played in the development of Muslim civilization during the Abbasid caliphate. Learners become acquainted with both the religious and scholarly basis of Islamic law to help them understand the differences...
American Museum of Natural History
Map Your Own World
Young archaeologists practice their mapping skills by creating a detailed site map of their room or another room in their home. After indicating walls, windows, doors, and closets, they add furniture and objects, labeling each item.
National Center for Families Learning
Hidden Flags
Scholars scour a city landscape to locate twenty-five hidden flags. After each discovery, the narrator offers a piece of information about the American symbol. When all flags are found, a fireworks display appears in...
Curated OER
Ramses The Great
Students investigate the statue that memorialized Ramses II. In this world monuments lesson, students research national and local monuments to find out if there are any controversies regarding their construction. Students...
Curated OER
Sort the Compost Bin
Students discover what compost is. For this composting lesson, students view a sample of a compost bin and define what the purpose of compost is. Students discuss what the compost bin consists of and sort the compost bin into the green...
California Academy of Science
Sustainable Food Solutions: Weighing the Pros and Cons
A growing demand for sustainable food systems comes from schools and even some cities. So what are some solutions? Scholars consider four different ways to approach sustainable food solutions and list the pros and cons of each. The fifth...
Curated OER
Antebellum Revivalism and Reform
A gold mine for American history teachers, this presentation cascades through the middle of the 19th century with the central themes of moral and social reform. Between the blossoming Mormon church, the tightening of the Temperance...
Curated OER
World Cities and the Olympics
Learners examine the various cities in which Olympics have been held. Using a map, they describe the reasons why those cities were chosen and choose their own city for the Olympics and state the reasons why. They examine information...
Curated OER
World Map and Globe - Lesson 15 Mountains of the World
Students locate major world mountain ranges. In this geography instructional activity, students identify major mountain ranges on 6 on of the 7 continents on a large world physical map.
Curated OER
The Fall of the Roman Empire and the Armenian Tragedy of 1915
Students examine the fall of the Roman Empire and the Armenian tragedy. In this world history lesson, students read handouts about both world history events and create presentations that feature the events.
Curated OER
The Power of the Press
Pupils identify an editorial and propaganda, discuss differences between weekly and daily newspapers, analyze needs of rural and urban newspaper audiences, and evaluate possible power of the press and importance of multiple views...
Curated OER
Seven Wonders of the World: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Students discover the Hanging Gardens through archaeology. In this Near Eastern history lesson, students read the book, Ancient Iraq:Archaeology Unlocks the Secrets of Iraq's Past, by Beth Gruber, then create their own hanging garden.