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The Role of African Slaves on South Carolina Rice Plantations
Fourth graders investigate the role of African American slaves in rice plantations. In this slave life instructional activity, 4th graders discuss the products produced in the 13 colonies. Students discuss the importance of rice to South...
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Study Guide: The Scarlet Letter
In this study guide learning exercise, learners complete a variety of activities to review the novel The Scarlet Letter. Students work in groups and independently to complete the questions.
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Happy Thankgiving: Traditions in Culture
Learners relate their own Thanksgiving experiences to those of the past through colonial games, Thanksgiving story books, and personal interviews. They develop a concept of how to celebrate Thanksgiving and plan a class time celebration,...
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COMPARE AND CONTRAST HISTORICAL TIME PERIODS
Students make comparisons and show contrasts between two similar or dissimilar art objects. Historical time periods will be indicated by dress and inventions.
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Daily Life in Pennsylvania's Historic Cloistered Religious Communities
Study the daily life of three religious communities from Pennsylvanian history. Learners research the religious communities of the Ephrata Cloister, Bethlehem, and Harmony. They study primary sources for each community and complete...
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Make Mine Turkey
Young scholars compare foods available for the Pilgrims' Thanksgiving with contemporary Thanksgiving foods. After reading information about the first Thanksgiving, pupils create a menu and compute the cost of a turkey dinner, using...
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Colonial Williamsburg
Fifth graders study about Colonial Williamsburg and become "experts" in one aspect of that period. They will actively seek and share their knowledge via the internet.
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America the Bountiful
Fifth graders explore the impact exploration and colonization of North America had on human history. In this American colonies lesson, 5th graders compare differences between colonial areas. Students investigate the global impact of...
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Visual Arts
Fourth graders study the stained glass produced for the Gothic cathedrals, needlework, castles, and tapestry of the Middle Ages.
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Stolen Property or Finders Keepers
Students explore the questionable acquisition of priceless artworks gained as spoils of World War II. They become investigators and reporters looking into the matter of ownership of the world's greatest art.
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Picturing History: John Singleton Copley and British Portraiture
Students observe and compare 18th century British portraits with those made by John Singleton Copley. By conducting research they explore the cultural climate of the portraits in order to write a historically accurate story.
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The Happy Progress of Our Affairs: George Washington and the U.S. Constitution
Students engage in a lesson which uses Washington's own words to illustrate the events leading to the establishment of our national government, and the crucial roles he played throughout that process.
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Word Square: Ender's Game
Ansible. Hegemony. Candor. Readers of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game create word squares for vocabulary words drawn from this award-winning science fiction novel.
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Identifying Important Ideas in Expository Text
Students identify the main ideas from expository text. In this main ideas lesson, students read a piece of text and practice identifying what is most important. Students complete another sample reading with a group then discuss as a class.
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The Moravians: What Does It Take to Build a Religious Community
Young scholars study a Moravian community, its town structure, and compare the town to other non-religious communities. In this religious community lesson, students research a Moravian community using the town plan documents and excerpts...
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Changing Images of Childhood in America: Colonial, Federal and Modern England
Students compare and contrast maps of New Haven, Connecticut from today and the past. After taking a field trip, they draw sketches of the types of architecture and discuss how the buildings have changed over time. They read journal...
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Jamestown Journey Part 1
Fourth graders work to solve one of the major problems facing the Jamestown settlers, the best location to settle upon arrival in Jamestown. Students discuss and review the past European and American events that lead to the...
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Death at Jamestown
High schoolers use primary source documents to develop a theory about what happened at Jamestown. They use the internet to gather information about the colony. They evaluate the theory of Dr. Hancock as well.
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The Powhatan Indians' English Boy
Sixth graders write a historical fiction narrative. In this interdisciplinary instructional activity, 6th graders read the historical fiction Henry Spelman: The Powhatan Indians' English Boy. Students write a piece from the point of view...
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Molly's Pilgrim
Students read the story of Molly's Pilgrim, create a Native American doll, and explore the meaning of the word pilgrim.
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New England Colonies
Students study the New England colonies. In this colonies lesson, students use a directed reading-thinking method to learn about the New England colonies. Students follow the method to make predictions, read the text, and analyze the...
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Jamestown Journey Part 3
Fourth graders study the economy of Jamestown. In this early settlers lesson, 4th graders read about the trade between the English and the natives in Jamestown. This lesson is part of a larger unit and coincides with the novel The Double...
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Thanksgiving Then and Now
Students create a Venn diagram to compare the Pilgrim's "First Thanksgiving" with today's Thanksgiving celebration. They use one type of graphic organizer, a Venn diagram, talk and read about the Thanksgiving celebration of 1621 at...
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Reflections of a Different Time; Pilgrim Children
Students create a reflective journal entry on the lives of Pilgrim Students.