Lesson Plan
Digital Forsyth

Old Salem Speech

For Teachers 4th
The focus of the lesson is rhythmic speech and 4/4 time. The topic of the lesson is trades common in Old Salem during the colonial period. Learners will practice keeping time with their voices and body percussion. They will then research...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seeking a Fortune in 18th Century Maritime Boston

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Study the Revolutionary War era practice of recruiting seamen to prey upon the British shipping industry, and discuss the impact this practice had on the Colonial war efforts. Learners read and interpret recruiting advertisements for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating a Colonial Newspaper

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students identify people, events and issues of importance during the French and Indian War and compare them with issues that only affected New Hampshire. They discover how newspapers gave people a sense of identity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Declaration of Independence and Acts of Courage

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine the trait of courage. In this Declaration of Independence instructional activity, students discuss what it means to be courageous and identify the courageous acts the signers of the Declaration showed. Students research...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Surprising Facts About Life 50 Years Ago

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students research a specific time period and look for interesting facts about that time. They compile a list of these facts and share what they find by creating a class book or bulletin board.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Through The Looking Glass

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine the time period of westward expansion. In groups, they use the internet to research the reasons why people moved west during the 1800s. They write their own narratives playing the role of a member of a pioneer family...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Pair, A Panel, A Presentation: Creating an Image for Your School

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers create a screen for the school. They work as a group to create a screen using various scenes from the school. Once they have finished their project, they explain why the artist chose to use the scenes from his time period.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History: Fact of Fiction?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students find a historial novel online and distinguish between fiction and nonfiction books. They research three historical events related to their novel and write a letter to a figure from their novel's time period.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pilgrims: The First Americans

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders become familar with the pilgrims and first Thanksgiving through essays about important people of the time.  In this Thanksgiving lesson, 5th graders choose an important figure from the time of the Pilgrims and write a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A River Through Time

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners explore how construction of a dam on the Gila River affected the lifestyle of Pima Indians. In this social studies lesson, students locate the Gila River and the Coolidge Dam. Learners record dates on a timeline and discuss how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

America: The Land We Live In: Landmarks

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students explore the concept of landmarks.  In this landmark instructional activity, students brainstorm different landmarks around their community and nationally.  Students then identify the patterns in Georgia O'Keeffe's...
Lesson Plan
Pulitzer Center

The Crisis in the Ivory Coast

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Through reading a variety of news articles and other informational texts, learners discover the political turmoil and intense ethnic and religious tensions that envelop the Ivory Coast today. Class members research the historical...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jamestown Changes

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine how the Jamestown settlement changed the first few years after it was founded. They take a virtual field trip of Jamestown, read primary source documents, discuss census information, and write a summary of changes in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rice Plantation

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study the importance of rice as a cash crop and the crop's dependency on slave labor during the settlement of coastal South Carolina. They explain the importance of the rice plantations to South Carolina's colonial economy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Decolonization and Self-Determination

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students define and discuss colonialism and self-determination. After reading the European's view on the topic, they analyze a map of imperialism in 1914. They watch excerpts of a video and take notes on various United Nations...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders describe the changes in King George III's policy toward the American colonies by sequencing key events between the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. They explain the colonial reactions to command decisions...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Immigration Past and Present

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students simulate a Commission hearing in which the class attempt to arrive at an immigration policy; individual essays by each student; and, if time permits, individual or group projects based on some aspect of America's immigration...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

The First Great Awakening

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Connecting social studies and American literature, learners study the Great Awakening and draw comparisons between its impact on England and on parts of Colonial America. They research the lives and experiences of people who lived during...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Best Friend of Charleston, The Charleston Railroad

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the Charleston Railroad. In this South Carolina history lesson, 3rd graders examine the impact of the rail line on economy and citizens of the state. Students create posters to advertising...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Ultimate Punishment

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discover information about the death penalty debate. They explore the history of the death penalty and how it has changed over time. They examine supporting and opposing viewpoints of the issue.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Personalities, Perspectives and Agendas

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students debate the causes of the American Revolution. In this American history lesson, students conduct research to determine how bias and perspective have made their way into historical documents. Students compose essays...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Images of the New World

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine how visual and literary images played an important role in the English colonization of Virginia. They analyze the importance of Thomas Harriot's Report on the subsequent development of English colonial plans for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Political Cartoons: Finding Point of View

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students examine political cartoons. In this colonial America lesson, students analyze political cartoons pertaining to the Stamp Act.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World Trade Organization

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students determine if the social and political consequences of free trade outweigh the economic benefits through case studies. They determine of the World Trade Organization willingly or unwillingly aids in neo-colonial exploitation of...