To celebrate Texas, groups plan and create a commemorative map for a topic or theme in Texas history. The richly detailed plan and the approach could easily be adapted to any state. Samples are included.

Students explore how different cultures commemorate people and events. They research how commemorations are created through music, painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, and poetry. In collaborative, students create a...

It's 1943, and Jewish people in Denmark are in hiding from the Nazis. What protection can the United States offer them? By examining the Constitution, specifically the Bill of Rights, scholars consider the protections afforded to those...

Students discuss and research an individual or event that has been memorialized on a commemorative coin. They use the information they found to write acrostics, creating stand-up accordion books to display the poems.

Students research life of a child who was a victim in the Holocaust and create a commemorative plate for that child to display in the school.

Students discuss the importance of commemorative monuments. They review Texas monuments and identify the reasons a monument dedicated to certain events or individuals. They design another Texas monument and explain why they...

Pupils read newspaper articles and watch segments on the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. In groups, they discuss how each media outlet presented the material and decide which one was more productive. As a class, they discuss...

During an introduction to philately, the study/collection of stamps, your class can make their own commemorative stamp collections. This collection will honor various fine artists with their own stamp. What a great way to celebrate art!

On every July 4th, we watch fireworks and celebrate our independence, but how is the history of the American Revolution preserved? Four social studies lesson guide learners through different memorials, commemorative objects, and restored...

Students use the Internet to research the festival of Janmashtami. As a class, they discover the importance of Krishna in the Hindu religion and read poems commemorating her on the Internet. To end the lesson, they use colored pencils to...

A thought-provoking instructional activity showcases Civil War battlefield monuments to demonstrate how fallen soldiers are remembered. High school scholars compare Union and Confederate monuments to learn how each group commemorated the...

David Binnington's mural commemorating the 1936 Battle of Cable Street is the focus of a lesson plan that looks at public art as a form of civic participation. After reading background material about the mural, individuals analyze a...

Young historians have an opportunity to study the complex history and culture of Mexico by learning about several holidays: The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe), The Day of the Dead (El Dia de los...

Public art, especially monuments and memorials, are designed to celebrate and honor those who have made significant contributions to a community or even an entire nation. Here's a lesson that asks scholars to consider who is represented...

Students research symbols from Texas history and make selections for quarter designs. In addition, they include written explanations to accompany their drawings. Coin designs cultural background and visually represent patriotism and...

Learners research commemorative coin honorees and share the reasons for the recognition with the class. Then the teams select individuals they believe deserve to be on a coin, write short essays explaining their selection, and illustrate...

Students research and profile figures in American civil rights such as Rosa Parks, from 1955-68, to create commemorative posters.

Students explore the suffragist movement through this futuristic lesson about the loss and creation of a commemorative stamp to honor a women's Suffrage Pioneer. The lesson takes us to 2080 and back to the 1800's to complete the tasks.

Students evaluate the eight finalists for the World Trade Center memorial based on criteria generated in class and consider the notion of commemorating tragedy less than three years after the event.

Young scholars discuss the attributes that a hero can have and what it takes to be a Distinguished American, and be commemorated on a stamp.  In this courage lesson, students research an everyday hero that they know about and create...

Students discern the difference between commemorative and regular issue stamps while drawing conclusions about the time period. In this Stamps as Storytellers lesson, students design stamps using symbolism and historical data. In...

Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Underground Railroad lesson, students examine the attributes and function of the Underground Railroad in order to...

Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this presidential history lesson, students research the accomplishments of Lyndon B. Johnson. Students create wanted...

Fourth graders read the book "The Quilt Story" and point out likenesses and differences in pioneer and modern times, as well as the importance of the quilt throughout the story. They work as one large group to create their own patchwork...