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Teaching with Timelines
Students create illustrated timelines to accompany the historical events and people they have studied. In this chronological history lesson plan, students collaborate to create timelines that are enhanced with each new historical...
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A Country Twice Divided
Students study biography from the 19th century. They read "The Red Badge of Courage." Students research a topic from the list provided in the lesson and write a 5-7 page paper. They study lyrics and melodies of the confederacy and...
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Native American Friendship Dance
The performing arts offer artistic perception, creative expression, historical and cultural context and aesthetic valuing. This dance helps students understand dance history and develops cultural awareness. Students are given the...
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Animals in Myths and Real Life
Learners research the role of lions, elephants, and bears in ancient Roman life and mythology. They develop a strong understanding of the role animals played in important ancient Roman historical events and myths.
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Painting Modern Life
Students compare and contrast modern life art in the works of Hilaire-Germain Edgar Degas and Paul Cezanne. In this art analysis lesson, students compare and contrast the two paintings. Students complete image based discussion. Students...
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A Brief History of Vietnam (1858-2004) and Its Evolving Communist System
High schoolers examine the French colonization of Vietnam, the Vietnam War, and the current evolving Communist system. They develop political maps, outline the major events of the Vietnam War, write an essay, and compare/contrast...
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Cracking the Mirror of the Past
Young scholars compare and contrast two pieces of artwork in regards to their nastalgic elements. Using the internet, they research local religious institutions in their area and note their function in society. They also compare and...
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Powerful Poetry Presenting the Writer's Soul
Young scholars research Langston Hughes poetry for his use of figurative language. In this poetry analysis activity, students research the life and poetry of Langston Hughes and his use of vivid words. Young scholars complete...
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Come On, Rain!
Students read and analyze the story. In this language arts lesson, students read Come on, Rain! and examine how mood and tone are created, the use of figurative language and the characteristics of the genre. Students research the...
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Fidel Castro: El Comandante
Students view a documentary on Fidel Castro. After nearly forty years of rule, he remains one of the most controversial political figures of the twentieth century. After viewing, students discuss what they saw and research the Cuban...
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Individual vs. Social Responsibility: From Camus to the Cure
Students explore the individual's role in society. In this social responsibility lesson, students analyze Camus's The Stranger and The Myth of Sisyphus as well as Borges's "Rosendo's Tale." Students compare the themes of the pieces to...
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300 Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae: Herodotus? Real History
Students are introduced to the importance of the Battle of Thermopylae. In groups, they compare and contrast letters from the leaders of both sides and also read a synopsis from a historian. They research how the people worked with the...
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Defining Moments
Students determine key factors in lives of individuals studied. They compare the individuals' lives using a matrix and time line, compare and contrast the lives of two individuals involved in a single historic event, and create and...
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A Brief History of Fairfax County
Students begin the lesson by writing what they know about Fairfax County in their journals. Using primary source documents, they identify ten interesting facts about the area and watch a video. They complete a Venn Diagram comparing...
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The U.S. & Navajo Bills of Rights
Students are introduced to the United States and Navajo Bill of Rights. In groups, they compare and contrast the two documents and take notes to share with the class. To end the lesson, they write in their journals about their own...
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"Anything We Love Can Be Saved" -- A Contemporary
Learners compare authors Rachel Carson and Mary Eliza Church Terrell. They read an introduction by Alice Walker and summarize the main points. They also identify the language she uses to persuade readers. They write their own activist...
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Mountain Magic: Identifying the Basic Physical Characteristics of Mountains
Students read about and identify on maps the physical characteristics of mountains. For this mountains lesson plan, students also write about the characteristics using personification.
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Mapping an Encounter
Students recognize aspects of a historical map drawn around 1721 by a Native American for presentation to British governor of South Carolina, compare it to European map of the same period, and create map that shows relationships of...
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Tools of the Historian: Frame of Reference
Students discuss the term point of reference and describe their own point of view. They compare the relationship between sources and the historical context. They identify examples of how point of reference can affect one's interpretation.
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Colin Powell, a New Adlai Stevenson?: The Cuban Missile Crisis
Students compare and contrast a speech given to the United Nations by Colin Powell and a speech given to the UN by Adlai Stevenson. Clearifying the objective of each, they evaluate their proposals to the United Nations. In groups, they...
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Measure-mania
Students research the history of measurement in this lesson. They compare todays units of measurement to historical units of measurement. For example, they weigh themselves on a bathroom scale and figure out how many of them it would...
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Rethinking Perpetrators, Bystanders, and Rescuers: The Case of Max Schmeling
Young scholars examine the life and actions of Max Schmeling during World War II. They read and analyze an article, compare/contrast Schmeling's choices with other people during this time period, and write a journal response.
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San Diego Architecture
Eighth graders study the cultural and architectural history of San Diego. After study they create a design of a home based of features from historical and modern homes found in their research.
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Brother Against Brother
Eighth graders read Across Five Aprils and correlate it to a unit on the Civil War. They culminate the unit by writing a a piece of historical fiction in the first person entitled "Brother Against Brother."