Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Three Faces of William Penn

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils analyze art depicting William Penn. They analyze three different paintings discussing the symbolism, artistic elements, and depiction of Native Americans in each painting.
Lesson Plan
National Park Service

The Power of Remembrance

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building a Native American Home

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore different types of Native American shelters. In this Native American homes lesson, 1st graders compare the shapes of shelters used by Native Americans. They build a home using the program "Community Construction...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Music in the Common Schools

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars sing songs from the common schools era and compare music from the common schools era and today. In this music lesson plan, students look at pictures, fill out Venn Diagrams, and listen to music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Rags to (Paper) Riches: Explore Colonial Papermaking

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore Colonial papermaking.  In this Colonial America U.S. history lesson, students analyze two poems written in the 1690s about the Rittenhouse paper mill to learn about papermaking.  Students produce their own...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comedia dell' Arte Paper Masks

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students create masks from the Italian Renaisance theatre and use them in one-act plays they write. they analyze the role and development of theatre in world cultures.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colonial Silver and Tea

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learners examine silver pieces from colonial Boston in order to determine the social context of these objects. They compare signs of social status in colonial Boston with those of today by looking at the associated visuals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

International Festival: Venezuela

For Teachers K
Students become familiar with the Venezuelan culture and geography.  In this Venezuelan Festival lesson, students compare and contrast themselves to the people of Venezuela.  Students participate in activities to understand the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ancient Americas

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders compare artifacts used by archaeologists to theorize the first inhabitants of the Americas migrated from Asia across the Bering Land Bridge.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Down on the Farm

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners are introduced to a map of an Illinois farm. They determine whether the map is of the past, present, or future by looking at features on the map. They also use the map to make a three-dimensional model.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All Aboard! Railroad Transportation

For Teachers Pre-K
Students create a picture of a train. In this train lesson, students read Freight Trainand discuss the trains that they see. Students discuss what it would feel like to be a train and play a game where they pretend to be a train. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"how To Think Like an Archaeologist" Suggested Pre-visit Activity for Historic Jamestowne

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study grocery receipts to simulate the archaeological activity of classifying items. They discuss the receipts as if they were find lists.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Money Matters

For Teachers K
Students play a game called Money Matters using cut out representatives of pennies, nickels, and dimes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Penny Pinchers

For Teachers K
Students, by participating in a classroom toy store, are introduced to the penny.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

If These Walls Could Talk

For Teachers 7th - Higher Ed
Students investigate the influence of the Enlightenment on American society and government. In this Enlightenment lesson, students work cooperatively in groups to define the principles of the Enlightenment, American...