Curated OER
The American Landscape (1800 - 1850)
Young scholars are introduced to the romantic cultural movement in America. Reading examples of pictures of Washington Irving's home, they identify the characteristics of the movement. They view other paintings of artists from the same...
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Vive Le Quebec Libre!
Students use video, the Internet and CD-ROM's to investigate the cultural and linguistic traditions of Quebec, Canada. They identify the reasons behind the secession from Canada movement.
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Early Humankind and the Development of Human Societies
Pupils examine archaeological studies to gather information on the physcial and cultural development of humankind. Using that information, they describe hunter-gatherer societies and how they developed tools and fire. Using maps, they...
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Sticks, Stones, Sinews and Stuff: How Early People Used the Environment to Meet Basic Needs
Students create an artifact. For this early survival lesson, students use found objects to create an artifact that could have been used to help early people meet their basic needs.
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Unit Plan Template
Use this U.S. History unit plan as a template for creating your own! Simply download the resource and edit the text fields with your own customized unit plan. This is a great jumping-off step, especially for newer teachers.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
The First Communities
These documents list essential questions and foundational concepts associated with early civilizations and farming communities in the agricultural revolution. Use this as a starting point for developing specific lessons and activities...
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Culture Clash: New World Meets Old
Sixth graders explore the history of Christopher Columbus. In this World History lesson, 6th graders research facts about Christopher Columbus. Students write their own opinion about Columbus's background focusing on three...
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Early Humans
Eighth graders work together in groups to examine the earliest civilizations. After reading two stories, they compare and contrast the facts with those stories with other ones they have read. They discuss the different hypothesis on...
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Bears and Panthers Aplenty: Early Settlers Make a Home in Arkansas
Young historians research the Southwest Trail, which ran through Arkansas back in the 19th century. Pupils are divided into four groups. Each group researches a pioneer who blazed the Southwest Trail. Then, the group presents an oral or...
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The Tet Offensive and the Vietnam War
Students comprehend how the United States became involved in what one historian called the quagmire. Students identify and analyze the importance of the Tet Offensive in turning American public opinion against the Vietnam War. Students...
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Ireland: the Emerald Isle
Third graders complete a unit of study that examines several perspectives of Ireland. They explore how climate shapes Irish culture, reference historical and political maps, compute exchange values for Irish money, complete worksheets,...
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Introduction to Modernist Poetry
Students analyze modernist poetry in depth and detail. The several historical, social, and cultural forces that prompted the modernist movement and its effects are examined in this lesson.
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Scientists and Statesmen in Early America
Explore the historic and cultural context of the foundations of the United States of America. They identify the political and scientific contributions of early American scientists.
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Human Settlement and Movement
Students are introduced to the way humans have settled and moved throughout history. In groups, they compare and contrast the settlement and movement of two different ethnic groups. They discover why some are more dominate in an area...
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Cave Painting in the Ice Age
Students take notes and sketch during the Internet research. They take notes of the colors found in the cave paintings (black, browns, ochre, sienna). They create an initial full size comprehensive sketch on scrap paper and in their...
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Getting to Know You
Students complete an getting to know each other activity. In this personal names lesson, students play a name game, read a book about names, and then discuss why names are important. Students design a name card on oak tag rectangles and...
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Neighborhoods
Students examine homes around the world. In this multicultural lesson, students read the book A World of Homes and Homes Around the World. Students compare and contrast the homes in the books to their own homes. Students construct a...
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Themes Frame: A Historian's Tool
Pupils research the scientific, economic, and cultural themes that connect Paleolithic and Neolithic inhabitants. They complete Paleolithic and Neolithic Theme Frames, comparing/contrasting the two cultures in an essay or Venn diagram.
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Hey Cavey Baby
Ninth graders create an unfamiliar sound with natural materials. They role play an early man sound experience. They imagine themselves a member of a clan of early people.
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China's Ancient Tomb Culture
Students research and discuss Chinese history through the examination of ancient tomb artifacts. Emphasis is placed on the creation of student posters displaying "what they would put in a tomb".
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Reading Comprehension - Short Stories: "Remains of a Marriage"
Planning a short story unit? Consider including this activity early in your plan. "Remains of a Marriage" provides the text that could be used as the basis of a lesson on close reading, on comprehension strategies, and/or group...
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Microbes & History: Microbial influence on the spread of Civilization
Students explore how to extract plant fibers from the flax plant Linum usitatissimum in the process of making linen fibers. Doing so spark interest in the importance of microbial action on the spread of human culture and civilization.
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Math is Beautiful
Students explore how geometry is used on the composition of artworks by artists from different cultures. This lesson is equally suited for a Math or Art classroom at the late-elementary or early-middle school level.
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social studies: Life in Colonial America
Students explore the trials and tribulations early colonial life and note its successes. Through literature, Internet research, and interactive software, they engage in various activities to evaluate early social and cultural development.