Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Has Transportation Changed Since the 1899 Harriman Alaska Expedition?

For Teachers K
Students recognize modes of transportation. They research historical data from a variety of primary and secondary sources including the Harriman expedition journals, related web sites, and photographs from the expedition. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Assessing and Making Maps

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students evaluate maps using the TODALSIGs basic map analysis system, explained on the worksheet. They create a map of Alaska using TODALSIGs. Students brainstorm the elements of maps.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can We Be Both Conservationists and Consumers?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore their role as consumers and conservationists and what roles they play in today's economic climate. They explore resource allocation issues. Students analyze data and draw comparisons between historical and present-day...
Unit Plan
J. Paul Getty Trust

Picturing a Story: Photo Essay about a Community, Event or Issue

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Picture this. Class members follow in the footsteps of W. Eugene Smith, Dorothea Lange, James Nachtwey, and Lewis Hine by creating their own photo essay about a local event or issue.
Lesson Plan
Indiana University

British Literature Restoration Unit: The Pillow Book – Sei Shonagon

For Teachers 11th - 12th
First drafted in the year 996, The Pillow Book contains reflections of those met by a lady-in-waiting in the Japanese court. A brief summary, historical context, and discussion questions are provided on the first two pages. Then, two...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Heroism

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the concept of heroism in this lesson, through personal reflection, group activities and a thoughtful analysis of the documentary, HEROES OF GROUND ZERO. They explore their own understanding of what it means to be...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hong Kong Symphony: Heaven, Earth, Mankind

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students complete a unit on the reunification of Hong Kong with China in 1997. They watch and discuss a documentary, write an essay about unification, conduct Internet research on three artists from the film, complete a data sheet, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Race, Culture, And Identity in Daughter From Danang (Part 1)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine cultural identity. They watch the PBS documentary, 'Daughter From Danang,' answer discussion questions, and write an essay regarding the characters ethnicities and stereotypes portrayed in the film.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jazz and Math: The Beat Goes On

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students collect real data through listening, counting and timing jazz pieces.They use ratios, rates, and proportions to report collected data and demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of rhythm and tempo in music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Walk Through Time

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students investigate the types of footwear worn during ten periods of history.  In this secondary, art/math/social studies lesson, students view documentaries and popular films to study the time periods.  Students research the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All About Me

For Teachers K - 4th
Students produce a slide show documentary designed to help them recognize their individuality, respect each other's differences, and discover what makes them unique. They examine the concept of digital portfolios. It is designed to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dangerous Straits

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view a film and read articles that explore controversial Chinese and American relations. They conduct interviews, participate in class role-plays and develop policy recommendations for government agencies.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cultural Representation in "Spellbound" Part 1

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students watch the film "Spellbound". They analyze concepts of how the media represents race. They discuss how the movie depicts race after the film.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Race, Culture, And Identity in Daughter From Danang (Part 2)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine cultural identity. They watch and discuss the second half of the PBS documentary, 'Daughter From Danang,' and write an essay addressing ethnic and cultural identity and how a film would portray their own cultural identity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Culture Representation in "Spellbound" Part 2

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students watch the film "Spellbound". They examine how the film represents race. They analzye contemporary media to examine how they represent race as well.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ivanov Goes to Moscow

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Young scholars complete a unit on the play, "Ivanov" by Chekhov. They read and analyze the play, write a short story, watch a film of the play, complete a data sheet, and conduct a debate.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Houdini

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students examine Houdini, and his legacy in the world of magice. Also, they explore documentary techniques that help tell a story. In addition, they perform a magic trick and discuss what goes into a magic act.
Lesson Plan
University of Southern California

Coming to America After the War

For Teachers 10th - 12th Standards
As part of their exploration of the American dream, class members examine primary source materials to compare immigrant experiences of those arriving early in our country's history to those arriving in the US after World War...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jazz in America Lesson Plan 7

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The student will explore free jazz, fusion, and contemporary jazz. They will listen to avant garde, fusion, and pop recordings. In addition, they participate in a class discussion regarding jazz's contribution to and reflection of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jazz in America

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explore Jazz in America. They examine greats in Jazz, such as Duke Ellington. They are also to discuss the cultural implications of the music itself.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Americans Seen Through the Eyes of the Newsreel Cameraman

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders become familiar with the role of African Americans during WWII.  In this WWII lesson plan, 5th graders watch a newsreel and discuss its use as a primary source.  Students answer questions about the newsreel.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Neighborhood Expedition

For Teachers K
Students plan and conduct an expedition through their neighborhood based on the techniques used by the Harriman Expedition to Alaska in 1899. They research the Harriman expedition on the internet and then create a route and collection...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rationalizing Race in US History

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students consider the classification of people. In this race studies lesson, students examine the concept of race as it relates to U.S. history and trends. Students research racial discrimination and prejudice in order to support their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Freedom to Fight

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the African American troop experiences in the Civil War. In this American history instructional activity, students examine primary and secondary sources regarding the experiences and contributions of African American...