Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Desegregating the Kentucky Public School System

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students watch a video which chronicles the struggle to desegregate Kentucky's schools. They write a paper on a given aspect of what they saw in the video.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Reading Comprehension: Ohio

For Students 4th - 6th
In this reading comprehension learning exercise, learners read a 2-page article regarding Ohio and respond to 10 true or false questions regarding the selection about the state.
Worksheet
Curated OER

U.S. Archaeological Sites: Geography Practice

For Students 4th - 6th
In this archaeological sites worksheet, students read about sites in the Unites States and use a map to complete a set of 7 short answer questions. 
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Meet the Mayas, Aztecs and Incas

For Teachers 1st
Students study the geography of the Mayas, Aztecs and Incas and create a map book. They share in stories and legends about these people. Handouts and worksheets are included.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Everything was Up to Date in 1628

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine the life and lifestyles of New England colonists in the year 1628, and then investigate what life was like in their own area during the same time period. They watch segments from the PBS hands-on history series COLONIAL...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Days of '49: "I've Been Toiling Hard for the Last Two And a Half Years"

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students trace the stages of gold mining in California. They discuss the life of a gold miner and how the discovery of gold influenced towns and cities in California during the 1949 Gold Rush.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Evolutions of Pottery

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the history and importance of clay and pottery. They observe a video dealing the kiln. Students explore ideas for improving construction of pottery. They demonstrate a variety of construction methods and identify the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Your Place in Time Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders divide themselves into groups of 3 or 4, research 4 different generations, and answer the questions on the handout provided. They then work in cooperative groups to create a poster illustrating their generation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nevada Mines 1850-1880

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore the Nevada mining of 1850-1880. In this history lesson, students investigate the Comstock Lode and examine the mining tools that were used to search for silver and gold.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Adventures with Lewis and Clark

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Lewis and Clark lesson, students conduct research about the expedition and present their findings to their classmates.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Plan: The Math of Removal

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students consider the plight of those who walked the Trial of Tears. In this Indian Removal lesson, students compare statistics regarding Indian survival rates.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cabeza de Vaca Meets the Coahuiltecans

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students examine the difference between primary and secondary sources by examining the journal of Cabeza de Vaca and creating a poster about the Coahuitecan Indian groups. They portray a scene of the groups in 16th Century south Texas.
Website
Other

American Centuries, View From New England

For Students 9th - 10th
A multi-purpose site that provides information on history and historic artifacts from New England. There are also some interesting games that serve to enhance learning about New England. Be sure to watch video demonstrations of Early...
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Regional Realism: Mark Twain

For Students 9th - 10th
This biography features Mark Twain as a regional realist author, world renown for his ability to portray real Americans in the late nineteenth century. Click "Mark Twain Activities" for artifacts and activities.
Interactive
Other

Memorial Hall Museum: American Centuries: Kids' Home Page

For Students 3rd - 8th
An extensive interactive that looks at clothing from the 17th through early 20th centuries, furniture, documents, and old tools.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Utopian Promise: William Bradford

For Students 9th - 10th
Seventeenth century author, William Bradford, set sail on the Mayflower and embarked on a journey to the New World using his experiences for his writings. Click on "William Bradford Activities" for related artifacts and activities.
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: Exploring the Early Americas: Columbus and the Taino

For Students 9th - 10th
An on-line exhibit displaying copies of Columbus' journals, other writings about his voyages and findings, as well as information and artifacts of the Taino, the Native Americans Columbus encountered on San Salvador.
Primary
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Source: Resources for Teaching American History: Primary Sources

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
A varied collection of primary resources from American history. They include portraits, banknotes, artifacts, newspaper items, paintings, and illustrations.
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Coming Into America: Dating Artifacts 9 12 [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Investigate new discussions on the presence of humans in North America, and emulate the work of archeologists in dating artifacts at a dig site. Use clay to model how the radioactive isotope of carbon (C14) is used in dating organic...
Article
Other

American Artifacts: Early Cow Milking Machines

For Students 9th - 10th
Developement of the early cow milking machines. Brief history on agricultural advancements in milking of cows.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Traces: Historic Archaeology

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Excellent lesson plans that challenge students to consider every day uses for artifacts. Site provides an analysis worksheet that will help students consider the importance of artifacts in understanding historical people. Links to sites...
Website
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: North American Ethnographic Collection

For Students 9th - 10th
The Division of Anthropology was established at the AMNH in 1873, only four years after the founding of the museum. During its first 17 years, the department was concerned almost exclusively with the acquisition and display of artifacts....
Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: First Arrivals, American Beginnings: 1492 1690

For Students 9th - 10th
Numerous visual images of artifacts from English settlements at Jamestown and at Plymouth, and from Spanish settlement in Hispaniola, and three original accounts of each of those early settlements that describe the possibilities and the...
Website
University of California

University of California: Robert B. Honeyman Jr. Collection

For Students 9th - 10th
This collection at the University of California-Berkeley can now be accessed online through the Online Archive of California. It provides a vast collection of historically significant primary source images of early California and the...