Curated OER
A Lesson To Accompany "The First Bank of the United States: A Chapter in the History of Central Banking"
Here is an interesting topic. Learners examine the economics that led to the founding of the First Bank of America. They participate in a reader's theater experience depicting the debate between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson...
Curated OER
Blasphemy! Salman Rushdie and Freedom of Expression
Students explore the concepts of blasphemy, censorship and freedom of expression through the lens of Salman Rushdie. They also consider how these issues have been reflected in US history.
Curated OER
Corn An A-Maizing Plant
Fifth graders consider the uses of corn. For this agricultural lesson, 5th graders examine corn as a natural resource and discuss the many ways to reuse the grain. A variety of activities, books, and web resources are included with the...
Curated OER
Indentured Servitude and Immigration
Students examine indentured servitude. In this Teaching Tolerance activity, students compare indentured servitude of colonial America to the undocumented immigration of today. Students write reflections regarding how they feel about...
Curated OER
Am I Really Free?
Fourth graders write about slavery and freedom. In this freed slaves instructional activity, 4th graders read historical information about free blacks during slavery and explore books, objects and slave narratives to learn more. ...
Curated OER
Women's Rights and Reform
Students evaluate primary source documents. They assess the development of women's rights in the United States. They identify other rights beside suffrage that were important to famous women reformers.
Curated OER
Missouri Rice Farming
Sixth graders investigate rice farming in Missouri. In this percentages lesson plan, 6th graders determine how much rice production has increased over time. Students find this number in percentages. Students then figure the percent of...
Desert Discoveries
Keepers of the Prairie
Young ecologists examine the case of the prairie dog, and their near extinction. They read a terrific student handout embedded in the plan, and engage in a class discussion that's based on what they read. Learners perform research on...
Curated OER
The Colonization of the United States
Bring the Age of Exploration into the 21st century with this ancestry activity! Learners get a chance to explore the complex genealogy of the Spanish settlers through watching two video clips (approximately five minutes each) featuring...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Imperialism, Arab Nationalism and World War I
Continued conflict in the Middle East makes this lesson relevant, and the inclusion of a critique of Lawrence of Arabia might increase student interest in a potentially challenging topic. The resource includes a solid introduction to the...
Curated OER
Learning About Colonial Times
Students research Colonial America. In this Colonial Times lesson, students view the PBS Colonial House Interactivewebsite and create a timeline of important events during the Colonial period. Students print and share their timelines.
Curated OER
Studying the States!!!
Students explore the fifty states of America. They also learn the capitals and locations of the states. They also study the population, mottos, flags, and interesting historical facts about each state.
Curated OER
A Nation of Nations Lesson Plan: Charting African Ethnicities in America
Students read a portion of the narrative, The Transatlantic Slave Trade, to explain the ethnic origins of enslaved Africans brought to the US. They create charts and bar graphs comparing ethnicities in the lowlands and tidewater regions.
Curated OER
The Land of Milk and Honey: Reasons for Migration
Fourth graders analyze migration patterns. In this colonial North Carolina lesson, 4th graders listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details of immigrants from Switzerland who settled North Carolina. Students write...
Curated OER
Arizona!! How the Heck Did I End Up Here???
Students research the historical background of the potato. In this potato research lesson, students cut out the important dates in potato history. Students make a timeline for the events.
Curated OER
Jamestown in Context: The Colonization of North America
Students analyze the significance of Jamestown in the broader picture of colonization and analyze a historical document to determine the effects of previous explorations on the expectations of the Jamestown colonizers
Curated OER
How Historians Know: Investigating a Midwife's Life
Students view "A Midwife's Tale" to explain the methods historians use to study the past. They complete worksheets to identify what historians look for.
Alabama Department of Archives and History
Alabama Slave Codes in 1833: What They Can Teach Us About Slaves Themselves
After viewing a short PowerPoint about Nat Turner's rebellion, class groups examine Alabama's 1833 slave codes. Individuals then develop a mini-legal brief arguing against one particular slave law.
Curated OER
Reading Comprehension/history: George Washington
In this George Washington activity worksheet, students read a one page information sheet about George Washington. Students put 10 events from his life in correct order. Then students answer 4 critical thinking questions.
Curated OER
Vermont History True / False
In this Vermont history worksheet, students read two and a half pages of information about Vermont history. After reading, students complete 10 true or false questions about what they read.
Curated OER
What is the history of rice in the United States?
Fifth graders become familiar with the history of rice and create a board game. In this rice lesson, 5th graders understand the history of rice through the playing of a game. Students use vocabulary words related to the history of rice.
Curated OER
Colonial Life in Virginia
Fourth graders compare and contrast life in England with plantation life in America. They study the dependencies or mini-industries that could be found on plantations.
Curated OER
Slave Auctions in South Carolina
Students examine primary sources in the form of auction records, create frequency charts, graphs and diagrams that they analyze to anwer questions followed by the writing of a paper that demonstrates their comprehension of the lesson.
Curated OER
Cotton Production and Milling
Students examine cotton production and milling. They compete in a hand-ginning contest to realize how difficult it was to separate the seeds from the fibers of cotton. They discuss why Eli Whitney's cotton gin was an important invention.