Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Settling Nroth America: Improvisation and Playwriting

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners map the classroom by marking the movement of the first Americans' migration from Alaska down into North America. To improve their skills in map-reading and sense of direction, students identify physical features of the map and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil Rights and the ADA

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine and discuss the 14th and 15th amentments, and evaluate the agendas of Americans from underrepresented groups in the quest for civil rights. They conduct Internet research and create essays or posters regarding...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Homes of the West

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders read about homes in Utah over time and design models of the homes.  In this homes of the west lesson, 4th graders draw and label five homes that existed in the west. Students research each home and gather information...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Art of Cynicism

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners analyze selected pieces of art and infer how they reflect a sense of disillusionment, and/or cynicism in American society in the aftermath of the Vietnam War and Watergate scandal. Then they identify and place cultural attitudes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Establishing the Presidency

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students consider how George Washington influenced the presidency. In this presidential history worksheet, students discuss the precedents Washington set and analyze a letter that Washington sent to James Madison. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Getting a Sense of Time

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students gain an appreciation for geologic and historic time. They gain a general amount of information of the development of hte Chicago area, with particular attention given to the role of the Chicago River. Students contruct a time...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

With Liberty and Justice for All

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the role of Supreme Court justices. For this judicial branch lesson, students consider the civil rights and civil liberties as they investigate Minersville School District v. Gobitis (1940) and West Virginia State...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

ON BECOMING A NONVIOLENT WARRIOR

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students examine the concept of non-violent social change. In this lesson plan on social change, students research and role play to demonstrate ways in which this might be accomplished while making connections to various events in history.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Children of Clay

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders identify and interpret the Pueblo Native American culture and history and comprehend their folklore and songs. They also create their own piece of pottery with clay and write a myth about the piece of pottery they made....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

United States Colored Troops

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the role that African American soldiers had in the Civil War and the impact they had on the US Civil Rights movement after the war. They complete a timeline, read an excerpt and analyze a primary image.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

America at War

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine issues that faced Americans during World War I, discuss role that sinking of the Lusitania had in America's decision to enter the war, and analyze changing role of U.S. during the war and how it emerged as a world...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Primary Sources

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students see how to use primary and secondary sources to investigate history. Whether it is a photograph, book, map, letter, postcard, newspaper, or official document, students can use sources to reconstruct and relive history.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Louisiana Purchase

For Teachers 5th - 11th
Students explore U.S. territorial expansion. In this Louisiana Purchase lesson plan, students investigate how the purchase was funded and determine how diplomatic actions were part of the land transfer. Students analyze several primary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The French in Texas

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders use Internet to examine early French exploration and settlement in Texas, and write journal entries from point of view of 17th Century French settler, French or Spanish explorer, or Native American whose land was taken.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Money In My Pocket"

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders assess a brief history of money, the use of money, working with money as well as adding and subtracting with money and how to spend money wisely with responsibility. In addition, they discuss how everything belongs to God...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Progression of Political Movements

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the various political parties throughout history. In groups, they are given documents identifying the platforms of the parties in the 1868 election. To end the lesson plan, they share their information with the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Badges of Pride

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate jobs and how people identify with their job.  In this labor lesson, 5th graders create a book from illustrations of various jobs. Students read an article about labor and answer questions about the article....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Billy the Kid: Perspectives on an Outlaw

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine the life of Billy the Kid. In this Westward Expansion instructional activity, students use Internet and print sources to research the contributions of gunfighters to the settlement of the American West.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Immigration in America

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students use primary sources to study immigration. In this immigration lesson, students analyze photographs, posters, letters, and documents from Ellis Island. Students complete analysis worksheets as they evaluate the primary sources.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Made George Washington a Good Military Leader? Powers and Problems

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students list qualities they believe made George Washington an effective military leader. They discuss difficulties Washington faced as Commander-in-Chief and how he responded to the difficulties he faced as the leader of the Continental...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Latinos and the Fourteenth Amendment: A Primary Document Activity

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students explore Latinos and the Fourteenth Amendment. In this government and law lesson, students analyze the ruling in Hernandez v. Texas. Students predict how the United States would be different if the court had made an alternated...
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Curated OER

The Story of Kwanzaa

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Celebrate Kwanzaa with a game of Kalah, also known as Mankala or Owara. Using an egg carton and a set of beans, players take all of the beans out of one of his or her cups and move to the right, dropping one bean into each of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The West "The People": The Lewis and Clark Expedition

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders become familiar with the conditions facing the members of the Expedition in the early 1800's, as well as the causes and consequences of the Expedition. They describe the conditions of the land in the 1800's and during the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Korean Table Manners

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students eat a Korean meal with proper table manners. They compare American table manners to Korean with at least 3 similarities and 3 differences. They write a brief essay and describe, list and demonstrate the proper Korean...