Students conduct research on a historical site in preparation for a field trip. In small groups, they conduct research, and present the information to the class in the form of a PowerPoint presentation or poster.

Students investigate an attic or basement to "discover" family artifacts. They develop a grid map using string, create a naming system for the grid, and analyze items of interest.

Students develop a topic to conduct research. They formulate questions about it and use a graphic organizer for categorizing information. Students use the information to generate a thesis to narrow the focus of the paper. They write a...

Young scholars study Pete Gray and his baseball legacy.  In this critical thinking lesson students participate in a group discussion and calculate percentages. 

High schoolers analyze last and testaments of former slaveowners to identify and explain economic, social and cultural differences between the North and the South leading up to the Civil War.

Young scholars examine 19th century newspapers, a last and testament, and census manuscripts to analyze the Irish and German immigrant communities in the 1850s and 1860s. They write a letter from the perspective of an Irish or German...

Ninth graders study different types of propaganda and select an issue that is significant to them.  For this exploratory lesson students design and create posters on the topic of their choice and write a narrative describing it. 

Eleventh graders, in groups, analyze newspaper articles and then debate and discuss if Virginia should succeed from the Union or not.

Students use a rubric to analyze their neighborhood and write a persuasive essay about changes that should be made. In this writing lesson, students use a rubric to grade their neighborhood and brainstorm improvements. Students write a...

Tenth graders examine the invention of the Gutenberg printing press and its effect on society. In groups, they research how much the press enabled various revolutions around the globe. They also identify the causes and effects of each...

Students examine the connection between geometry and architecture. In this geometry and architecture lesson, students view a video which details a geometry class design project. Students then use the Internet in a scavenger hunt to find...

Students prepare for a visit to the West Virginia State Museum. In this West Virginia history lesson, students research the Morse Code and telegraph. Students create their own Morse Code and discuss communication history prior to...

Tenth graders play the role of historians, working to become experts on Warren G. Harding's private and public life. They become contestants in a simulation of the popular 1970s television show "To Tell the Truth".

High schoolers review photos of billboards from Nebraska highways. Using these billboards as examples, students design a billboard promoting a city in Nebraska.

Fifth graders create and modify a database using information from cereal labels.

Young scholars read and discuss articles relating to the theme "How should we deal with the growth of towns and human populations into wilderness areas?" Based on the class brainstorm, each student generates a research topic. They are...

Ninth graders focus on the political and technological developments of the Cold War. They, in groups, read and summarize the speech they are given. They should provide a short presentation based on their interpretation.

Learners examine the historical attitudes towards slavery in Pennsylvania. They read transcriptions from two Pennsylvania newspapers and compare/contrast the county's Republican and Democratic Parties' positions on slavery.

Students analyze and discuss illustrations of the New World by John White. They examine the images, answer questions about each one, and write an essay.

Young scholars simulate the quarters aboard a ship. They write a letter to Joanna Colcord or Alice Drinkwater that shows an understanding of the experience of being aboard ship, and asks further historical questions about the experience.

Fifth graders read the book, "The Talking Earth" and research an animal that is found in the Everglades.

In this English grammar activity, students study a chart of definitions and pointers.  Students then read 5 explanations as to how to separate fact from fiction.

Students study excerpts from Sinclair Lewis, "Babbitt" for its accuracy and socio-economic point of view. They rewrite a portion of "Babbit" using the point of view of a Maine guide.

Students are introduced to the various museum functions. In groups, they create a traveling exhibition based on Gutenberg's invention and the first printed book. They share their exhibition with the class and answer any questions presented.