Curated OER
My Secret War: Lesson 1
Fifth graders explore historical fiction. In this genre study lesson plan, 5th graders go on a text feature scavenger hunt to identify the parts of a historical fiction text. Additionally, students read the book, My Secret War and...
Curated OER
Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Still Teaching Lessons To This Generation
Discuss Laurence Yep's novella, Hiroshima, to inspire future historical fiction writers.
Curated OER
My Secret War: Lesson 4
Fifth graders write a speech. In this history instructional activity, 5th graders define the word infamy and listen to a speech by FDR. Students work in groups to summarize his speech and rewrite sections of the speech.
US Department of State
The Marshall Plan: The Vision of a Family of Nations
The European Recovery Act (aka the Marshall Plan) was designed to bring together and develop a spirit of cooperation among European nations after World War II. Class members examine the materials from the Marshall Plan exhibit and assess...
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World War II Memories
Fifth graders utilize primary sources provided to formulate questions to prepare for an interview. Veterans and civilians who lived during World War II are interviewed by students and their work displayed on a web site.
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End of World War II
Ninth graders examine the results of the Yalta Conference on Europe after the war. They develop a PowerPoint presentation that compare the effects of World War I and World War II. They write a journal entry taking the point of view of...
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The Manhattan Project
Students discover the technological and scientific requirements for making the atomic bomb, the immediate effects of an atomic bomb, and the social and political changes that have resulted from the Manhattan Project.
Curated OER
Characteristics of Anne Frank
Eighth graders read selected passages from The Diary of Anne Frank. Working in pairs, 8th graders determine what qualities and characteristics they would assign to her from their selected diary entry.
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Immigration Connections: The Squamish Nation and Bainbridge Island Filipino Americans
High schoolers explore ancestry and immigration. In this Canadian immigration instructional activity, students interview their family members to identify their cultural history. They compose an essay that compares Filipino immigration...
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Race, Education, and Income: Comparing Carter & Reagan
High school learners compare economic outcomes for 3 racial groups under the presidencies of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan by analyzing a series of graphs, answering questions from a worksheet, and participating in a discussion.
Curated OER
The Crucible
Before reading Arthur Miller's The Crucible with your middle and high schoolers, consider running through this short PowerPoint. Five slides introduce the plot, the author, and Puritanism. The slides are text-heavy, and not much...
Curated OER
They Also Serve
Students explore the roles women played during World War II. They design a recruiting poster telling women of the ways in which they can serve their country today and present their posters to the class.
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Atomic Bomb Debate
Students research the decision to end World War II by dropping the atomic bomb. In this world history lesson, students explore information on the atomic bomb and the decision of the tactics to use it. They also watch a video...
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World War II: Modern History of Hawaii
Students examine world geography by viewing a documentary film in class. In this World War II lesson, students discuss the role Hawaii played in the great battle and what type conflicts happened among the island chain. Students view a...
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The Great Debate: Internationalists vs. Isolationists
Students examine the opposing arguments of the isolationists and internationalists in 1941. In this debate instructional activity, the students are divided into two opposing groups representing a position in a live, in- class debate....
Curated OER
Genocide-Holocaust
Twelfth graders gain insight and perspective as to how and why the Holocaust occured. They explain why the specific groups were targeted, and complete a brief paragraph about what it would have been like to live during this era.
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Twenty and Ten
Fourth graders examine moral choices faced by Gentiles during the Holocaust and the role of the rescuer.
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In the Shadow of Death
Students research the initial labeling and classification of Jews through the use of images on the Web. They gather additional information about the history and effects of the Holocaust on survivors.
Curated OER
Introduction to the Cold War
Students examine the domino theory. In this cold war instructional activity, students watch a video about dominos and then get into groups that represent different nations. Students will then act out a mock simulation of the containment...
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Major Holocaust Themes in Elie Wiesel's Memoir, Night
Students read accounts of children during the Holocaust and read Elie Wiesel's "Night". Using the internet, they share ideas and discuss topics with peers across the nation. They examine the role of the individual in the Holocaust and...
Curated OER
Ethical Dilemmas in Teaching the Holocaust
Students are exposed to a variety of readings about the Nazi Party and concentration camps. Using the readings as a guide, they identify moral issues that we all face studing the Holocaust. They decide to work together to end bigotry...
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The AME Church in U.S. History
Ninth graders explore the history of the African Methodist Church in the United States. In this African American history lesson, 9th graders discover why the church was founded and research its history and noteworthy members. Students...
Curated OER
You're In My Space!
Students explain how political, social, and economic boundaries can be changed through cooperation and conflict. Small groups are assigned a particular trouble area of the world. Each group studies a particular side of the conflict.
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Understanding the Koreas
Though this resource was designed in 2005, US tension with North Korea remains a relevant topic for exploration and understanding. Unfortunately, this lecture and reading-based lesson is unlikely to engage the class. The end product is a...