Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable: Haitian Frontier Fur Trapper and Explorer

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders investigate the life and contributions of Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable. They read and discuss an informational handout, define five words from the passage, conduct Internet research, and write a journal entry from the...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Department of Archives and History

La Mobile: A Case Study of Exploration and Settlement

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The Le Moyne brothers, Jean-Baptiste and Pierre, were among the first explorers of the Gulf Coast. Class members read biographical information and journal entries about these men, study maps showing where the settlements they established...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

A Day inthe Life of a San Francisco Native Animal

For Teachers 4th - 5th Standards
Although the lesson is specifically about the San Francisco Bay area, it's good enough to be adapted to any local region. Children research what the landscape in San Francisco was like prior to settlement, they consider the types of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

On the Road with Marco Polo: Homecoming

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students role play as Marco Polo to detail his travels. They include the terrains, foods, religions, people and cultures that were encountered. They write a journal entry as if they were Marco Polo detailing one aspect of his travels.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Viking History

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students learn about the history of the Vikings by watching videos, reading books, and writing journal entries pretending they were Vikings. In this Vikings lesson plan, students also make a long ship out of a milk carton.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Leaves

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore, observe, and collect leaves from outside. They make journal entries, discuss the differences and common features of leaves and what function leaves serve. They will discuss the plant and tree leaves. Students draw...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Redwood Trees: How Does Water Get to the Top of the Tree

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers discuss photosynthesis. They explore and discuss surface tension, hydrogen bonding and capillary action with hands on experiments. They make journal entries and draw pictures of the different stages of the experiments.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Christopher Columbus WebQuest

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders are introduced to the voyages of Christopher Columbus to the New World. In groups, they use the Internet to complete a WebQuest on what conditions were like on the ships. They write journal entries and complete a worksheet...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native Americans of the Chesapeake Bay: Using Primary vs. Secondary Sources

For Teachers 4th - 5th Standards
Discover the rich Native American culture that existed at the time of early European exploration into the Chesapeake region through analysis of several primary and secondary sources.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

European Explorers in France, England, Portugal, and Spain

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students, in groups, research either France, Spain, Portugal, or England. They create a poster describing various aspects of their country and how their country participated in the exploration of America. They present their project to...
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

A School Yard Journal

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create journals with explicit descriptions of objects found on the school yard.  In this descriptive writing lesson, 4th graders read some of Lewis and Clark's journal entries before they explore the school yard, then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WET Science Lesson #3: Comparison of Aquatic and Terrestrial Plants

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Elementary life science explorers compare and contrast aquatic and terrestrial plants (elodea and soybeans) in a Venn diagram. Some background information is provided to support direct instruction, and general instructions are provided...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lewis and Clark in Your Local Park

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students read parts of the Journals of Lewis and Clark focusing on the descriptive writing of Meriwether Lewis. They examine pictures of animal and plant species, and listen to nature tapes. They simulate the experience of the explorers...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploration and Encounters

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research explorers of the New World.  In this American history lesson, 4th graders conduct internet & textbook research about various New World explorers.  Students compare and contrast the sources used for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We're Going on a Bison Hunt

For Teachers K
Students examine significance of Louisiana Purchase and the journey of Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery, and compose journal entry to demonstrate their knowledge of the use of the American bison as a resource to both the Corps and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Challenge to Communicate

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students examine the journals from Lewis and Clark and identify how they spoke without using words. They participate in a game in which they use non-verbal communication with each other. They write their own journal entries to complete...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Journal of a Virtual Expedition

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students journey with Lewis and Clark. In this literature instructional activity, students read The Journal of Augustus Pellitier-The Lewis and Clark Expedition 1804. Students keep a journal in the persona of a member of the expedition...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lewis and Clark

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research the Lewis and Clark expedition and the Corps of Discovery. They explore a variety of websites and complete a WebQuest, analyze maps, and answer comprehension questions. Students also write journal entries and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Caves Are Formed

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore caves. For this cave formation lesson, students take a virtual tour of a cave and then participate in a scientific investigation that requires them to grow crystals and chart data regarding their growth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

On the Road with Marco Polo

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars follow Marco Polo's route to and from China. They explore the geography, local products, culture, and fascinating sites of those regions. They record their findings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The French in Texas

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders gain a broad understanding of early French exploration and settlement in Texas. They access websites imbedded in this plan. Using their notes, 4th graders work alone or with a partner to create an illustrated journal with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The French in Texas

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine early French exploration and settlement in Texas. They read handouts, explore Internet websites and take notes, and create an illustrated journal with written entries.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can You Get A Charge Out Of Matter?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students observe and demonstrate how objects can be charged positively and negatively and how static electricity works. They observe a teacher-led demonstration, and in small groups rotate through various static electricity activities,...