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The Lines in Timelines
Students are introduced to the concept of sequence by creating their own personal timeline. As a class, they put the events of the last week of their lives into the correct order and determine what information should be used for their...
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Pirates: Fact or Fiction?
Students gain an understanding of what pirates are and to prove they really did and do exist. They discuss the different myths the students have about pirates as compared to what the documentary discusses.
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Salem Witch Trials
Students consider the implications of the Salem Witch Trials. In this literature lesson, students read Arthur Miller's The Crucible and compare the witch trials to McCarthyism of the 1950's. Students rewrite scenes from the play...
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Jack London's The Call of the Wild: "Nature Faker"?
Students take a stand on whether or not London could be dubbed a "nature faker." They support their position with evidence either historical or from the text. Students write an essay, complete with hypothesis and textual support, on...
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Mountain Creation: A Drama Exploration
Students explore mountain formation. In this cross curriculum earth science and legend writing instructional activity, students listen to the poem "The Way to make Perfect Mountains" by Byrd Baylor and identify examples of vivid language...
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Out of the Dust
Students create a poem that expresses the physical and emotional turmoil of living through the Dust Bowl. For this Out of the Dust lesson, students research facts about the time period and discuss the cause-effect patterns...
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A Comparison of the Play and Movie "Inherit the Wind"
Students read the play "Inherit the Wind" about the Scopes "Monkey" Trial. In groups, they choose their favorite scene and create a diorama dipicting the scene as they see it. They watch a recording of the play and compare it to their...
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Bias vs. Perspective: An Inevitable Aspect of Journalism?
High schoolers explore the types of media that U.S. teens prefer the ways in which viewers identify and account for journalistic bias. They explore the ways in which media shapes one's opinion or affects their judgment.
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A Closer Look at the Klan
Fourth graders learn vocabulary, answer discussion questions, complete writing assignments, and identify symbols connected to the Ku Klux Klan. In this Ku Klux Klan lesson plan, 4th graders also go on a field trip to the Thomas Hart...
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Thanksgiving Menu
Pupils explore the First Thanksgiving. In this U.S. history lesson, students read about the Pilgrims and Native Americans and discuss how they obtained and prepared food. Pupils develop a possible first Thanksgiving menu and draw a...
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Mountain Magic: Identifying the Basic Physical Characteristics of Mountains
Learners read about and identify on maps the physical characteristics of mountains. For this mountains lesson plan, students also write about the characteristics using personification.
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Tale of Two Speeches
Students view and read portions of John F. Kennedy's Cuban Missile Crisis speech from October 22, 1962. Later in the year, students recall what they remember about the speech and use a Venn Diagram to compare it to Patrick Henry's...
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Ku Klux Klan
Students discuss, write, and identify symbols of the activities of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920's in Indiana. In this Ku Klux Klan lesson plan, students also take a field trip to view the Thomas Hart Benton Murals at Indiana University.
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If These Walls Could Talk: Seeing a Culture Through Human Features
Students read Talking Walls and discuss the walls presented and their importance to the culture. In this geography lesson, students locate and label each country/continent discussed in the book on a world map. Students take a walk and...
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Juvenile Delinquency
Ninth graders analyze and interpret historical research by examining, analyzing, and forming opinions regarding primary resources. They compare/contrast social conflict, its causes and effects, in regards to continuity and change over time.
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Levittown, White Picket Paradise?
Learners study the origins and happenings of Levittown, Pennsylvania. In this Pennsylvania history lesson plan, students use primary and secondary sources to research the beginnings of Levittown, PA. As a culminating activity, learners...
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Primary and Secondary source Indiana event activity
Students research facts about Indiana's history. In this state history lesson, students use primary and secondary sources to research significant events from Indiana's history. They work in small groups to create a class presentation.
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The Oregon Trail
Students discuss migration and reasons people came across the Oregon trail. Students create a time line of important events along the Oregon trail. A Historical Time Line is included for student use. Students work in small groups to...
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A Novel Idea
Fifth graders read a historical novel. In groups they reenact chapters of the novel.
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"The Scientist and The Prince: Two Interesting Early Pennsylvania Immigrants
Young scholars examine immigrants including why people immigrated to America and their places of origin. In this immigrants instructional activity students analyze the importance of immigrants and the obstacles that they...
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Edible Coal Mining
Learners explore the concept of bituminous coal and the role it plays within our world. In this economic and earth science activity, students discover and model the extraction methods with hands-on activities. Learners also...
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The Sound of Music and Passage to Freedom
Seventh graders examine music examples to investigate a conflict in history about Hitler's invasions during WWII. In this music analysis lesson plan, 7th graders discuss vocabulary and the history for the Holocaust and Hitler's...
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African-American Civil War Soldiers Lesson Plan
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary resources. In this Civil War lesson, students examine the service of African Americans in the Civil War and consider their plight to secure the rights and...
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Through The Looking Glass
Students examine the time period of westward expansion. In groups, they use the internet to research the reasons why people moved west during the 1800s. They write their own narratives playing the role of a member of a pioneer family...