Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Things Fly

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students observe photographs of selected twentieth-century aircraft at the National Air and Space Museum and note differences in the design of aircraft wings, fuselages, and engines.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Things Fly

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students, by drawing on their own experiences, discuss and examine the basic physics of flight. They participate in a variety of activities regarding flight.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pennsylvania Boxing: Living the American Dream

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners reflect on fictional and real boxers from Pennsylvania.  In this history instructional activity, students read, reflect and discuss the historical period following World War II and observe the boxers that were famous from...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

MADAME C. J. WALKER

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders recognize the achievements of Madame C. J. Walker and select one long term and one short term goal and describe the steps necessary to achieve those goals.
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Watching Crystals Grow

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Amazing science can sometimes happen right before your eyes! The class gets cozy as they watch crystals grow. They use Epsom salts, rocks, and food coloring to create crystals. They'll observe the entire process, documenting every step...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Revolutionary Money

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Examine paper money from the American revolution! Historians study the paper bills and discuss the history of money. How has money changed over the times? Activities are included. 
Worksheet
Curated OER

Reading Comprehension- Informational Passages "Abraham Lincoln"

For Students 5th - 7th
Who was Abraham Lincoln? Help your English language learners recognize Lincoln's impact on the United States. After reading a short passage, learners answer five reading comprehension questions and five vocabulary questions. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking at Photographs

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students evaluate photographs as historical documents and photographs as propaganda.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Riding the Pony Express

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders list the four W's of the Pony Express. They also write an article about Buffalo Bill Cody and discuss the important facts about the Pony Express.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Views of the American West: True or False?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explain that a landscape painting may or may not accurately represent a specific place. They identify techniques that create the illusion of three-dimensional space on a flat surface.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lewis and Clark: The Language of Discovery

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students replicate some of the trailblazing methods of Lewis and Clark on a fifteen-minute "writing journey" through the school or neighborhood.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Encounters

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students use their visualizing and interpreting skills to produce original writings and artwork.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spy on a Spider

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students view slides or live specimens to name and describe the distinguishing features of groups of arthropods, especially spiders and insects. They complete worksheets, observe webs and then search for and record where spiders can be...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Facts, Feats and Folklore: Spiders

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students review and discuss a variety of sayings, folklore and superstitions about spiders. They discuss this information and choose either an interesting fact or appealing foklore tradition to illustrate.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Celebrating the Smithsonian's Birthday

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine online objects from the Smithsonian website and use them as subjects and inspiration for creative writing exercises.
Website
Other

Civil War Looms in Zimbabwe

For Students 9th - 10th
Talks about the growing danger of a civil war in Zimbabwe due to the pressure that the West is exerting on the country to re-distribute white owned land. 8/2000
Handout
Other

About Famous People: Clara Barton: Her Life, and the American Red Cross

For Students 9th - 10th
The life and times of Clara Barton, Civil War nurse and founder of the American Red Cross.
Activity
Lone Star Junction

Lone Star Junction: Notable Texans Before 1900

For Students 9th - 10th
Lone Star Junction identifies an extensive list of high-profile Texans prior to 1900. A chart informs readers what general role in Texas history each person was involved in from Texas Revolution, Indian Wars, Civil War, and the...
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: This Week in Wv History: May

For Students 9th - 10th
This module contains a series of informational clips about major events in West Virginia's history. The May audio episodes of This Week in WV History include guided listening questions, scripts, and background information.
Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: Abraham Lincoln: Gettysburg Address

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This is the text of Abraham Lincoln's famous speech, "The Gettysburg Address," delivered November 19, 1863, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This page also offers audio readings by six famous people: Johnny Cash, Jeff Daniels, Jim Getty,...
Handout
Other

Gmsp: Military Career of General Meade

For Students 3rd - 8th
A detailed biography of General George Meade, a military man and eventual leader of Pennsylvania troops during the Civil War. Outlines his military career in detail.
Article
Texas State Historical Association

Texas State Historical Association: Francis Richard Lubbock

For Students 9th - 10th
A short biography of Francis R. Lubbock, who became governor of Texas in 1861. He later served in the military until the end of the Civil War, then as the state treasurer of Texas.
Website
Other

David Holt: The Roots of Mountain Music

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a short history of the major influences that have combined to create mountain music, one of which is minstrel music. Provides a good decription of minstrel music in general. Includes names and descriptions of specific songs,...
Activity
Scholastic

Scholastic: Culture & Change, Evolution of Black History

For Students 3rd - 8th
Explore the Black History in America in the lives of famous African Americans. Features include a clickable interactive timeline that highlights important events, accomplishments, and personalities from 1492 to 2001.