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Pioneers to Kansas

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars investigate items for basic survival, needed for survival, and luxury items. They compare what they need to what Indians and Pioneers needed in the 1700's and 1800's.
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A Day in the Life of a San Francisco Native Animal

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students write from an animal's perspective. In this writing lesson students explore the landscape of San Francisco prior to the arrival of the explorers. Students research animals indigenous to the area.
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Thanksgiving: Multiple Perspectives

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine different perspectives about Thanksgiving that include those of the European Settlers and the Native Americans. They read and discuss an article about Plymouth being "America's Hometown." They develop a landmark for...
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Jamestown Journey Part 1

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders work to solve one of the major problems facing the Jamestown settlers, the best location to settle upon arrival in Jamestown. Students discuss and review the past European and American events that lead to the...
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Reading Trees: Understanding Dendrochronology

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine tree-ring dating and discuss the lack of water the settlers in Jamestown faced. They create paper tree rings, simulate rain patterns, and describe the history of construction paper tree sequences.
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Foundations

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the history of literature in America by looking at the types of genres first read in the United States. They look at the foundations of how the original colonists had the intention of transmitting religious and moral...
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Shall We Go Dutch?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the language and cultural differences that were encountered by the Indians and the Dutch leading to disaster for the first European settlement in Delaware.
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The Adventure Begins: "Boys I Believe I Have Found a Gold Mine!"

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Pupils view and discuss historical documents regarding Native Americans and Californians prior to the gold rush in the 1940's. They complete a variety of activities designed to show what they have learned from these sources and class...
Worksheet
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The Jamestown Colonies

For Students 8th - 12th
In this colonial American worksheet, students read a 1-page selection about the Jamestown Colony and then respond to 5 short answer questions about the selection.
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Exploring Indiana's Natural Resources

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders complete a variety of activities as they study the European exploration of the Midwest, focusing on Indiana. They map the path explorers took, comparing the British with the French. They research why the explorers stopped...
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Cut Outs: Shapes and Symbols

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students create collages based on Juan Quick-to-See Smith's "Ode to Chief Seattle." In this shapes, symbols and Native American instructional activity, students examine the "Ode to Chief Seattle" and Henri Matisse's cutout work. Students...
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My Brother Sam is Dead: A study of the Revolutionary War

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders complete an analysis of the Revolutionary War through literature. After "My Brother Sam Is Dead," students create a time capsule containing items that would be relevant during the Revolutionary War. They identify key...
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4th Grade Social Studies

For Teachers 4th
In this social studies learning exercise, 4th graders answer multiple choice questions about colonies, the Revolutionary War, geography, and more. Students complete 25 questions.
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Jackie Steals Home

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers read articles relating to Jackie Robinson's breaking of the racial barrier in professional baseball. This leads to a deeper exploration of racism in the United States. They use a variety of worksheets imbedded in this plan...
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Why Not Come to North Amercia?

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine the motives for French expansion into the New World, they evaluate primary source documents to determine who, what, when, where and why.
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ROCKING ON TO THE ROCK

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students view the illustrations of family life in the early colonies and make a list of 10 things they see. Then compare those 10 items with your life today. Then read some of the novel "Constance" and write down 8 things that are learned.
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Researching America's History

For Teachers 4th - 6th
By delving into the lives of Americans, both famous and not so famous, students can learn about history.
Worksheet
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Manifest Destiny Questions

For Students 8th - 11th
In this Westward Expansion worksheet, students respond to 7 short answer questions about America's vision of Manifest Destiny and its effects.
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Westward Expansion: Links to the Past

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the impact of Manifest Destiny. In this California history lesson, students conduct research on the settlement of the state between 1849 and 1900. Students use their findings to create scripts that link primary...
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The Cherokee Removal

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the issue of Cherokee removal from the perspectives of Andrew Jackson, members of Congress, and members of the Cherokee nation. They adopt the perspectives and engage in debate over the issue of Cherokee removal.
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Donner Online

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders participate in a simulation of the Donner Party in order to learn more about this episode in history. In this social studies instructional activity, 4th graders take on a role which dictates their group job; each role was...
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Geography of the English Settlements

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders locate several important American colonial cities on a map and research how their proximity to water and nearby arable land affected the rate and success of settlement.
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Understanding Treaties: Students Explore the Lives of Yakama People Before and After Treaties

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students role play positions in the Walla Walla treaty negotiations. They identify the significance of the Sacred Circle and other beliefs of the Native Americans. They discover the complications the tribes faced after the treaties...
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JUST A MATTER OF TIME

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students recognize the dynamic changes in themselves and in agriculture that have occurred through the years. They are shown pictures of a baby or students are asked to think of their little brothers or sisters or themselves in...