Students learn how slaves communicated with each other.  In this slavery and freedom instructional activity, students learn how slaves used quilts as maps, learn what different quilt patterns meant, draw a picture for their class...

Students create portraits, short stories, hugging hands, and more crafts for Mother's Day. In this Mother's Day lesson plan, students also create flower pots and answer short answer questions.

Students explore "The Story of Ruby Bridges," by Robert Coles to uncover examples of courage in the lives of others and in themselves. This search into the story is meant to help students form connections with others and to foster the...

Challenge your class with this lesson focusing on the fifty states. Learners use ArcMap to show the route the main character in the story Journey of Oliver K. Woodman took across the United States. Then, they write journal...

Students consider how we learn about the past and discuss how the framing of history is always done by the person who is telling it. They construct a personal and class timelines, compare two or more accounts of the same event and record...

Second graders practice asking the 5 W questions by reading a Boxcar Children book.  In this journalism instructional activity, 2nd graders read a single story from the Boxcar Children series and answer the 5 W's about each...

Students practice basic map and geographic skills as they compare Oregon to Wales. Students color map of Wales and Oregon using color codes to distinguish between land, water, and bordering nations or states, listen to stories and...

Accompany a reading of First Come the Zebra written and illustrated by Lynne Barasch with a teacher's guide equipped with before reading, vocabulary, and after reading activities. Additional social studies,...

Learners investigate diversity. In this diversity instructional activity, students look at a variety of apples in order to compare and contrast their physical characteristics. They apply the concept to people by listing how people are...

Pupils determine that their lifetime shows just a small piece of history. They determine how two or more accounts of the same event can be different. They write an account of the same event from two perspectives.

Students explore tableaux.  In this social studies and fine arts cross curriculum lesson, students work in groups of four to create "frozen" stage pictures (tableaux) representing vocabulary and concepts from a "From Farm to You"...

Students investigate the concept of friendship as part of a four lessons unit which integrates literature with language arts, family life, social studies, or religious studies. Peace, cooperation, social justice, and multicultural...

Students take a closer look at the balance of trade. In this current events lesson, students watch PBS video clips about American trade with China. Students research Chinese production and consumerism in order to determine how...

Second graders examine unique family traditions. In this family tradition lesson plan, 2nd graders listen to a book about immigration. They interview a family member to determine where their ancestors came from and choose an article to...

Students discover the qualities of friends. In this character education lesson, students read the poem "Coke-bottle Brown" by Nikki Grimes. Students then discuss the Golden Rule and how it applies to friendships. 

Learners investigate the Louisiana Purchase by reviewing the ABC's of the purchase. Each letter of the alphabet is accompanied by information pertaining to the event. They participate in a variety of activities to reinforce the concepts...