Curated OER
The Height of Diplomacy
Students explore issues that might be discussed at the G8 summit meeting hosted by the U.S. after reading and discussing the article "World Leaders Get a Glimpse of America's High Life" from The New York Times. Students work in groups...
Curated OER
George Washington: Our First President
Young scholars explore the life of George Washington. In this George Washington instructional activity, students consider the leadership qualities of the first president as they listen to a description of his life and the create...
Curated OER
The Mayflower Story Up-Close and Personal
Students gain a deeper understanding of what the early colonists experienced in search of a new life in America while giving them a taste of historical methodology. This is an engaging way to assess what your students know about the...
Curated OER
A Flip of Life in the 13 Colonies
Fourth graders create a flip book illustrating the 13 original colonies. They study the growth and development of each of the three groups of the original colonies. They use maps to observe and interpret geographic information and...
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Exploring Pioneer America
Fourth graders research pioneers who had a strong influence on westward expansion. In this westward expansion lesson, 4th graders write an essay about four pioneers and an interview script about one. Students work in pairs to present...
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What can money tell us?
Students study the physical presence, imagery and written text on a reproduction of colonial currency. They apply their research to a modern day quarter to compare and contrast two coins. In addition, they design their own colonial...
Curated OER
Understanding the Declaration of Independence
Students work in groups to do a document analyxix of several documents. Students view the Martin Luther King speech, "I Have a Dream." They discuss the Battle of Saratoge. Students give a personal view of the reason the Declaration of...
Teacher Vision
The First Thanksgiving - Pilgrim Study Unit
Students explain the origins of Thanksgiving. As a class, they list all the meanings, stories, and images that come into their minds when they hear the word "Thanksgiving." After reading about Thanksgiving, pairs of students create 4...
iCivics
Wanted: A Just Right Government
What type of government did American colonists gain and seek after gaining their independence after the Revolutionary War? Here is lesson that will guide your young learners through the new nation's progression from the Articles of...
Curated OER
Settlements
Fifth graders discover colonial life. In this settlements lesson, 5th graders read a case study and research colonial life. Students present their findings and perspective from the view of Samuel Daggett.
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Hunters/Gatherers
Students discuss the ways in which an environment is used to provide the basic necessities of life. In groups, they compare and contrast how different hunter and gatherer groups have used the environment to their advantage. They place...
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Jamestown Colonies and the Powhatan Indians
Eighth graders discuss the Jamestown colony and the Powhatan Indians. In this colonial history instructional activity, 8th graders talk about conflicts between the Native Americans and the colonists. They read a biography about...
Curated OER
Pilgrim's Progress- Get on the Boat
Students investigate the Pilgrims and their journey. In this history lesson, students role play the journey of the Pilgrims and discuss the conditions of the Mayflower. Students record their feelings about the "journey" in a journal.
Curated OER
Colonial Maps
Students discover the history of America by identifying the traditional colonies. In this U.S. history instructional activity, students examine a world map and identify where the voyagers left from Europe to arrive at the United...
Curated OER
Jamestown Journey Part 4
Fourth graders review their prior knowledge from the previous lessons of this unit on Jamestown. After reading a novel, they examine and discuss the life of Pocahontas. Using the internet, they answer comprehension questions and write...
Curated OER
Jamestown
Fifth graders research the Jamestown settlement and examine life in the colonies from 1607-1610. They explore websites, develop a timeline, select two settlers to research, and write three letters written from the point of view of their...
Curated OER
Language Arts: Native Americans and Onomatopoeias
Fifth graders read the Native American tale, "The Frog and the Crane," focusing on the use of onomatopoeia in it. In groups, they brainstorm list of words that are examples of the device. Finally, 5th graders write their own stories...
Curated OER
The Arrival
Students construct classroom rules. In this philanthropy lesson, students investigate The Mayflower Compact made by the Pilgrims and use it as a guide to form their own classroom rules. Students work in small groups.
Curated OER
Jamestown Journey Part 3
Fourth graders study the economy of Jamestown. In this early settlers lesson, 4th graders read about the trade between the English and the natives in Jamestown. This lesson is part of a larger unit and coincides with the novel The Double...
Curated OER
The Canterbury Tales
Learners read Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and examine life in the Middle Ages. They create word webs and timelines about the Middle Ages. They complete research papers on chivalry and Thomas a Becket.
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Modern Day Pilgrims
Eleventh graders explore how modern day immigrants may be pilgrims in their own respect. They learn what immigrants and pilgrims are, and be assigned to demonstrate learning about an immigrant in their ancestry.
Curated OER
American Beginnings
Eleventh graders examine the role of historians. In this American History lesson, 11th graders analyze document based questions. Students write a summary of these documents.
Curated OER
Comparison between Wampanoag and Pilgrims
Second graders compare and contrast the lives of Pilgrims and Wampanoag. Students conduct research using an interactive website and collect information about each group. Students then decide which they would rather be, a Pilgrim or a...
Curated OER
Intro to Witch on Blackbird Pond
Fourth graders read Witch on Blackbird Pond and understand the difficulties of traveling to America during the colonial period. In this Witch on Blackbird Pond lesson, 4th graders compare the choices we have in traveling to America...