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Cultural and Historical Meaning: Little Johnny Brown
Learners perform a folk dance and discuss its cultural and historical meanings. They review the dance and perform it, beginning with four individuals who dance with confidence right from the start.
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Time Conceptualization
Pupils relate the number and length of generations in their living family members to the number of generations that have passed since specific events in recorded history. They then apply this time conceptualization to the number of...
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My Secret War: Lesson 1
Fifth graders explore historical fiction. In this genre study lesson, 5th graders go on a text feature scavenger hunt to identify the parts of a historical fiction text. Additionally, students read the book, My Secret War and discuss...
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The Function of Music
Explore concepts of audience, purpose and symbols in this lesson from Media Smarts that asks high schoolers to consider all the functions of music. Through a series of discussions and activities, your class will brainstorm possible...
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Interviewing Famous Leaders in History
Students explore historical figures. In this history/research lesson, students use a variety of research materials to learn about the historical figure of their choice. Students write questions and responses as if they were interviewing...
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My Story and History: Peeking into the Past with Paintings
Consider how you can use a visual source, such as a painting, to learn about a historical time or event. Young learners discuss primary sources and how they differ from secondary sources, then analyze the painting Mother and Child by...
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Comparing Visual Interpretations and Actual Events: War & Battle
A Venn Diagram is used to compare artistic and historical representations of a single event. Young analysts view the provided images, read textbook descriptions, and discuss the validity of each representation in terms of bias and...
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Writing American Diaries
Young scholars examine the concept of historical perspective in writing. They read the diary of Sally Wister, a young Patriot from Philadelphia during the Revolutionary Era. Additionally, they must include different points of view in...
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Solving the Puzzle
Students create a map showing the United States borders at a specific period in history and produce three questions to be answered by examining the map. They also write a productive paragraph explaining who, what, when, where, how/why a...
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Analyzing Visual of Samson and the Lion
What strategies do historians use for interpreting visuals? This simple activity lists four questions that learners can use to approach and analyze historical photographs, fine pieces of art, etc., as well as an opportunity to apply the...
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Chairs, Rooms, and Time Travel
Students compare and contrast two chairs that were made in different time periods. In this compare and contrast lesson students will compare two chairs They will then create a collage that takes place in a historic scene inspired by...
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Reading A Historical Photograph
Students examine a historical photograph to gather information and draw conclusions.
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The Classical Period
Sixth graders are introduced to the classical period in music history. After listening to examples, they identify and describe the characteristics of music during this time period and research the main composers. Using the internet,...
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Elizabethan England Worksheet
Set the stage for your next literary or historical adventure into Elizabethan England with this straightforward activity, which includes questions covering the political, social, and economic situation of the period. Ask your class to...
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A Journey Through Time
In this science worksheet, students research a specific time frame to discover major scientific developments and historical events. Then they identify at least 50 events and write a brief description of each. Students also create a time...
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Postcards in Time
Students write and send postcards to and from famous historical figures.
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The Chicago River's Journey through Time
Students create a book, which shows the changes in the Chicago River throughout time. They demonstrate their comprehension of the major historical changes in the Chicago River. Students create their own book titled: The Chicago River's...
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Historical Heroes and Character Sketches
Young scholars write a character sketch and present it in first person. In this historical heroes and character sketches lesson, students "meet" Harriet Tubman (played by their teacher) and discuss her...
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Roaring Twenties: The Impact of High School on its Students Over Time
Eleventh graders compare the American high school experience of the 1920's to today. In this historical perspectives lesson, 11th graders examine surveys from 1924 high school students and then create their own surveys for today's high...
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Prairie Voices: Spare Time
Students examine forms of recreation throughout the last 150 years. For this leisure time lesson, students investigate leisure activities in pre- and post-industrial society as they listen to a teacher-led lecture and discuss their...
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Time Conceptualization
Students use this activity to establish a new mode of reference to the conceptualization of time. To present hominid evolution in terms of millions of years and endosymbiosis of eukaryotes in billions of years carries little meaning to...
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The Declaration of Independence: From Rough Draft to Proclamation
Learners discover how the Declaration of Independence transformed from a draft to a treasured historical document. In this Declaration of Independence instructional activity, students discuss the context in which Jefferson wrote the...
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Tracing the Impact of Historical Figures
Pupils discuss impact of various historical figures from different periods in time, read about and take notes on one assigned historical figure, and create photo journals of their experiences.
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Writing a Historical Fiction Story
Middle schoolers create a historical fiction story. In this historical fiction lesson, students choose a time period to use as their setting. They create a story with true elements but fictional characters and plot.