Curated OER
The Power of Speech
Students prepare and deliver a speech on equal rights. They explore equal rights issues as they practice the skills necessary for public speaking.
Curated OER
"War of the Worlds": A Broadcast Re-Creation
Why did Orson Welles' 1938 Broadcast of a adaptation of H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds cause such a panic? To answer this question, class members listen to the original broadcast and research the panic that resulted. They then engage...
Curated OER
Changing Perspectives on the Japanese Internment Experience
Students explore the issue of Japanese-American internment. In this World War II lesson, students analyze historical biases regarding Japanese-American internment as they analyze literature, research print and Internet sources, and...
Curated OER
Paint's Family Tree
Students sort and classify the genetic traits of horses. In this heredity and genetics instructional activity, students read dialogue in a skit in which specific physical traits of several horses are described and a horse family tree is...
Curated OER
World Wide Web Historical Timeline
Students use newspapers and magazines to identify six recent political and social events from around the world. In groups, they use a timeline template to place the events on the timeline in chronological order. They share with the...
Curated OER
Native American Research
Students investigate an Native American tribal group. They conduct research using a variety of resources. The subject areas to focus on are religious life, history, social structures, economics, geography, and environment. Students...
Curated OER
Refugees from the Caribbean: Cuban and Haiti "Boat People"
Students investigate the plight of Cuban and Haitian refugees. In this refugee lesson, students discover the history of "boat people" and U.S. policies regarding refugees. Students role play presidential advisers that must recommend new...
Curated OER
Famous People and Cultural Diffusion
High schoolers use the internet to identify cultural traditions throughout the world. In groups, they examine each culture and determine the effect they had on life in the United States. They use this information to write a family...
Curated OER
Rock n' Rollin in the '50s
High schoolers explore the culture of the United States in the 1950's. In this history lesson, students research culture in the 1950's, with a focus on fashion, music, television, automobiles, etc., then work in groups to create a...
Curated OER
Westward Expansion: The American Indian Experience
Students complete a brief presentation documenting the life of an American Indian. In class, students discuss the pros and cons of placing American Indians on a reservation. After their discussion, students choose a issue in Native...
Curated OER
Dinosaurs Were Real!
Students investigate the history of dinosaurs, as real animals. In this dinosaur lesson plan, students examine basic concepts that help them understand the history of all life. Included in this article is information on the world of the...
Curated OER
Planning A Railroad Online Lesson
Students plan a route across Donner Summit using topographical maps in order to understand the challenges involved in constructing the railroad in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In this history lesson plan, students first discover how to...
Curated OER
refugees From Vietnam and Cambodia
Tenth graders explore the massive immigration from Vietnam and Cambodia. In this World History lesson, 10th graders examine the crisis that led to this immigration. Students participate in a debate on whether the United...
Curated OER
How Do We Balance Environmental Conservation with Human Needs?
Students role play a meeting between conservation biologists and local representatives who want to advance the livelihood of local population. In this history lesson, students research the necessities and conservation issues of given...
Curated OER
The Odyssey of a Coin
Middle schoolers create a fictitious newspaper article to document the travels of an ancient Greek coin. They evaluate the economic conditions that existed in ancient Greece and analyze the impact Alexander the Great had on the ancient...
Curated OER
Animals in Myths and Real Life
Learners research the role of lions, elephants, and bears in ancient Roman life and mythology. They develop a strong understanding of the role animals played in important ancient Roman historical events and myths.
Curated OER
Show Me a Flowerpot
Students compare and contrast handmade and machine-made products in a study about the evolution of production processes in American history. In this production history lesson, students explore a flowerpot in depth. Students make their...
Curated OER
Traveler's Trunk
Pupils analyze and interpret artifacts from the 1920s and explore the Great Migration. In this 1920s history lesson, students review background information about the Great Migration and use artifacts to study history of Chicago. Pupils...
Curated OER
Rivers of Change
Third graders examine rivers and how they affect the people living around them. They read a chapter in their science text, take a virtual river tour online, read a background information story, and in pairs describe the changes in the...
Curated OER
About Life: The Photographs of Dorothea Lange
Students use art to analyze a period in history. In this lesson plan about the effect of art on history, students study many different pieces of photography by Dorothea Lange. Students will observe photographs from certain time periods...
Curated OER
Time in a Teakettle
Students compare and contrast the development of teakettles. In this artifacts lesson, students divide into groups and examine different teakettles. Students complete an artifact analysis worksheet, draw a picture of their kettle and...
Curated OER
A Toast To The Past
Students analyze, and research the identity of the non electric toaster as a historical artifact. In this toaster lesson plan, students then create a visual timeline of toaster history.
Curated OER
Designing a Flag
Fourth graders design a flag. In this social studies lesson, 4th graders discuss the basic principles of flags. Students research flags and flag designs. Students work in teams to design a flag using the computer.
Curated OER
Symposia: Scholarly Parties
Students hold a symposium during which students debate the benefits of democracy in ancient Greece and the United States. By doing this, students explain the role of symposia in ancient Greek culture and politics.