Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area
Life as a Pioneer
Students examine historical documents and research why early pioneers settled on the Iowa prairie. They review maps, describe the impact of railroading, describe life in pioneer times, and identify the effects of drought, prairie fire,...
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Drought
Young scholars gain knowledge about the impact of drought in agriculture. They investigate soil types, water flow, and various erosion conditions which occur during a drought and see how farming practices changed after the 1930's.
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Dark Days on the Prairie
Fourth graders research the location and causes of the Dust Bowl in 1935. In support, they interpret photos from that period in Oklahoma history, They also compare/contrast the American Dust Bowl to the dust storms that occurred in...
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What Does Bird Flu Mean to Students?
Students consider the far-reaching effects of the avian flu. For this personal health lesson, students visit selected websites to discover information about the flu, viral infections, and intensive farming. Students...
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Pottery-making Methods
Students become experimental archaeologists using three methods of pottery making before the invention of the pottery wheel.
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Mediterranean Trade in the Late Bronze Age
Seventh graders analyze the amount and conditions of trade in the late Bronze Age. In groups, they research where a variety of items and goods originated. They participate in Mediterranean trade days in which they try to acquire as...
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Earliest Americans
Students study the Earliest Americans. In this interactive lesson on the Native Americans, students study different tribes over the course of seven lessons. Students culminate their studies with a presentation and assessment.
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America on the Move
In this transportation instructional activity, 3rd graders red short passages about different forms of transportation and how each evolved. students then answer 15 multiple choice and short answer questions with 1-2 questions...
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Ancient Greece
In this Ancient Greece worksheet, students read a 3 page article on Ancient Greece, answer 3 facts about Ancient Greek with multiple choice answers, answer 4 statements as true or false and answer 4 fill in the blank facts about Ancient...
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Leschi: Justice in Our Time
Students examine the lives of the Nisqually people and the resource consumption philosophy. In this Native American philosophy lesson, students use primary sources to understand the resource consumption philosophy and then evaluate their...
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The Fact Finders
Students analyze agricultural data and make predictions about events in history. In this history lesson, students correlate the relationship between historic events and issues in agriculture to see if there is a correlation. They analyze...
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Island Research
Young scholars will work in small groups to gather information about the geography, history, economy, climate, culture, and other aspects of life on the island of Eleuthera. Lesson contains adaptations for all levels.
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It's Just a Barn
Investigate Pennsylvania Barns. Have your class consider the elements common to Pennsylvanian barns and why they are significant to the food production process. They write summaries of Frederick Watts and his impact on agriculture.
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Egyptian Hireroglyphs
Fifth graders identify the aspects of Ancient Egyptians and Heiroglyphs. They compare and contrast Egyptian Hieroglyphs with the decimal number system. Students recognize the decimal number system and compares to bases other than ten.
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Living in Kansas Today
Students compare and contrast urban and rural communities. In this geography skills lesson, students discover the attributes of the settings and respond to questions about cities and farms.
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Taming the Wild Aurochs
Sixth graders read and discuss the domestication of animals in history. In this Aurochs reading lesson, 6th graders define vocabulary and list similarities and differences between wild and domesticated animals. Students complete an...
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Aqueduct Architecture: Moving Water to the Masses in Ancient Rome
Ninth graders compare ancient and modern technology in water transporting. For this lesson on the evolution of the aqueduct, 9th graders build a working aqueduct model and examine its components. They explain the importance and use of...
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Next Year's Seeds
Students play a game that demonstrates variables that affect farming. They write letters requesting free seed catalogs. They discuss the saying "A penny saved is a penny earned" in relation to what they learned from playing the attached...
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Economic Choices for Exploring the Fronteir
Fourth graders explain the hardship of economic limitations in Westward Expansion . They describe the effects of fluctuations in supply and demand. They put themselves in the place of pioneers hoping to build a homestead.
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Endangered Species !: Why Are Species Endangered?
Students explore the various issues and problems faced by endangered species globally. They research the plight of endangered species, create a poster of a selected animal, and present their poster and research to the class.
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Frogs Losing Ground
Students explore an exhibit through an interactive program on frogs. They can listen to the different sounds frogs make and the different types of frogs. They search for the types of frogs they find in their local area.
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Harvest the Wind
Wind is a natural resource available around the world. Help your pupils appreciate the power and importance of wind by researching wind farms, making pinwheels, and designing windmills.
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Flowers and Plants
Students are assigned to bring five flowers. They explore flowers to distinguish different physical features of flowers. They compare and contrast different flowers to determine what features they have in common. Students develop an...
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EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all About It!
Young scholars are able to synthesize information on increasing regulatory reforms during the Progressive Era through individual research and presentation of material. They are responsible for a list of regulatory reforms with dates and...