Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Perceptions of Cultures Influences Perceptions and Historical Outcomes

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils research different ethnic groups that lived in the United States. They compare and contrast Spanish, African American and Native American cultures and how American culture interacted with them. They present their findings using...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson One: The Historian's Craft

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine a fairy tale villain (such as the wolf from the Three Little Pigs or the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz). Next, they complete a worksheet considering the challenges presented by historical resources.
Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

Fossils

For Students 6th - 12th
Sixteen slides showcase an average day on the job for a paleontologist, Ross MacPhee. Engaging images include world maps and real-world photographs from an archeological dig in Antarctica. A brief description accompanies each slide.
Lesson Plan
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The Kanaka Village at Fort Vancouver: Crossroads of the Columbia River

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars study the interaction between Native American and European cultures in the Pacific Northwest in the 1800s. They focus their study on the Hudson's Bay Company and Fort Vancouver.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Internment of Japanese-Americans in Arkansas during WWII

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars identify the location, purpose, and details of the 2 Internment Camps in Arkansas for Japanese-Americans during WWII.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Freed Slaves

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners are given the identify of a newly freed slave at the end of the Civil War. Students participate in a discussion to explore some of the difficulties and decision making freed slaves had to consider. Learners present their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Which Side Would You Be On?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders describe how the French and Indian War resulted in expansion of United States Territory and analyze information from two or more sources for agreements, contradictions, facts, and opinions.
Worksheet
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Geography and Topography, History and Architecture

For Students 6th - 10th
In this social studies lesson plan, students answer short answer questions about the geography, topography, history, and architecture of the east part of the United States. Students complete 24 questions.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Manifest Destiny

For Students 6th - 8th
In this United States history worksheet, students utilize a word bank of 10 terms or phrases to answer 10 fill in the blank questions pertaining to Manifest Destiny. A short answer question is included as well.
Worksheet
Curated OER

West Virginia: Reading Comprehension

For Students 4th - 6th
In this West Virginia reading comprehension worksheet, students read a 2-page selection regarding the state and then respond to 10 true or false questions
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In the Footsteps of West Virginia

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students prepare for a visit to the West Virginia State Museum. In this West Virginia history lesson, students research the individuals whose leadership impacted the state. Students create multimedia projects featuring the individuals...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Here’s the overview for a series of lessons about the Japanese American internment introduced by the resource entitled “A Fence Away From Freedom.” Included are the link to the Smithsonian website on which the lessons are based, a list...
Organizer
Curated OER

Indians and White Americans

For Students 5th - 6th
In this American history worksheet, students complete a chart comparing 6 aspects of American Indian and White American culture. Students then answer 2 essay questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Uluburun Shipwreck Project: Interconnections through Trade in the Late Bronze Age Mediterranean World

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine causes and effects of the Uluburun shipwreck. In groups, they develop their own ways to categorize the artifacts found on the ship and decide on the research questions they are going to focus on. They use the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Donner Online

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders participate in a simulation of the Donner Party in order to learn more about this episode in history. In this social studies instructional activity, 4th graders take on a role which dictates their group job; each role was...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Manifest Destiny

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils identify the implications of Manifest Destiny. In this Westward Expansion lesson plan, students view a PowerPoint presentation on the topic and then respond to questions based on the details of the presentation.
Lesson Plan
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The Industrial Revolution

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the time period of the Industrial revolution in American history.  In this American History lesson, 8th graders read the chapter on this time period.  Students create a presentation on this time period to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Texas Cowboy: Myth and Reality

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders distinguish fact from myth when discussing the history of cowboys. They observe, discuss, and analyze works of art that refer to the cowboy lifestyle.
Lesson Plan
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Gold Rush California and its Diverse Population

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students compare contemporary cultural differences with historical differences based on population percentage. For this cross-curriculum Gold Rush/math lesson, students analyze aspects of California's Gold Rush population and diversity...
Lesson Plan
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Understanding Political Cartoons

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students draw two political cartoons. They compare the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890 to the stand-off that took place at Wounded Knee in l973. They examine the role that Manifest Destiny played in the West.
Lesson Plan
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U.S. History: The Progressive Era

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the Colonial Revival Movement as a response to industrialization and immigration. focusing on Deerfield, Connecticut, they create a documentary artifact reflecting the period.
Lesson Plan
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Whose Manifest Destiny?

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students examine the Westward expansion. In this North American settlers lesson, students will view a PowerPoint presentation and answer critical thinking questions. Students will write an essay that analyzes the impact of westward...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westward Expansion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore the Westward Expansion Movement of U.S. history. For this Westward movement lesson, students use primary and secondary source documents research personal accounts of those who travelled west during the era....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Formation and Value of Temperate Grasslands

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students study the Temperate Grasslands biome of North America. They explain that it is an endangered ecosystem because the rich soils have been converted to farming in most areas. They view videos imbedded in this plan, then complete...