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Mapping Population Changes In The United States

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students create a choropleth map to illustrate the population growth rate of the United States. They explore how to construct a choropleth map, and discuss the impact of population changes for the future.
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The Philippines-U.S. Involvement

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students research and discuss the rational for U.S. involvement in the Philippines. They discuss overall foreign and domestic policies of the U.S. Then they create a timeline that highlights this impact.
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In the Wake of Columbus

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students explore how the population decreased in native cultures.
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Recognizing and Combating Segregation in U.S. Schools Today

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the prevalence of racism and statistical segregation in America's schools. They design a project to investigate how the racial makeup of their school compares to other schools. In addition, they evaluate their design...
Lesson Plan
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Pre-Colonial Native American Groups

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate U.S. history by researching the Internet and taking a test. In this American Indian group lesson, students identify the many specific Native American tribes and their geographic locations. Students research the web...
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U.S. Political Map

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore the symbols found in a map legend. In this map skills lesson, students locate the legend on a political map and explain what each of the symbols mean. Students locate and identify several symbols on the map.
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Population Diversity And Human Rights

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the concept of economic sanctions. In this population diversity and human rights lesson, students examine how the United States uses economic sanctions to support or prohibit international activities. High...
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Culture Regions of the U.S.

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners identify the location of different cultural groups within the United States (agricultural, retirement, urban, etc.) They map these areas and analyze the correlation between the landscape of a given region and the type of...
Lesson Plan
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Human Ecology: How it Relates to Population

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders are introduced to the concept of population. In groups, they research the problems associated with overpopulation and underpopulation. They practice calculating birth and death rates and discus how they can be used to...
Lesson Plan
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Populations in the Path of Natural Hazards

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read "Geographical Mobility: 1995-2000." They examine the maps in the handouts and compare them with maps from an atlas. In the second part of this lesson, students read "In Harm's Way." They receive three more handouts, one a...
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Unit Plan Template

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Use this U.S. History unit plan as a template for creating your own! Simply download the resource and edit the text fields with your own customized unit plan. This is a great jumping-off step, especially for newer teachers. 
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People On The Move

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students describe patterns of internal migration in the United States, past and present and evaluate implications of internal migration. They examine population movement at the state and local levels.
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Immigrants to Kansas: Why Did They Come

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore U.S. History by researching Kansas. In this immigration lesson, students discuss the benefits of immigrating to a state like Kansas in the 1800's while writing their thoughts and research in a reporter's notebook....
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The Good, the Bad, and the Goofy

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Upper elementary learners read about jobs on a cattle drive and the lives of cowboy during U.S. Westward Expansion. They create a "Help Wanted" poster for one of the jobs. After reading primary source accounts of cowboys, they write...
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The Revolving Door: U.S. Immigration

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students compare current cultural perceptions of the immigrant experience with ones of the past. They will relate current immigration stories as seen in the PBS documentary "The New Americans" to those of the historical past.
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As Simple as Beans: Canada's Population

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students gather facts about Canada from various maps. In this Canada lesson, students use beans to relate the populations of the U.S. and Canada. Students create population distribution maps based on the placement of the beans. 
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Where Do People Move To Or From?

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students identify countries of origin of their ancestors, graph patterns of migration to the U.S. and Hawaii, then utilize oral history as a primary document by interviewing their ancestors or parents to explain why they moved to their...
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About the U.S.A.

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students research the United States and discover its different climate zones, geographical features, animal life, and various cultures. Students complete a research chart using books, encyclopedias and the internet and present their...
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Take Me Out To the Ball Game

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars use a map to graph and locate major league teams of different sports. In groups, they analyze the population data of the United States and compare it with the amount and location of the major league teams. They share their...
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Push and Pull Factors on Migration

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers investigate push and pull factors. In this population trends lesson plan, students examine primary sources that help them comprehend how push and pull factors have changed over time. 
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Site and Situation: Right Place at the Right Time

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers put their geography skills to work. In this geography skills instructional activity, students research maps and other primary and secondary sources to simulate the site selection process for the Pennsylvania Railroad...
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The Motivation for Movement

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the geographic theme of movement. In this migration lesson plan, students discuss push-pull factors that motivate immigrants and interpret illegal immigration data. Students also discuss the difficulties that illegals face.
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These Maps are for the Birds

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students identify and study New York State Breeding Bird Atlas maps to learn where different bird species nest and how their distributions have changed over time. They also identify how maps serve as representations of a geographic...
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Hafta Do NAFTA?

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students examine the benefits and problems of U.S. participation in the North American Free Trade Agreement. In two groups, students represent the campaign team for a presidential candidate, one for and one against NAFTA, and research...