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An Orderly Wagon Train Migration
Sixth graders work in small groups to organize a wagon train for a trek westward. They determine leadership responsibilities and rules needed to make a successful trek.
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Gender Roles
Students explore psychology by answering gender study questions. In this sexuality lesson, students discuss the stereotypes often referred to men and woman and what the truth is about their characteristics and abilities. Students...
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Communities and Biomes
In this biomes worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle by figuring out the answers to 17 clues focused on communities and biomes.
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Dark Voice
In this current events activity, students analyze a political cartoon by African-American Oliver Harrington and respond to 3 talking point questions.
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On the Oregon Trail
Students work with primary documents and latter-day photographs to recapture the experience of traveling on the Oregon Trail. Working in groups, they write a scene for the movie that is historically accurate and based on the kinds of...
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The High and the Flighty
Students study women aviators and act out a talk show-style interview with one of them. They plot Amelia Earhart's flights on a map.
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Water-The Liquid Gold
Young scholars investigate the necessity of water for the survival of plants, animals, and people. They explore the affect that water has on human and natural environments through literature, field trips, and discussions.
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Speedy Succession
Fifth graders investigate how a pond ecosystem can change into a prairie or grassland ecosystem. They observe a small pond ecosystem in a two liter soda bottle, and examine and record changes over a two-week period of time on a worksheet.
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Mankind's Fascination With Flight
Students read various novels and articles about the contributions of the Wright Brothers. Individually, they are tested on their comprehension of the material and discuss. In groups, they research the role of the people in their life...
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Push or Pull
Students study the forces, push and pull. They conduct demonstrations of pushing and pulling. They examine the Nebraska state quarter for an example of pulling.
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Beautiful and Sublime Landscapes
Students examine images created by painters, and create an artistic rendition of the landscape in the photograph following the chosen aesthetic.
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"Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt" by Deborah Hopkinson
Students create paper quilts of their own using the isometric grid that tessellates the plane or the fraction quilt square.
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Wagons West: Report
Have your middle schoolers choose a topic about the Oregon Trail to research for an informative report. They are given a list of report ideas and the components required when composing an informational report. Then, they choose one of...
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The lesson: Walter Tull
Students explore the accomplishments of Walter Tull. In this role models lesson, students track the news about celebrities for a week. Students compare the news about he celebrities to the achievements of Walter Tull, former football...
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Those Before Us
Students examine medical pioneers and identify their characteristics. They survey their contributions to the medical field and society and present persuasive argument for or against modern medical pioneers.
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Heritage: Patchwork Quilting
Fourth graders read the book "The Quilt Story" and point out likenesses and differences in pioneer and modern times, as well as the importance of the quilt throughout the story. They work as one large group to create their own patchwork...
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Oregon Trail Diary
Students write a diary. In this writing and creativity lesson, students pretend they are moving west and keep a diary about their adventures. Students study real-life scenarios about families who made the trip out west before writing...
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The Frontier and Frontiersmen
In this frontier worksheet, students read a 2 page article on the early frontier life, answer 5 facts from the article with multiple choice answers and determine if 2 statements are true or false.
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Chance (Probability) Operations in Dance Composition -
Eighth graders investigate modern-dance choreographer Merce Cunningham's historically significant contribution to dance-making history. Specifically, 8th graders explore and practice Merce Cunningham's choreographic use of chance...
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Dirt Babies
What exactly is a dirt baby, you might ask. Look over the plan to find out! All of the materials and procedures necessary for creating a dirt baby, such as grass seeds, dirt, and nylon stockings, are listed, along with ideas for...
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Memorials and Meaning
Young scholars explore the Civil War. In this Civil War lesson, students collaborate to research the war. They examine Matthew Brady photographs that inspire them to create a memorial to honor those who served in the Civil War.
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Rachel Carson
In this famous person activity, students read a passage about Rachel Carson and then complete a variety of in-class and homework activities to support comprehension, including partner interviews, spelling, cloze, synonym...
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Landforms And The Oregon Trail
Fourth graders investigate the historical context for the founding of The Oregon Trail. They conduct research to put together the events that led to the geographical route that was taken. The lesson also strengthens geography skills with...
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"Families and Schools of the Past"
First graders listen to and discuss historical fiction and bigraphies from the early American time period. They role-play, draw, write stories and dress up to re-create events from these historical characters.