Curated OER
Mate Selection: Characteristics, Qualities, and Values
Students develop a personal philosophy about marriage. They compose a personal list of characteristics, qualities, and values desired in a marriage partner and discuss why "You Don't Marry What You Want You Marry What You are".
Curated OER
Landforms By Hand: Geography, Map Skills
Students experiment with landform vocabulary by using their own hands and a bar of soap as media.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Life on the Great Plains
A detailed lesson plan that explores "the concept of region and how culture and experience influence the perception of regions." Site provides many excellent websites for learners and teachers to explore during their study of the Great...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: The Challenges of the Great Plains Farmer
Young scholars will work in groups of four to create presentations using their research on a particular farming invention that was created from (1837-1867) and also research specific elements about life on the Great Plains. Each group's...
OpenStax
Open Stax: The Great Depression 1929 1932: The Depths of the Great Depression
Examines the challenges faced by the average American, by African Americans, and by farmers on the Great Plains during the Great Depression, and the government's response or lack thereof.
The History Cat
The History Cat: War on the Great Plains: The Last Indian Wars
Learn how the 30-year Indian Wars started and about the battles that were fought over those years. Describes the emergence and growth of the Ghost Dance movement that was initially envisioned by a Paiute medicine man named Wovoka. White...
US National Archives
Laura Ingalls Wilder Teaching Unit: Pioneer Life With Laura
A great lesson using the books of Laura Ingalls Wilder to teach about pioneer life on the plains. Filled with before reading and during reading activities and questions.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: Our Story: Life in a Sod House
Imagine moving into a house made out of sod that you and your family had to build in the middle of a prairie! Find great information and activities that will help you understand how it felt to live on the prairie.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Life on the Farm
With the passage of the Homestead Act, settlers could own 160 acres for free. Read about the problems that faced the new farmers both economically and from Mother Nature.
PBS
Pbs: The Dust Bowl
You are about to embark on an experience that will show you what life was like on the southern Great Plains during the Dust Bowl. On your journey, you will learn about the changing market and weather conditions and be asked to make...
University of North Carolina
North American Slave Narratives: Life and Adventures of Nat Love
Provides the text of the book, "The Life and Adventures of Nat Love," an autobiography written by Nat Love.
Wessels Living History Farm
Wessels Living History Farm
The Wessels Living History Farm of York County, Nebraska, offers a look at what it was like to live on a Great Plains farm in the 1920s. The farm's attractive and well organized website includes interviews with people who remember life...
Nebraska Studies
Nebraska Studies: Building a Sod House
Here's great information on building sod houses. You can even watch a video of a famous two-story sod house that stood until 1967.
Siteseen
Siteseen: Land of the Brave: Francisco Vasquez De Coronado Facts
Overview and biographical facts on the life of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado who explored New Mexico and the Great Plains of Kansas.
Other
Ecological Regions of North America [Pdf]
A helpful map of North America which color codes its 15 ecological regions. Click on the different regions for a brief description of the area. Requires Adobe Reader. [PDF]
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Laura Ingalls Wilder
Site provides some historical information on early prairie life through the eyes of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Curated OER
Etc: Maps Etc: Physical Map of South America, 1898
A map from 1898 of South America showing the general physical features including mountain systems, prominent peaks and volcanoes, river and lake systems, plateaus, and coastal features. The map includes an insert of the Isthmus of...