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Discovering Our Legacy of Giving

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine the characteristics of philanthropists.  In this cross- curricular lesson, 7th graders evaluate the character traits of people from a film. Students write a metaphor about responsibility to community.
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Orangeburg Massacre

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Learners study the Orangeburg Massacre. In this social studies lesson, students discuss the Civil Rights Movement and the protest movements that took place. Learners examine the events that led up to the Orangeburg Massacre at South...
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The Great Depression

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the time period of the Great Depression. In groups, they discover how the Works Progress Administration helped many workers during this time. Using the internet, they research how the government focused on the...
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Three Days at Gettysburg

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders discuss why the Battle of Gettysburg was important to the Civil War. In groups, they identify the major events of each day of the battle. They analyze how the battle changed the direction of the war and discuss the outcome.
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Vietnam and the Long-Term Effects of War

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine an image of civilians affected by the Vietnam War. They research and discuss the reasons the Vietnam War began, why America became involved, and what some of the long-term effects of this war have been.
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America's First Pictures

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders visit the Smithsonian website to search online for early photo archives about life in the mid-nineteenth century.
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South Dakota Quarter Reverse: Four Famous Faces

For Teachers K - 1st
Students recognize the faces of the four presidents on the South Dakota quarter reverse. After discussing the duties and responsibilities of presidents, they list the contributions of the four presidents. They decide which presidents are...
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The Museum on the Mountain: Miho

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are introduced to the topic of ceremonies. They create their own ceremony which symbolizes them in the present. They share them with their classmates.
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Weather: Clouds

For Teachers 1st
First graders discover how clouds are formed and how they affect weather. After being read a book, they place air into a Ziploc bag and place it in the freezer. They discuss the results and take a walk outside to observe real clouds.
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Diseases Are Real

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders research industries that contribute to sanitation and pollution problems. They investigate the direct result of unhygienic practices including disease outbreaks or specific illnesses. They create a Power Point...
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Challenges Faced by the New Nation's Presidents

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders, while in the computer lab utilizing the internet, locate primary sources to interpret and analyze the struggle of the new nation to gain the respect of European countries. They interact with a worksheet that organizes...
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Be the Historian

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students build upon their knowledge of the Corps of Discovery to research and explain the significance of gifts given to American Indians by Lewis and Clark.
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Technology in the Early 1800s

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders, in groups, select ten photos about work and technology in the early 1800's from the Smithsonian Internet site for analysis. They discuss the photos and write a short description of day in the life of a worker.
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Scrapbook of Freedom

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine what it was like for a child traveling in the Underground Railroad.
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Create a Timeline

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students make a timeline from the late 1800's to 2000 to mark significant inventions.
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Searching the THC Website

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use the internet to validate different websites. They examine the Texas Historical Commission's website and complete a question and answer section. They discuss the information they gathered with the class.
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Welcome to Leonard Bernstein's New York

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the life and musical work of Leonard Bernstein. They examine the history of New York City using three Broadway musicals in a web based lesson. They create a portrayal of their own town in this multi-lesson activity.
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Houdini

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Young scholars examine Houdini, and his legacy in the world of magice. Also, they explore documentary techniques that help tell a story. In addition, they perform a magic trick and discuss what goes into a magic act.
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Decomposing Artifacts

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders participate in an experiment in which they calculate the time of decomposition of different materials. In groups, they fill bags with different materials and cover them in soil. After six months, they create a line graph...
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Quilts, Warmth with History

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine numerous quilts that show the culture and history of Nebraska. Using the internet, they view quilts from different points in history and discuss them as a class. They examine the role quilts play in discovering...
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Immigrants East and West

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Pupils investigate the personal, political and economic events that drove people to leave their home countries. They research Chinese migrations in the 1800s and the English migrations in the 1600s. They create an identity based on...
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Social Studies: Chinese Migration to America

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine human migrations and hypothesize why Chinese immigrants came to the Pacific Northwest. In groups, they research reasons for the migration and record them on a Venn Diagram with general migratory reasons. Students...
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The Journal of a Civil War Soldier

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders write a response in their journals about the fictional thoughts of a Civil War soldier. They use specific web sites in order to research the life of a soldier during the Civil War.
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Science: Spider Models

For Teachers 1st
First graders create spider models to discover its anatomy. They use construction paper and sequins to make their spiders and use pictures as examples for their models. As an alternative, 1st graders make posters of the spider's parts....