Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Choices and Commitments: The Soldiers at Gettysburg

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Learners investigate the Gettysburg Campaign and the major actions for each day of the battle. They read primary source documents, write a diary entry, analyze the Gettysburg Address, and write a persuasive speech regarding an issue in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Federalist Papers

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students identify the Articles of Confederation and explain why it failed. They explain the argument over the need for a bill of rights in the Constitution and James Madison's role in securing its adoption by first Congress. Finally,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Travel Through Time with a Family Member

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students interview a family member. In this interviewing lesson, students choose a family member to interview and write about. Students create a PowerPoint about the person including a timeline, photographs, and a narrative about their...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Understanding the Salem Witch Trials

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students describe some of the important elements of life in Puritan New England. They create a timeline of the events of the Salem Witch Trials. They work in groups to explore the concept of multiple interpretations of history.
Activity
Curated OER

American Revolution Multimedia Project

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students create multimedia projects based on the American Revolution Era. In this American History lesson, students combine photographs, slides, and video to present the time line of the American Revolution to the rest of their class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

1,000 Cranes

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars improve motor skills through careful folding, a discipline necessary in the practice of origami. They develop multicultural awareness by exploring Japanese history.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Conquest of the Aztec Civilization

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use the classroom atlases, the Internet or textbooks to draw a freehand map. They work in groups using the maps in the book The Broken Spears (Portilla) and The Conquest of New Spain (Diaz) to draw a freehand map identifying...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Strawberry Girl: Lesson 3 - Trains, Sails, and Trails

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students read two chapters of Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski and complete activities about Florida's transportation history. In this literacy and economics activity, students read two chapters of the book, talk about their journal...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Canada and its Trading Partners

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students identify the relationship between Canada and its trading partners. They use two data sources, Canadian Statistics and E-STAT, on the Statistics Canada website to explore the growing importance of trade in general.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mexican-American Influence on the United States

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the influences of the Hispanic groups from Mexico, Cuba and Puerto Rico. In groups, they research the history of Mexico and read excerpts from a book in Spanish to practice their vocabulary. To end the lesson, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colonial America and Roots of Government

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students identify 50 States and the major geographic features, regions, and political representation of each. In connection, they investigate the causes and effects of European colonization on North America. They identify the formation...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

MALI TO MECCA, MANSA MUSA MAKES THE HAJJ

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners explore the historical event when Mansa Musa, Ruler of Mali, made the Hajj (or holy pilgrimage) to Mecca in 1324 AD. They create Web pages or PowerPoint presentations maps, charts, posters, and oral presentations with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Christopher Columbus

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students read about the good and bad aspects of Christopher Columbus in Jean Fritz's book, "Where do you think you're going, Christopher Columbus?" They conduct and analyze a survey about common myths and create a pop-up book.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eye on the Storm

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars discover the way geologists collect information about past hurricanes to determine patterns that may help with storm prediction. They then research the history of natural disasters in different regions of the United States...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

West Virginia Def PB Wants You!

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students write, adapt, and compose a song related to the West Virginia State Museum.  In this music lesson, students create a composition for a work of  visual art. Students incorporate major and minor melodies.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Politics and the Olympics

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners discover details regarding Olympics controversies. In this international politics lesson plan, students research Olympic games of the Modern Era noting the controversies surrounding Beijing Olympics. Learners create brochures...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jesus And The Rise Of Christianity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine social change. In this Christianity activity, students explore the history of Jesus and his teachings. Students research the social classes of the time period and then present skits to their classmates that present their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Greek Inquiry Report and Presentation

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders choose from a list of researchable inquiry questions. They engage in all phases of inquiry/research process.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Young Engineers: Understanding Engineering Through Cooking

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore different engineering careers. In this math lesson, 2nd graders create a winning cooking recipe. They role play a mock cookie sale during the culminating event.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Debate

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students watch tapes of televised presidential debates dating from 1960. They analyze debates and participate in mock debates.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Novel Guide for My Brother Sam is Dead

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the effects of war. In this American Revolution instructional activity, 5th graders read My Brother Sam is Dead and complete the provided comprehension, characterization, and vocabulary activities
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Elements of Civilization

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers create their own ancient civilizations based off of topographical maps of Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and the Yellow River. In this social studies lesson, students are assigned one topographical map to use to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Civil War: Conflicting Newspaper Reports

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the happenings at the Battle of Antietam from all sides. In this American Civil War lesson, students analyze newspapers accounts from different perspectives regarding the battle and then write their own accounts of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Akhenaton

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students look into the development of religious beliefs. In this ancient civilization lesson, students research the founders of several world religions including Akhenaton. Students use their findings to create world religion charts and...