National Endowment for the Humanities
“The Great Migration” by Minnie Bruce Pratt
Minnie Bruce Pratt's poem, "The Great Migration," offers young scholars an opportunity to reflect on how where we come from influences who we are. Groups conduct a close reading of the poem, recording observations about the poem's...
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Mapping the Human Journey
Students explore a migration of people with their surname. As a class, they define key vocabulary and identify the different types of movementbs of people in history. They examine the reasons for the migration and use the internet to...
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Mapping Population Changes In The United States
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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Human Impact on the Everglades Environment
Third graders research changes the Army Corps made in Everglades, focus on the human impact on the environment, design graphic organizers, summary statements, develop a Florida map of the Everglades region and give a presentation about...
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The Human Face of Flagstaff
Students make a brochure for Flagstaff, Arizona. In this geography instructional activity, students look at a map of Arizona and the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce sheet to find natural and human features of the city. They create a...
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Understanding Growth of the Phoenix Area
Students study the growth of the Phoenix area using geographic images, maps, tables, and graphs. They study the idea of community.
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What's In a Name?
Students explore the relationship between names and certain cultures and locations. In this identity lesson, students create family migration or immigration maps. Students read excerpts from When My Name was Keoko and Lost Names: Scenes...
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Lights On ! Lights Off! Exploring Human Settlement Patterns
Third graders write informational paragraphs based on the settlement patterns of the United States. In this settlement lesson plan, 3rd graders read about population and how it affects where people settle next.
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Louisiana
Third graders study factual information about Louisiana including the state flag, bird, tree, and important geographical points using the Internet and maps. They explain the different groups that settled the state in this mini-unit.
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Westward Ho: The Difficulties of Emigrants Moving West
Young scholars research the journey west of 19th century emigrants. In this pioneer lesson, students read the letters and diaries of a fictitious family traveling on the Oregon Trail. They mark their route on a US map, create a chart...
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Panther Scavenger Hunt
Students examine the Florida Panthers through a Web-quest. In this web-based lesson plan, students find clues that will help them to identify the habitat of the Florida Panther and the history of human activity which threatens these wild...
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Let's Have a Lesson Within a Lesson
Young scholars role-play the role of a student who does not comprehend the language the lesson is being instructed in. Using the internet, they research the characteristics, distribution and migration of human populations over time. In...
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How We Get From Here to There
Students recognize various types of movement people rely on to get from one place to another, locate the forms of movement on a map and choose one form of movement and research its path.
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National expansion of the United States (1815 to 1850), and its connection to local Illinois history.
Students discuss the importance of establishing the I & M Canal water route. They watch a video about the canal's history. They collect and write a personal migration story by interviewing a family member. They analyze trends and...
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Search for the Humpback Whale
Students work in teams to research and explore whale adaptations, behavior, migration, habitat, communication, and interactions with humans and present their findings.
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The Silk Road, An Ancient Internet
Students examine how goods and ideas moved along an ancient trade route between China and Europe. They make charts of items, ideas, etc. that were transported along the Silk Route.
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The Sugar Cane Curtain/ Defining Political and Social Struggles Between Haiti and the Dominican Republic
Twelfth graders explore historical events that created conflict between Dominican Republic and Haiti, examine how need for cheap source of labor has led to exploitation of Haitian workers, and discuss how topography of island of...
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social studies: Life in Colonial America
Students explore the trials and tribulations early colonial life and note its successes. Through literature, Internet research, and interactive software, they engage in various activities to evaluate early social and cultural development.
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50 States: New England States
Young scholars discover where certain states are located and what the look like. They look for their information on a web site. Each student is assigned a state which they must research then present to the entire class.
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Culture Collage
Learners investigate their cultural heritage and make observations on how much influence their past has on their current values and lifestyle. They brainstorm a list of things that represent a certain country or cultural heritage and...
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Louisiana's Major Folk Regions
Students study the three major folk regions of the state. They break the regions down into smaller folk regions or use the concept of three regions: North Louisiana, South Louisiana, and New Orleans. They identify some of the markers...
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Pre-Colonial Native American Groups
Students investigate U.S. history by researching the Internet and taking a test. For 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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Desert Views - First Impressions: Travelers on the Gila Trail
Students draw animals and plants that are described to them as they read passages of people who traveled across the Gila Trail in the Southwest. In this Gila Trail lesson plan, students also write a letter describing a plant or animal in...