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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Statue of Liberty: The Meaning and Use of a National Symbol

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Engage your class in a series of activities, each related to the use or analysis of symbols used to convey patriotic or national concepts. They identify different national symbols and explain their meanings, discussing the importance of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Salute to American Symbols

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore American symbols. In this reading and social studies lesson, students read literature regarding American symbols and describe the significance of the symbols as they research them in groups.
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Activity
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Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

The Power of Propaganda in Shaping Civic Actions and Understanding

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Propaganda posters are powerful. Using images from The Art of War: American Poster Art 1941-1945 exhibit, young historians analyze the symbols, images, colors, and text used to rally support for World War II. Through seven activities,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Salute to American Symbols

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students research American symbols. In this American History activity, students listen to the story The Wall and discuss the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. They also listen to One Nation and research an American Symbol to create a poster. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Propaganda and World War II

For Teachers 10th - 11th
What was the true meaning behind WWII propaganda posters? Historians analyze images from the U.S., Great Britain, Nazi Germany, and the Soviet Union, sharing findings in small groups. A poster analysis worksheet and all posters are...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

This Land is Your Land - Travel Posters

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders compile a list of places in the United States where they have either traveled or where their relatives or friends live. They collect travel posters, brochures, postcards, and maps from their region of the United States.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Worksheet for Analysis of a Poster

For Students 8th - 12th
In this primary source analysis worksheet, students respond to 25 short answer questions that require them to analyze the provided poster from the Tennessee State Library and Archives.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Symbols from History: Mesopotamia Today

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the various symbols different nations use to represent themselves. As a class, they discuss the recent events in Iraq and identify the needs of its people. They use print resources to research various Mesopotamian...
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Study Guide
Penguin Books

An Educator Guide to Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed Standards
Call Us By What We Carry, a poetry collection by Nation Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, is the focus of a 10-page teacher's guide. 
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Poster Analysis Worksheet

For Students 8th - 9th
In this poster analysis worksheet, students respond to eight questions that help them analyze a poster more in-depth. Students then answer multiple questions based on their discoveries.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Symbol Minds

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the fears and frustrations of citizens in the tolerant Muslim nation of Indonesia during the holy month of Ramadan. They explore the symbols used in various world religions and create 3-dimensional displays for a class.
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Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Opening the Olympic Games

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners examine the history of the Olympic Games, including the opening ceremonies. In small groups, they create Olympic flags using symbols that represent their country and communities. In phase two of the lesson, students work in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Murals

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate how murals portray cultural expression. They study the history of mural making, explore its symbolism and design a mural of their own.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American and Patriotic Symbols

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the concept of symbolism. Many students know what the different patriotic symbols are, but they do not know why these things symbolize patriotism. They identify classic American symbols, explain why they are symbols and...
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Lesson Plan
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KOG Ranger Program

Why a Bear Mattered: Smokey’s Story

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Smokey the Bear has been telling people how to prevent forest fires since 1944, and continues to be the symbol of fire safety in America's wilderness. Young rangers visualize a dry forest and 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

United States All the Way

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students create patriotic books about the United States and some of its special symbols.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Huichol Community of Mexico: Communicating with Symbols

For Teachers K - 2nd
Pupils study the Huichol Indians. In this Huichol lesson, students red The Journey of Tunuri and the Blue Deer, design a visual story using symbols, and make a painting using large paper shapes. A class mural project is also included.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sparking History

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students create exhibits about patriotic symbols for a living museum. They write reflective essays exploring the themes and symbols of independence and their influences on social responsibility.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sim's Cities

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate city management and government by creating a fictional city in groups.  In this civics instructional activity, students create rules and a mascot for their fictitious city which they create from poster board cubes....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create Your Own Country!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create their own countries. In this geography skills lesson, students establish governments, cultural backgrounds, atlas/geography components, national anthems, and national symbols for a country they create.
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Lesson Plan
North Carolina Consortium for Middle East Studies

Missing Pieces of the Puzzle: African Americans in Revolutionary Times

For Students 5th - 11th
What's missing from most studies of the American Revolutionary War is information about the role African Americans played in the conflict. To correct this oversight, middle schoolers research groups like the Black Loyalists and  Black...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World War I

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders investigate propaganda used during World War I. In this World War I instructional activity, 11th graders examine propaganda from the war and analyze war posters. Students then create their own propaganda posters on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Benefits, drawbacks of alternative healing

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss alternative healing techniques, then chart the potential benefits and drawbacks of alternative health therapies. They design symbols representing alternative healing techniques.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why do we call him Uncle Sam

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders create an image of a common patriotic symbol. They then complete a research project on the symbol they chose. The teacher creates a rubric which is used as the grading process.