Curated OER
Hand Built Tea Bowls
Students follow directions to create clay bowls. In this pottery instructional activity, students use clay and the pictured tools to follow the directions and create a fire baked tea bowl.
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Navajo Code Talkers
Students investigate the Navajo Code Talkers and their role in World War II. They complete a Webquest, explore various websites, encode a short message, analyze maps, answer discussion questions, and read newspaper articles about secure...
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Westward Expansion - Fur Trade
Learners complete a unit of lessons to learn how products reach the market and study the history of the fur trade. In this history and trade instructional activity, students first learn about the technology that allowed products to reach...
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Christopher Columbus: Historical Perspective
Sixth graders study Columbus Day in relation to who discovered Canada. They complete a KWL about Canada and discuss Columbus Day as an American holiday. After viewing a video, they read articles of Christopher Columbus and work in groups...
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Family Life in America: Past, Present and Future
Ninth graders brainstorm the economic and social functions of a family. In groups, they research the roles of each member of a family in the past and compare it with their family today. In groups, they develop criteria for what the...
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Back to the Age of Exploration
Students explore world history by researching explorers of North America. In this famous explorers lesson, students research one specific explorer of their choice and identify his successes and failures by utilizing the Internet....
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Immigration
Eighth graders examine the American immigration experience. In this immigration lesson, 8th graders watch a video about Ellis Island and discuss the processing that took place there. Students write letters in the voice of American...
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Coming to America: Opportunities, Risks, Consequences
Students examine the immigrants of various cultures throughout the world. In groups, they identify the push and pull factors of those immigrating and the risks and consequences they are subject do when going through the immigration...
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Tolerance Quilt
Fifth graders read stories about giving and poverty and discuss why it is important to give to others. In this giving lesson plan, 5th graders make quilts to give to those in need.
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Literacy: The Puerto Rican Papers
Students in an ESL classroom are introduced to new vocabulary before reading a story in their native language. In groups, they discuss how the tradition of writing stories down became a tradition and answer comprehension questions. To...
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Spain and France Influence in Europe and in the New World
Learners examine the conditions in France and Spain during the Middle Ages and the Discovery of America. In groups, they compare and contrast the political situations in both countries and what effect they had on the New World. To end...
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Cells: Structures and Processes
Students explore the basic unit of life, the cell in this nine lessons unit. The cell structure of animal and plant cell functions and how they affect our world are probed in this unit.
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Light My Fire
Students create their own girandoles using common art products and Model Magic in this cross-curricular lesson suitable for the Art or Social Studies classroom. This lesson includes a short vocabulary list.
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Giving Thanks to Mother Earth
Students create an art project to be made into a laminated placemat to use during a classroom Thanksgiving feast. The lesson involves choosing at least three cutouts of elements of nature to glue onto a background page, drawing one...
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Revolutionary Money
Examine paper money from the American revolution! Historians study the paper bills and discuss the history of money. How has money changed over the times? Activities are included.
Smithsonian Institution
Watching Crystals Grow
Amazing science can sometimes happen right before your eyes! The class gets cozy as they watch crystals grow. They use Epsom salts, rocks, and food coloring to create crystals. They'll observe the entire process, documenting every step...
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Where's the Barbecue?
Students identify the major landforms, regions and rivers on a map of South Carolina. They compare the locations of the major Native American groups in the state as well. They chart where barbecue restaurants are located and write...
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American Literature: An Oblique Introduction
Eleventh graders research journals and periodicals of different accounts of Columbus and Latin America. They examine indigenous civilizations and design their own curriculum based on the information they have gathered.
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Like Comparing Bison and Fish
Fourth graders examine the cultures of early American Indians in North America and how geographic characteristics impacted the development of American Indian cultures. Students discuss Lewis and Clark, their journey, the Plains Indians,...
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the Richness of Rattles: a Lesson in Making And Decorating Clay Rattles
Students study the history behind clay rattles. They form and create a clay rattle using ceramic sculptural techniques and important composition and design elements.
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Sparking a Revolution!
Students investigate the causes and events that lead to the US Revolutionary War. They use a number of study techniques in this unit to discuss why the colonies wanted freedom from Britain.
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Reading Images: Maconaquah
Students examine a portrait of Maconaquah and compose a list of things they observe about her. They look at her age, clothing, jewelry, and her emotions based on her facial expression. Conclusions are drawn as they "read" the pictures...
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The Battle of the Little Bighorn
Students assess how point of view can change a story. In this content area reading lesson, students read about the Battle of the Little Bighorn from three different sources. Students answer questions based upon their reading and draw...
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African Masks (Pre-Visit)
Second graders observe and describe several masks from different parts of Africa housed in the Smithsonian Institute (National Museum of African Art) Washington, D.C. They use the internet to view the Smithsonian's virtual exhibits.