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1850-1874 The Kansas-Nebraska Act
How the Kansas-Nebraska Act created Bleeding Kansas is complicated—until scholars research and examine documents from the time. After completing activities that include mapping, photo, document analysis, and discussion, learners...
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Notable Nebraskan Research and Student Presentations
Fourth graders explore notable Nebraska. In this lesson on the history of Nebraska, 4th graders will use primary sources to research people of events from Nebraska's history. Students will create a presentation to share their findings....
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Popular Sovereignty Under the Kansas-Nebraska Act
Seventh graders examine the implications of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. In this slavery lesson, 7th graders examine a map of 1820 America and discuss the balance of power implied by the map. Students then read Stephen Douglas's speech on...
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Causes of the Civil War: Missouri Compromise, Compromise of 1850 and Kansas Nebraska Act
How did the Missouri Compromise, the Compromise of 1850, and the Kansas-Nebraska Act contribute to the growing tensions that led to the Civil war? To better understand the events that led to the Civil War, young historians engage in a...
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Child Labor Laws in America and Nebraska
Students research child labor laws in Nebraska and America. In this child labor lesson, students examine primary and secondary sources regarding legislation on child labor and create posters that highlight the laws of 1907 and 1910.
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Nebraska Counties
Students explore the counties of Nebraska. In this Nebraska history lesson, students examine maps of the state and determine the location of specific counties and conduct research on them. Students also use the county names to fill in...
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Farm Life During the Great Depression
Fifth graders examine the plight of farmers during the Great Depression. In this Nebraska history lesson, 5th graders discuss the era prior to reading the novel Out of the Dust by Karen Heese.
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Migration from the Dust
Students trace their own family's migrations and history. They listen to the story, 'Blue ow.' They design a plate which is shared at an open house.
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Eli Thayer and the Kansas-Nebraska Act
Students determine how states were identified as slave states or free states. In this Kansas-Nebraska Act lesson, students explore the work of Eli Thayer as well as the work of Thayer's supporters in Massachusetts.
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Nebraska Entrepreneur Success Stories
Students explore entrepreneurs of Nebraska. In this business and social studies lesson plan, students research Nebraska entrepreneurs to discover the history of their successful company.
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Immigration in Nebraska
Pupils will examine data and research the historical backgrounds of various ethnic immigrants. In this Immigration instructional activity, students will examine the impact of immigration on the state of Nebraska. Pupils will research a...
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Nebraska: Using Pictures
Students create a scrapbook about Nebraska history focusing on Post Office murals. They choose their favorite murals and write a story to go along with the mural. In groups, students present their murals to the class and visit the...
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Our Nebraska Story
Learners research and use their discoveries to create a computer presentation and a quilt block on Nebraska. They will tell the story of Nebraska in an oral presentation using each piece of the quilt.
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The Women's Suffrage Movement Signature Debacle
Students examine the Women's Suffrage Movement in Nebraska. In this women's rights instructional activity, students explore primary and secondary sources regarding suffrage in the state and obstacles that women in the state faced when it...
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The Role of the Media
Students participate in class discussion to investigate how media affects the ideas of Americans (specifically in politics) and then research events in political history to analyze how the media may have influenced the government's...
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Child Labor Laws in the United States and the State of Nebraska
Students examine child labor laws. In this social justice activity, students compare and contrast child labor laws of the United States and the state of Nebraska. Students research primary sources and complete the included analysis...
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Popular Sovereignty and the Lecompton Constitution
Learners explore the purpose of the Lecompton Constitution. For this United States History lesson, students read several articles then complete several activities to reinforce their reading, such as a cause and effect worksheet,...
NET Foundation for Television
1850-1874 Native Americans and Settlers
Did Western settlers receiving free land from the Homestead Act realize it wasn't really free at all? Scholars investigate the impact Western expansion had on Native American culture in the mid-1800s. They use documents, timelines, and...
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Games Children Play
Help your middle schoolers recognize the similarities and differences between the games they play and those played by pioneer children. Using the Internet, they research a game of their choice and discover how it has evolved over time....
NET Foundation for Television
1850-1874 Notable Nebraskan: J. Sterling Morton
What are the characteristics of an outstanding citizen? Nebraskan J. Sterling Morton contributed to the formation of societal and family values in his state. Learners gather information on Morton's life accomplishments from primary...
NET Foundation for Television
1850-1874 Railroads and Settlement
Have you ever wondered how your town was placed where it is? Scholars research the impact the advancement of the railroad due to the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act had on the formation of civilization in the Great Plains. Map...
NET Foundation for Television
1850-1874 Homestead Act Signed: Who were the Settlers?
Life in the great, wide-open spaces of the West! Scholars analyze the reasons behind the vast movement to the Great Plains after the passing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Homestead Act. Using photographic, document, map, video, and...
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A Look Through My Antonia's Eyes
Students explore life as a pioneer in the late 1890's. In this appreciation of history instructional activity, students read excerpts from My Antonia. Students create presentations about life and culture in Nebraska. Students write an...
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Has the Look of Nebraska Changed from 1819 to the 21st Century?
Eighth graders examine and analyze maps of early Nebraska. Using the maps, they compare and contrast them to those of today and identifying how the area has changed over time. They complete a worksheet over the differences in the maps...