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A Sense of West Virginia
Students consider their perceptions of the world through their 5 senses while visiting the West Virginia State Museum. In this West Virginia history lesson plan, students discover how knowing about the past helps with their understanding...
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History Today
Students use the newspaper to determine how history is being made in your community, region or country.They identify the different components that comprise a newspaper. This lesson contains adaptations from elementary to high school.
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Interview for Reflection
Young scholars practice their interviewing skills using the elements of questioning. They write and illustrate a past experience of theirs doing a philanthropic act. They share their stories and illustrations to complete the lesson.
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The New Entrepreneurs: Americans Over 50
Students explore the concept of entrepreneurship. In this entrepreneurship lesson plan, students read an article about how Americans over 50 make up a majority of entrepreneurs. Students discuss why there is an increase in...
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Online Collaborative Social Studies Lesson Plan
Students create newspapers and post them online for others to see.
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Evaluating Eyewitness Reports
Students consider the advantages and disadvantages of eyewitness accounts as records of history. They research several accounts of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and then compare and contrast each version to arrive at a final picture.
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Reading Primary Source Documents: Historical Content
Why do we read primary source documents? What can they give us that other writings cannot? Provide your learners with any of the primary sources attached here (there are seven), and have them complete the graphic organizer (which opens...
California Historical Society
Understanding California
Here is a beautiful handout through which learners can explore the history of California, from the earliest Europeans to visit the Golden State up through its experiences during the Great Depression and position in the modern world.
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Commemoration of the Gettysburg Battlefield
Students use a multimedia project, The Valley of the Shadow: Two American Communities in the Civil War, to create a presentation about the significance of the Gettysburg Address. They work on expert teams to explore the interactive...
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Where Will I Go From Here?
Students research the various cultures in Colonial America. In this American history lesson, students analyze and complie the research they find presenting what they have found into a short presentation.
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Avalanche And Landslide Hazards in Canada
Students explore where the natural disasters, avalanche and landslides, are most frequent in Canada and investigate their associated causes and effects. They navigate the Atlas of Canada Web site for natural hazards.
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A Yuccy Situation
Students examine the concept of nuclear waste storage. In this interdisciplinary lesson plan, students research Yucca Mountain in order to compare and contrast opposing views regarding the nuclear waste site there. Students compose a...
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A Right to Bear Arms - One Patriot's View
Students research Samuel Adams' role in the crafting of the Second Amendment. They consider how Adams' views evolved with time and write a one-page response linking their research to current events.
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Introduction to Canada
Ninth graders investigate the country of Canada by examining their media in this geography lesson. They use the Internet to research Canadian newspapers and analyze a topic covered by both US and Canadian media sources. After comparing...
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Politics of Change
Empty rhetoric in Washington timelessly inspires political cartoons. Examine this concept through an analysis handout, which features a cartoon by Pat Oliphant (archived work is linked for possible extension activities). Although this...
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Medical Research and Your Future
Learners are asked to investigate current and sometimes controversial medical research in order to address what medical breakthroughs potentially exist in their futures. They create small posters on sheets detailing their support or...
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Steps In Selecting A President
Students follow a flowchart that describes the process of electing the American president and vice-president. They create a flowchart that explains some aspect of the US government.
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Coney Island: The Great Escape
Students use primary documents and film to explore the role of Coney Island recreation for New Yorker's at the beginning of the 20th century. They compare the lives of the people in their research to their own.
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Make It or Break It
Students study about "breaking news" by analyzing the New York Times' coverage of the July 2006 bombing of seven commuter trains in Mumbai, India. They write their own breaking news stories for homework.
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Electoral College
Eleventh graders discover how the Electoral College works. In this presidential elections instructional activity, 11th graders compare and contrast the Electoral College and popular vote as they participate in a classroom simulation....
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Making More Places at the Table
Fifth graders explore the use of primary and secondary source documents. They identify primary and secondary sources. Students investigate individuals that made a difference during the American Civil Rights Movement through the use of...
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Explaining a Legend
Students explain the place of the legend of Herakles in ancient Greek life and compare ancient and modern legends in an essay.
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Civil War Tribune
Fifth graders choose a black and white copy of a photo from the Civil War and 'enhance' picture by adding color using crayons and colored pencils. They research the photo.
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Whose Neighborhood is It? Whose America is This?
Students use electronic resources to study immigration issues, analyze immigration issues dealing with security, economics, lawfulness, culture, and human rights, and discuss possible solutions. Students then express their opinions by...