Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Childhood Lost: Child Labor in the United States, 1830-1930

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Working in groups, middle and high schoolers describe and discuss photographs depicting working conditions experienced by child laborers in the 19th century. They then write a persuasive paragraph supporting an amendment to regulate the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planning A Two Week Trip to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders simulate being a first-time visitor to Japan. Using the internet, pupils identify answers to given questions about Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima. Students use computer technology to type their answers. Their answers also...
Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Industrial Revolution

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
Could you live without your phone? What about cars, steel, or clothing? Class groups collaborate to produce presentations that argue that either the telephone, the gramophone, the automobile, the textile industry, or the steel...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Folktales

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine the art of storytelling. In groups, they write their own African folktales, design costumes, props and scenery, and videotape folktale presented in dramatic form.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Folktales

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students study the elements of folktales. They write, perform and produce their own African folktales using camcorders and movie software.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Past and Present

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research their community history and choose on aspect to create an iMovie on. They use digital photographs and old images of community place that show how they have changed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WW II Magazine

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders search the database for pictures of WW II, photographs, posters, etc. They use the documents to support writing two magazine articles. The magazine articles be a minimum of 500 and maximum 1000 words.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Choosing the Lincoln Statue

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research photographs or artwork depicting Abraham Lincoln during the time when he was traveling the 8th Judicial Circuit and practicing law in Champaign County. They develop a Powerpoint presentation of the results of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's That Relic?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders listen to a read aloud of David Mc Cauley's book Motel of the Mysteries. They discuss an unknown artifact and decide what it might be used for. They research other artifacts and play "What's that Relic?"
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Civil War/ A Unit Overview

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders will look at the causes of the Civil War in detail. A brief unit on the war itself will follow. Battles, historical figures, and daily life will be studied. The webpage is a link to many different related lessons.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Messages in Art Work

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Observe images and discuss what messages they convey. In this critical thinking lesson plan, learners determine whether works of art are trying to persuade their audience. They also consider the media and how they communicate messages to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sculpting a Message: From the Counter-Reformation to the Present Day

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss persuasive messages in art. In this art history lesson, students research 17th- century European sculptures to find the messages given. They create their own sculptures and write press releases to explain their art. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

And Today's Guest Star Is...

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore correct social behaviors. In this social skills lesson, students take turns modeling correct social behaviors in various settings. Learners write text for a social story and share them with the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life Through Time: The Heart of the Phanerozoic

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students gain a deeper understanding of geological time and the evolution of life on Earth. They use iMovie to tell a complex story of a discrete time period with narration and images.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Respect for Girls

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students gain a greater appreciation of women's contributions to history and culture. They product an iMovie based on the contributions of women.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Patti Smith: Dream of Life

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed Standards
How do artists affect and how are artists affected by the time periods in which they live? Learners examine the life and work of controversial and influential cultural artist Patti Smith as they seek answers to this essential question....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Critical Ways of Seeing The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in Context

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students complete a unit of lessons examining the cultural context of the novel, 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.' They write a critique of the novel, compare/contrast two published critiques, and explore various websites.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jazz in America Lesson Plan 7

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The student will explore free jazz, fusion, and contemporary jazz. They will listen to avant garde, fusion, and pop recordings. In addition, they participate in a class discussion regarding jazz's contribution to and reflection of...
Lesson Plan
Science NetLinks

Green Roof Design

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Green roofs aren't just eco-friendly — they are literally green with trees. Groups learn about the concept of green roofs in order to be able to design one. The groups design a 5,000-square-foot green roof for a fictional apartment row...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction of Primary Sources

For Teachers 1st - Higher Ed
Students will use the internet to access information about artifacts to justify their use as primary sources of information. The activities can be done as a whole class or in groups. The differences between primary and secondary sources...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stories of the American Experience

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify a veteran to interview. This could be a family member of one of students or someone contacted through an organization in the community. They use a storyboard to plan their movie about their subject.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

State Issues: The Native People of Hawaii

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research issues about their state and community. They work in groups to create a multi-media presentation highlighting the issues.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Community: Then and Now

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students compare and contrast their community to what it was like 50 years ago. They research various aspects of their community and compare and contrast with what it is like now. Students present and discuss their findings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Illustrated Guide to the Late 1800's

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders investigate the time of the late 1800's. They conduct research using a variety of resources that could include the internet. Students create an alphabetized encyclopedia of important historical people of the time period.