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First Things First: Using the Newspaper to Teach the Freedoms of the First Amendment
Students use the newspaper as a tool to make connections about what the five freedoms guarantee in the First Amendment. In this first amendment lesson plan, students analyze events in the newspaper to form conclusions about the freedoms...
Curated OER
Comparing Countries
Students use a graphic organizer to research, compare and contrast two countries. They write a brief (or detailed - depending on age) report of their findings.
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Forest Activity: Leaf Collection and Creating a Herbarium
Students identify and categorize leaves. They collect leaves from trees, research the leaves using field guides and the Internet, press, label, and display the leaves, and discuss how the leaf reflects adaptation to its environment.
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Environmental Impact
Students analyze a 20th century photograph of a Los Angeles landscape and examine the population expansion of L.A. They discuss the principles of design, complete a worksheet, and write a research paper on overpopulation in Los Angeles.
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Sing Away Songs
Students research the history of Bryce Canyon National Park. They identify geological features of the Park while examining its recreational activities. They work together to write lyrics to a song about the Park.
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Assimilation in America
Students, after reading the novel, "The Joy Luck Club," create a four question survey about assimilation in America. They each ask four members of their family or peers to take the survey. After data is collected, they create graphs and...
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America's Favorite Landmarks
Students research using Google Earth a variety of websites to explore America's most prominent and famous buildings. They then compare and contrast architectural styles and write a position paper defending or arguing against their chosen...
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Journalism 101
Learners understand the writing style in a newspaper. In this journalism lesson, students recognize that a newspaper has a catchy headline and objective writing. Learners interview someone in an area of interest and write a news article.
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History of Chemistry: The Alchemists
Students research alchemy and the history of chemistry. In this chemistry history lesson plan, students examine laboratory apparatus and compare it to those used by the Alchemists. Students complete a research paper on an important...
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"The Site Every American Should See"
Students research the natural wonders of the Grand Canyon. They write a descriptive paper about the Park. They also write a speech about why the Grand Canyon should be preserved.
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The Notorious Hope Diamond: What Makes an American Legend?
Students view and discuss a video on the legend of the Hope Diamond then compare and contrast other tales such as Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill and Johnny Appleseed. They analyze basic characteristics of these legends then use descriptive...
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America's Civil Rights Movement
Eleventh graders explore, analyze and study the background to America's Civil Rights Movement through the court system, mass protest, public opinion, political cartoons and legislation. They research Rosa Parks, Brown vs. Board of...
National First Ladies' Library
Hey, Hey, It's the Beatles!
Young scholars study the Beatles and the contributions their music made to much of the pop music that came afterward. They synthesize complex information and the skills of "compare and contrast" in writing. They research some aspect of...
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Atomic Bomb Debate
Students research the decision to end World War II by dropping the atomic bomb. In this world history lesson plan, students explore information on the atomic bomb and the decision of the tactics to use it. They also watch a video and...
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Historical Context: Discovering a Painting
High schoolers analyze a work of art. In this historical context lesson plan, students research the time period in which the art they observed was created. High schoolers consider differing opinions about a work of art.
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Land Use and Lawmaking in California
High schoolers design a plan for a housing development in their city. In this house development lesson plan, students observe pictures of land use, research lawmaking, and develop a plan for an environmentally friendly housing...
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Conditions of City Life in the Late 19th Century
Students examine tenement life. In this lesson on early urbanization, students research the role of journalism for social change in early American cities. Students write a journal article for themselves that demonstrate an understanding...
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Polymerization Experiments
Students study the concepts of polymerization and the function of crosslinkage. For this polymer lesson students complete a lab activity and write down their observations.
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Stonehenge: Solving Ancient Mysteries
Students explore archeologists and anthropologists and the tools and methods they use to gather and interpret scientific evidence. They research current archaeological excavations and contact the scientists working at these digs.
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The Solar System
Learners research origin of solar system, discuss theories they have found, and create paper mache solar system models.
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Fueling Around with Energy: A Comparative Study of Conventional and Renewable Energy Use Among Nations
Ninth graders examine the relationship between energy and society. In groups, they define energy sources as renewable or conventional and research how each method contributes to the world's energy. They write about how the patterns of...
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Introduction to the Holocaust
Students examine the events surrounding the Holocaust in World War II. After viewing a clip from "The War", they work together in groups to research the various responses from governments on the tradegy. To end the lesson, they write a...
National First Ladies' Library
Forming a League of Nations
Students identify and research the original language as composed by Woodrow Wilson in his League of Nations. Then they identify and describe the revisions of the original League of Nations as the United Nations was created. Students also...
National First Ladies' Library
The Debate on Slavery
Young historians research the debate over slavery; some students take the pro-slavery side and others the anti-slavery side. They take the role of a character such as a plantation owner, a legislator, a free Black, a slave, or a northern...