Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Public Displays of Contention

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners consider historic events or movements that may be viewed as controversial by different groups of people, and then create proposals supporting the inclusion of specific artifacts to be displayed in related museum exhibit
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Random Strategies in Archaeology

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students critically evaluate cultures according to their artifacts. In this Random Strategies in Archaeology lesson, Students interpret evidence in order to better understand ancient societies. Students watch films that affect their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Everyone has Interesting Stuff

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine a random collection of artifacts. In this deductive reasoning and cultural awareness lesson, students will pair up and examine a given artifact. Each student will attempt to use the artifact's attributes and apparent...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Ancient Cliff Dwellers of Mesa Verde

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners research evidence discovered during Mesa Verde archaeological dig, view images of ancient artifacts, simultate real dig and reconstruct items buried on school grounds, and create newsletter or video tape skit.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History Did Happen in My Back Yard!

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders interpret historical evidence presented in primary resources. In this Louisiana history lesson, 8th graders research their parish history using the LOUISiana Digital Library resources. Students create multimedia...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Milestones of Flight

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Discover seven of the most historic aircraft and spacecraft in the collections of the National Air and Space Museum. By research into the major milestones of aviation history your young scholars will recognize features that enable...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fun-Factory - NOT!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students design a solution to a problem based on the Industrial Revolution. In this design lesson plan, students come up with architectural designs and present them to teachers in a simulated factory.
Lesson Plan
Ford's Theatre

How Perspective Shapes Understanding of History

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The Boston Massacre may be an iconic event in American history, but perhaps the British soldiers had another point of view. Using primary sources, including reports from Boston newspapers and secondary sources from the British...
Lesson Plan
Maryland Department of Education

Our Children Can Soar

For Teachers 4th - 5th Standards
Amazing efforts of African American leaders are celebrated in a lesson on civil participation. The engaging resource focuses on primary and secondary sources to analyze the impact of African American leaders such as Ella Fitzgerald....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating An Understanding of the Past/Through The Art of George Catlin and Native American Artifacts

For Teachers K - 6th
Students explore Native American culture. They observe and discuss the paintings of George Catlin. Students examine the lives of the Pawnee Native American Indians during the time period of 1830-1840. Numerous cross curriculum activities...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forward March: Continuing Frederick Douglass' Footsteps

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers view numerous artifacts from the life of Frederick Douglass. Using the objects, they discover the many parts of his life and develop a hypothesis about the significance of the objects in his life. They identify the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History at Home: The Object Box

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine "artifacts". In this anthropology lesson, students analyze possible uses for objects such as washboards, hot water bottles, and old magazines. Students record and share their speculations with their classmates.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Historical Witness: Social Messaging

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Research European expansionism and colonialism during the Age of Exploration. Study the Marquise de Miramon and discuss the objects from Japan. Research Europe's expansionism and colonialism during the Age of Exploration by working in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Artifact Puzzles

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students role-play the position of archaeologists to determine the different types of artifacts. They cut out a drawing of their object and connect them with their classmates objects. They write an essay about their object and where it...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shoebox Dig

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students participate in a simulation in which they dig for artifacts in a shoebox filled with objects. In groups, they record the types of material and artifacts found in each layer. To end the instructional activity, they answer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Maya Masterpiece

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students analyze the symbols presented in a Maya artifact. They create collages that depict a theme related to contemporary life in their community, and write brief analyses explaining the symbolism of the images they chose.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We Are History: Family Stories

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners examine their own family heritage and share family stories with the class. They differentiate between primary and secondary sources, and bring in and write about three artifacts from their family. They conduct an interview...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native American Interdisciplinary Educational Unit

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students research various Native American stories and legends. They participate in reader's theater, write original legends, cook Native American foods, construct dioramas and view Native American art and artifacts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Journey To Africa: Art And Artifacts

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers create a multimedia presentation based on a piece of African Art. They use the art piece to demonstrate the culture and ceremonies of the area in which it was produced. They research facts for a Power Point, write a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Study of the Spanish-Speaking People of Texas: Overcoming Adversity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the photographs of Russell Lee and identify the obstacles faced by Mexican-Americans in Texas during the early and mid-20th century. They discuss the ways they overcame these obstacles and relate it to obstacles in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using HyperStudio

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Second through eighth graders use the software "HyperStudio" to create a presentation of their choice on Native American lifestyles. One thing I like a lot about this lesson, is that the students are the ones who get to choose and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Ancient Civilization of Mali

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Students explore the ancient civilization of Mali and examine various historical and cultural aspects of the civilization. In this ancient civilization of Mali lesson, students examine trade with respect to geographic locations, discover...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environment, Technology, and Culture of the Chumash People

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers develop an understanding of the interrelatedness of technology, culture, and environment as illustrated by the Chumash culture. They research the tribe and complete a table for the Chumash people describing their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

King Tut On The Move

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students read a story called King Tut On the Move and answer vocabulary and comprehension questions about it. In this current events King Tut lesson plan, students respond to literature by answering questions, recalling details, sharing...