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Coronado: Misfortune's Explorer

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discuss the importance of Coronado's expedition through Texas and the trials his men endured during the journey. They view and discuss a map of Coronado's route, the effects of weather on the Great Plains, and Buffalo....
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Review

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders review and assess their knowledge on the big picture of exploration and the origins of early America. They piece together all the pieces of the puzzle from the past two weeks of study on trade, technology, exploration and...
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Other Worlds: The Voyage of Columbus

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students utilize Internet sites to explore and compare current ideas and opinions concerning the impact of christopher Columbus' famous voyage of 1492.
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Visual Arts, Literary Arts, and Performing Arts: Their Connection and Place in America's Minority Culture

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the rich, varied, and full artistic culture of each of these three minority groups, Native Americans, Chicanos, and African Americans. They explore art through dance, music, literature, and many other different mediums....
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Be A Food Explorer

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students read about and discuss the origin of many different fruits and vegetables. Students complete surveys, sample a variety of new foods and write about their reactions. They commit to trying at least three new foods.
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Philanthropy and You

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students identify human rights and study the values of historical figures who fought for human rights. In this human rights lesson plan, students define the term human rights and research examples of human mistreatment in history....
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Lesson 6: Examining Events from Different Perspectives Friend or Foe?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders sequence events of European exploration and colonization by creating timelines. They define the differences between primary and secondary sources. They discuss claims to Texas land in the 17th Century.
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Drake’s West Indian Voyage 1588-1589

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the exploration routes of Sir Francis Drake. In this American exploration lesson, students investigate primary sources to trace the routes and contact with the natives that Sir Francis Drake experienced on his voyages in...
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But Where Is It On This Modern Map? A problem-solving, mind-boggling experience!

For Teachers 4th
Trace Columbus' voyages by locating them on 21st Century maps.  Using a navigators lesson, 4th graders will examine the Age of Exploration and trace Columbus's routes accurately on laminated world maps using different maps. Note:...
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The Search for the Northwest Passage

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders listen to lectures and research the motivations and history of the Spanish, French and English explorers searching for the Northwest Passage to India. They trace routes on maps and consider how these explorers helped shaped...
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Pre-Columbian Native Peoples and Technology

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore Pre-Columbian native cultures. In this Exploration Era lesson, students define the words "primitive," "civilized," and "technology." Students consider the connotations of the words and then investigate...
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Jamestown

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research the Jamestown settlement and examine life in the colonies from 1607-1610. They explore websites, develop a timeline, select two settlers to research, and write three letters written from the point of view of their...
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"You Shall Do Your Best Endeavor" - Working With Primary Documents

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students read and interpret primary source documents regarding historic Jamestown. In small groups, they read the primary documents, answer questions, and view online maps of Jamestown Island and Virginia.
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Hernando De Soto's Trip Through South Carolina

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders become familiar with the explorations of Hernando DeSoto. In this DeSoto lesson plan, 4th graders recognize the routes and territories of DeSoto's explorations. Students use primary and secondary sources and research to...
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Celebrate Sunflowers

For Teachers K - 1st
Students skip count with sunflower seeds. In this interdisciplinary instructional activity, students discuss the history of sunflowers. Students count by 1's, 2's, and 10's with bags full of sunflower seeds.
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What They Left Behind: Early Multi-National Influences in the United States

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research the impact of European voyages of discovery and colonial influence on different aspects of American culture. They access a number of online sources and reference maps to trace the influences of England, France, Holland,...
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AT HOME ON THE RANGE

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The student will learn how ranchers on the western frontier helped saved the bison from extinction.Hand out student worksheets. Have students read the information about bison on Student Worksheet A before completing Student Worksheet...
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Values and Beliefs of Manifest Destiny

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the beliefs of Manifest Destiny and its role in the California Gold Rush. They analyze a painting to gather information about Manifest Destiny.
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Cultural Exchange

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are introduced to the concept of cultural exchange and identify two examples of the concept. Individually, they research two specific examples of exchange and write about how it affected the two groups involved. They identify...
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Revolutionary Money

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Examine paper money from the American revolution! Historians study the paper bills and discuss the history of money. How has money changed over the times? Activities are included. 
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The Influence of Physical Geography

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the limits and demands of their physical world and how it relates to the survival and well-being of people.
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THE PEANUT WIZARD

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students read information about George Washington Carver and outline the information. They are given peanuts in the shell, students examine them and eat them. Students discuss the following questions: Why did George Washington Carver...
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The Westward Movement

For Teachers Pre-K - 8th
Students study the westward movement through examining stamps. In this westward movement lesson plan, students draw conclusions, determine cause and effect relationships and examine the westward movement of the United States by...
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What do Bison Eat?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the three major categories of food eaten by bison. In groups, they collect examples of grass and forbs and press them. They complete a chart of the percentages of each type of food the bison eat in a day. They...