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The WCTU and the Lynching Controversy
Students analyze writings of famous authors and record their positions on lynching and segregation. They research arguments to explore the attitudes of people in the South and the North during the 19th century.
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"Death To King Alcohol!" Temperance in the 19th Century
Young scholars analyze songs, drawings and stories from the 19th century temperance movement. They work together in groups to form a temperance society within their classroom and analyze strategies of campaigns during the movement.
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Langston Hughes: Artist and Historian
Students examine the life and works of Langston Hughes. In groups, they research the characteristics of the Harlem Renaissance and how Hughes' poems relate to the era. They use the themes in his writings and relate it to the Great...
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Native American Research
Students investigate an Native American tribal group. They conduct research using a variety of resources. The subject areas to focus on are religious life, history, social structures, economics, geography, and environment. Students...
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Indentured Servants
Learners read the article, "Misery." and take notes about reasons immigrants came to America, their physical treatment on the journey, living conditions when they arrived in America, and benefits at the conclusion of servitude. Students...
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The Columbian Exchange
Middle schoolers examine the process of the Columbian Exchange. In groups, they create a poster showing the good exchanged and the people affected. They note the impacts of the Exchange on the world and present their poster to the...
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Group Research Project on Frog Habitats
Students identify and research a frog habitat in small groups and compile a report to present to the class on the physical characteristics of their frog's environment. Students create a map illustrating areas in the world where their...
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Symbols from History: Mesopotamia Today
Students identify the various symbols different nations use to represent themselves. As a class, they discuss the recent events in Iraq and identify the needs of its people. They use print resources to research various Mesopotamian...
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What are Numbers?: Learning to Add
Students identify numbers from 0-20. They show quantities to 20. Students work in small groups and take pictures of items demonstrating the numbers that they have beeen taught. They form the number shape using their bodies and take...
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Learning from the Video Clips
Students view a wilderness video and write to explain the purpose of the video. In this wilderness video lesson plan, recognize how physical and living parts of the environment interact. Students understand how an ecosystem works.
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Cultural Comparison
Students choose from a group of entries about the culture of Peru. In this Peruvian culture lesson, students understand the definition of culture. Students describe the culture of Peru researched in the entry and complete a worksheet.
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Bird Feeding and Migration Observation
Students research bird migration and build a bird house. In this bird lesson plan, students research the birds in their area and where they migrate to. They also build their own bird house and record data on what kinds of birds come to...
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Abraham Lincoln
In this biography worksheet, students read a one page factual story about Abraham Lincoln. Students then answer 7 questions about the story.
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Cartoons for the Classroom: Tooning into the Candidates: Barack Obama
In this current events worksheet, students analyze a political cartoon about Barak Obama and respond to 3 talking point questions.
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Reservoir Activity
Students research the economic importance of the major reservoirs in Illinois. In groups, they manage a budget for one of the lakes to promote tourism in the area. They also work together to create advertisements.
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County Butterfly/Moth Poster
Students discover how to identify the butterflies or moths found in their Illinois County. They use the Lepidoptera database list to find the scientific names, searching field guides and the Internet for the common name.
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Making Connections: Exploring Four Themes through Art: Class Collage from Print Sources
Students explore the art themes of form, content, ornament, and decoration. They explore the Illinois State Museum website, view the online Theme Galleries, and create a collage that reflects a theme.
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Keeping Us in Stitches Activity: Hexagon Quilt Top Design
Learners examine how the hexagon shape can be a building block for quilt patterns. They view images of quilts, discuss symmetry and design patterns, and create and name an original quilt design.
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Amazing Bird Adaptions--Why Am I A Bird?
Fourth graders identify and classify birds found in Illinois. Using the internet, they discover how birds have adapted over time and how the adaptations have increased their life span. They compare and contrast the various adaptations...
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Mussel Identification Activity
Young scholars participate in an activity in which they identify mussels by choosing a set of characteristics. They review the parts of a mussel before and after the activity. They complete a worksheet to finish the activity.
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Hawks Migrate
Pupils examine the types of hawks found in Illinois and compile a list of them. Using different species of hawks, they compare and contrast their characteristics. They work together to create their own hawk model for the classroom.
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Mussel Identification Activity
Students identify given species of animals, such as various
mussels, by sets of physical characteristics as they use a key. They also read about mussels on the Illinois River and look at mussel species in the online database. Finally,...
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Theorem Painting
Young scholars examine the many types of folk art at a museum. They create their own theorem painting by following the steps given to them.
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Forest Activity: Forest Layers (Grades 1-6)
Students use the Museumlink Forest Module to view landscape paintings and discuss the names and functions of the forest layers. They paint or draw a landscape of a forest with the layers and explain them.