National First Ladies' Library
Were There Two Wars for American Independence?
Students debate whether or not the War of 1812 can be counted as America's second war of independence. After researching the War of 1812, they complete a WebQuest designed to help them decide on the validity of the war as a quest for...
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Threatened Species and Public Policy
Students discuss the Endangered Species Act and its impact on people and the environment. They read the act and watch video footage. They examine why sea turtles are endangered and efforts to protect them. They analyze numerical results...
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The Trial of Dred Scott
Students study the trial of Dred Scott. They investigate the New York Times reporter and simulate writing about the trial for a newspaper. They identify the 5Ws from the play using a graphic organizer and present their findings to the...
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Relative Dating - Telling Time Using Fossils
Students use fossil range charts to explain relative dating. They graph for ammonites, marine organisms that went extinct at the same time as dinosaurs.
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Fold a Paper House
Students make a folded paper model of a Korean thatched roof house, label its parts and color it appropriately.
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"I have a Dream"
High schoolers analyze the famous "I Have a Dream," speech by Martin Luther King Jr., and discuss the progress made since then. In small groups, they read and discuss various documents, and formulate a plan of action to help realize Dr....
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Ecotourism in National Parks and Wilderness
Students research a wilderness or natural area and develop a plan for ecotourism.
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The Myth and the Reality: Pioneering in the Midwest
Students examine the myth and reality of settlement in the Upper Midwest during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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Bringing the Holocaust Unit to Closure: Implications For the Future
Students examine the relevance of the Holocaust to the present and future. They watch an excerpt from the movie, 'Schindler's List,' participate in a discussion of the movie excerpt, view and discuss a speech by Elie Wiesel, and write a...
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Why Nations Trade
Students examine how international trade affects a nation's economy. They read and analyze two handouts, research a scenario from the handout, determine the chronological order of the scenarios, and answer questions about a case study.
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Stories Reveal Character
Students research a person who had a role in the Lewis and Clark expedition. They work together to create and perform a skit showing the person they researched role. They write their own journal entries to end the lesson.
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Testing the Caverns
Middle schoolers build model caverns using paper mache or clay and bury them in a tray of sand. They test the models by dropping balls onto them to simulate an asteroid hitting the earth. They evaluate the effectiveness of a structure...
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Describing Drum Beats in Native American Music
Young scholars analyze the drum patterns and changing styles of the music and dance for the Native American song and dance "Owl Dance." They listen to a recording of "Owl Dance," discuss the cultural context of the song, and perform the...
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Deadly Disease among Us
Students recognize that infectious diseases are a continuing problem among all human populations. They define and give examples of emerging infectious diseases. Students define and give examples of re-emerging infectious diseases.
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Economic Use of Public Natural Areas
Students examine the public controversy between the use of public natural areas for economic activities by viewing video clips, researching on the Internet, and calculating sustainable land.
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Floods: Rising Waters and You
Students examine the relationship between human-made structures, flood waters and the increasing population through video clips, websites and a lab experiment.
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Co-evolution of Plants and Pollinators
Learners, while studying the rolls of pollinators and plants, explore co-evolution of mutualistic relationships.
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Non Native Species: English Ivy-Landscape Plant or Deadly Killer?
High schoolers examine an area overrun by English Ivy. They explore how invasive species affect an ecosystem. They also study about the lack of biodiversity and how to measure it out in the field.
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Volcanoes:How Safe Are They?
Learners explore volcanoes, locate them on maps, record general information about volcanoes, and organize information on a fact sheet.
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Lewis and Clark In Columbia River Country
Eighth graders research biographies of people who participated in the Lewis and Clark expedition using Internet resources. They role play characters while acting out a campfire scene from the expedition.
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Valuable Veterans
Students select one female veteran and research her background and contribution to the military. They explore the relationship between women and the military and how it has evolved since the Revolutionary War.
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Patriots of the Revolution
Fifth graders identify causes and effects of historical events in the American Revolution. They evaluate critical issues and events that led to the American Revolution. Analyze the views and lives of people of the Revolutionary Period.
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Eleanor Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Students explore the leadership of Eleanor Roosevelt through the use of historical documents. They examine the complexity of the creation of international documents. Students explore the Human Rights Declaration.
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Science Italian Style: Eruption!
Young scholars explore ways scientists prepare for a volcanic eruption. They observe films of earthquakes, oil spills, volcanoes and hurricanes. Students perform activities to demonstrate the relationship of viscosity to lava flow. ...