Curated OER
Fur Trade Economics
Students demonstrate understanding of what the fur trade was and how it was operated, including the bartering process, by participating in a mock trade activity and assessing the value of items based on their needs and wants.
Curated OER
The Art of the Puerto Rican People
Students study Taino Art and identify their crafts and stone carvings. They read the life of Campeche as presented and discuss with their teacher the economic and political situation of Puerto Rico in the eighteenth century and how...
Curated OER
Trail of Tears
Students create a journal entry written from the perspective of a Cherokee, a soldier, or a person involved in the Trail of Tears.
Curated OER
How is Rice Used in Food from Different Cultures?
Fifth graders examine how rice is used in different cultures. For this culture lesson, 5th graders explain the similarities between dolmas and sushi, then name two different Mexican rice dishes. Students learn new vocabulary words,...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Turkey Napkin Holder
Studens create turkey napkin holders. They discuss how Thanksgiving originated and why we celebrate this holiday. They create their napkin holders using craft sticks, glue guns, construction paper, feathers, and glitter.
Curated OER
The New Immigrants
Students determine what lures immigrants to the Pittsburgh area. They conduct interviews to compare the experiences of new immigrants to the area to those of previous immigrants.
Curated OER
Language Families
Fourth graders identify and locate the three language families of North Carolina. They calculate the physical area covered by each language family and label them on a map.
Curated OER
Colony of Massachusetts
Third graders recall the reasons why the Pilgrims came to the New World. They ideology and compare and contrast the ideology of the Puritans and Roger iams. They study the colony of New York.
Curated OER
Understanding Treaties: Students Explore the Lives of Yakama People Before and After Treaties
Learners examine the impact of treaties on the Yakama nation. They discover the importance of land and how they felt when their land was taken away. They role-play the positions of both the Yakama and citizens of the United States.
Curated OER
Thanksgiving: Traditions
Students investigate the traditions and history around Thanksgiving. They divide into groups and research specific aspects of the holiday. Students then share their findings with the rest of the class. They also complete crafts,...
Curated OER
African Masks (Pre-Visit)
Second graders observe and describe several masks from different parts of Africa housed in the Smithsonian Institute (National Museum of African Art) Washington, D.C. They use the internet to view the Smithsonian's virtual exhibits.
Curated OER
Rock Art Stories
Students examine different types of rock art. They analyze them to try to figure out the meaning of the art. They create their own rock art that tells a story. They share their creation with the class.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Native American Cultures Across the United States
Students explore different aspects of the cultures of the First Americans in this lesson plan. Stereotypes are often associated with Native Americans through movies and in the context of the Thanksgiving holiday. Specific information and...
iCivics
I Civics: Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Association (1988)
This mini-instructional activity examines the Supreme Court case that pitted the interests of government economic projects against the religious rights of American Indians. Students learn about the religious protections of the First...
Nebraska Studies
Nebraska Studies: Pre 1500: Nebraska's First Farmers [Pdf]
A lengthy and detailed lesson plan that explores the earliest Americans who lived in Nebraska prior to European contact. Although specific to Nebraska, the information can be generalized. [pdf]
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Traditions and Languages of Three Native Cultures
This lesson plan helps students learn aspects of three Native American languages, the Tlingit, Lakota, and Cherokee. Five lessons lead teachers and students through traditions, similarities and differences, and the importance of...
Other
Rhode Island: First Inhabitants
At this site read a concise description of the different Native American groups that first lived in the Rhode Island area. Also learn about the earliest European settlers and a bit about their lives after settlement.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Myth and Truth: "The First Thanksgiving" [Pdf]
Contains plans for three lessons that examine the myth and reality behind the first Thanksgiving and the Wampanoag Native Americans in colonial America. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to...
Library of Virginia
Virginia Memory: Blank Space: Mapping the Unknown
How did early maps show the mapmakers' perception of the known world? Early mapmakers used maps drawn from coastal explorations, land travels, and even information heard word of mouth from American Indians or from colonists or traders....