Lesson Plan
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media

Early English Settlements History Detectives

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Young historians play the role of history detectives as they investigate some primary source texts and images related to the early colonization of America, The Jamestown Settlement, and the Mayflower Compact. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native American Village Days

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students research the tribes of American Indians in Virginia and settled, agricultural tribes in other regions of America. They explain how geography and climate influenced the way various Indian tribes lived, and evaluate the impact of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native American Homes

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research and create a model of a Native American home. In pairs, they conduct research on a selected type of Native American home, then draw designs for their building construction. Students then construct their model...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gran Quivira: A Blending of Cultures in a Pueblo Indian Village

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine the changing life ways of the inhabitants of a Pueblo Indian village from the 7th century to the arrival of the Spanish in the early 17th century. They explain the influence of Spanish missionaries on the lives the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colonization and American Indian Perspectives

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students investigate the colonization of the United States by researching Thanksgiving.  In this U.S. history lesson plan, students discuss the concept of Thanksgiving, who created it and what it was intended to do.  Students...
Lesson Plan
PBS

African-Americans in the American West

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Secondary learners explore the westward movement of African Americans. Segmented into four time periods, the lesson provides an overview of how African Americans experienced westward expansion. Learners view PBS specials on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Turning Points in the American Revolution

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine the causes and effects of the American Revolution. In groups, they make a portfolio page and write a response to the Proclamation of 1763. They also make a timeline of the events of the Boston Massacre and answer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Researching North American Tribes: The Cree

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research the Cree tribe of North America. In this Native American lesson, students will research on-line, then compare and contrast the differences between the Cree tribe and other Native American tribes. Students will break...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

English-Indian Encounters in Early 17th Century Virginia

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners participate in a three part lesson in which they examine the initial encounters between the English and the Indians, the different ways in which the colonist and Indians interacted and why English settlers and Native Americans...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

People for the Land: Native Americans in Iowa

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Young scholars identify Iowa's American Indian cultures and complete a research project for the topic. For this Iowa's American Indian lesson, students research read the background information about tribes in Iowa and complete a research...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Persistent Paths: Trails, Tracks and Turnpikes Across the Alleghenies

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study maps to determine barriers associated with the Pennsylvania mountains and the Native Americans.  In this investigative lesson students study the routes used by Native Americans, explain physical features of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heritage: Petroglyphs and the Stories They Tell

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders are introduced to the use of petroglyphs as a form of communication by the Native American tribes of the region that is now Utah. They prepare their own original picture stories and then switch with a partner to translate...
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
Oklahoma Bar Association

Into Which Caste Have You Been Cast?: India's Caste System

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
What was it like to fit into a certain class with no choice in the matter? Learners experience the caste system in a role-play activity, work individually on handouts to enhance their learning, and participate in an evaluation activity...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Johnny Tremain for the 21st Century

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders complete a unit of lessons on the American Revolution based on the novel, 'Johnny Tremain.' They define key vocabulary terms, develop a timeline, write a report on a colonial craft, make a colonial flag, and create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

First Nations Contributions Grade 12

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders investigate the contributions of the First Nations and Metis to Canadian society. In this native studies lesson, 12th graders complete handouts that require them to recognize native contributions in education, governance,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native American Culture

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students investigate the lives of the American Indians who made their homes in the Midwest. In this Native American history lesson, students research the tribes of the Midwest and create PowerPoint presentations based on their research...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Indians

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders review and study the major regions of Native Americans and how their cultures were influenced by geography, natural resources and religious beliefs. They utilize chronological thinking, historical analysis and historical...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Racists Actions Toward the Native Americans

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore Thomas Jefferson and his attitude toward Native Americans. They study maps from European colonization and the westward movement that pushed the Native Americans further west. Students analyze primary source writings of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

AIH-5: Westward Expansion

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research how the westward expansion affected the American Indians.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In Search of California Indians

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research information about some of California indigenous tribes to find out as much as possible about the first people found in the west. They research about the history of a selected tribe and their contributions to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Masks

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine traditional masks from Southwest Indian groups and create their own mask based on Internet research. They share their mask with the members of their class.
Lesson Plan
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Dream of a Nation

Writing Interdisciplinary Essay

For Teachers 12th Standards
The Grapes of Wrath. The Jungle. Native Son. The Things They Carried. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian. To address a current social, political, economic, or environmental issue, class groups pair the reading of a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Indian Tribes

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore two Indian tribes. They explore how tribes lived using natural resources. They compare Eastern Woodland and Plains Indians.