Curated OER
To Be Black and American: World War II
Twelfth graders research wartime conditions African American had to endure during World War II. They explain what role African Americans played in World War II and describe what life was like for African Americans in the United States...
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The Civil War - Lesson #1 of 3
Eleventh graders design a newspaper, with images, that reflects historically accurate information about how Illinois residents felt and acted during the Civil War.
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History Detective: The Case of the Mysterious Trunk
Students role play as history detectives. In this historical inquiry instructional activity, students discuss what detectives do, analyze a trunk of "artifacts" and make conclusions about its fictional owner. Students complete six pages...
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What's Significant in Today's Notes from the Trail?
For this lesson, you will need access to "Notes from the Trail." Your learners will read the day's text, and identify the most important or significant event in the journal entry. Not many prompting questions are provided, and some of...
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Exploring Minerals
I love this geology lesson plan. Third and fourth graders look at the connections, and the differences, between rocks and minerals. Learners are charged with identifying specific rocks and minerals, learning how to properly use...
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Exploring How Rocks Are Formed
These lessons produced by the Illinois State Museum are quite good. In this one, third and fourth graders are introduced to the three basic types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. They perform activities which help them...
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Moving Objects
Students discover the history of the United States by examining the Great Migration. In this U.S. History activity, students research the immigration movement on the Internet and complete a worksheet about the large population...
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Home Sweet Home
Students complete activities with the books Color Me Dark, The Diary of Nellie Lee Love, and The Great Migration North. In this literature/History lesson, student read the story and discuss the plot. They analyze photographs taken...
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Sales Tax
Students explore the concept of sales tax. In this sales tax lesson, students work in groups to spend $500. Students calculate the discount and sales tax on each item. Students buy between 5 to 10 items.
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Spice It Up!
Students analyze visual artifacts from Asian descent and follow the path of famous explorers on the Silk Road. In this Asian artifacts lesson plan, students use their senses to explore and grind spices using a mortar and pestle.
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Bats Migrate South
Pupils examine the life of bats in Illinois. Using the internet, they research the history of the bat in Illinois and describe the way they find prey by using echolocation. They report their findings to the class and answer any...
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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.
Smithsonian Institution
Barn Again! Celebrating an American Icon
How do barns serve as a window to a community's past? Here are a series of lessons on the symbolism and historical context of barns throughout American history. Topics include community-building, in-depth primary and secondary...
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Prairie Senses
Second graders use their senses to explore a prairie or imaginary prairie. They draw pictures to represent the five senses and discover how an artist describes non-visual sensations in a visual way.
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Making Connections Activity: Seeing Connections Among Works of Art
Students view images from fine and decorative art galleries in the Museumlink Illinois website. They make connections regarding theme, mood, or emotional expression. They present their findings orally and display their images.
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Legislative Branch
Learners analyze Article 1 of the Constitution. They respond to the Public Criticism E-Learning module.
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How Ordinary People Can Have an Impact
Students identify three or more ways the Federal Government impacts their daily lives and then explore ways in which citizens can influence political leaders.
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The Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858
Eleventh graders examine transcripts of the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates and create a platform for each candidate in the 1858 Senate race.
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Illinois Entice Spoken Here
Eighth graders name a prairie animal when their name is called for attendance each day. They read books about Illinois or related topics. At present we have read Illinois, A Rookie Read About Geography Book by Allan Fowler.
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She Sells Sea Shells in Illinois??
Second graders sorted shells first by methods they thought appropriate and then were instructed on the scientific method of classification by univalve and bivalve. Students then sorted paper shells as a method of assessing knowledge. It...
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USING THE SOFTWARE PROGRAM "HYPER-STUDIO"
Students demonstrate the steps to follow in using the software to create a presentation. They use context of cultural history of the four periods of Native American lifestyles in Illinois and create a presentation.
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Menu for an Athlete
Football, basketball, softball. What do these sports have in common? Athletes. Young scholars learn about and discuss the food pyramind, especially grains, with the thought that they will be planning a pre-competition meal and snack for...
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Amazon Food Chain
Explore food chains in the Amazon Rainforest using this resource. Learners discuss the predator vs. prey relationships in the food chain. Then, they create a food web to describe this relationship. This is a simple and effective way to...
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Spider Poems: The Spider and the Fly
Learners review the information they gathered on different websites to write a poem about spiders. They use other websites to gain more information if needed. They share their poem with the class.