Curated OER
The Cold War and Development of Post-War America
Young scholars view examples of political advertisements during the years of 1952 through 1964. After viewing, they discuss how the Cold War and the threat of Communism affected the development of the United States. They compare the Cold...
Curated OER
D-Day: A Call to Courage
Students examine the events surrounding the D-Day invasion. They watch and discuss a documentary, answer discussion questions, conduct Internet research, simulate war correspondents going ashore, and create a multimedia presentation.
Curated OER
Is It an Authentic Gutenberg Bible?
Sixth graders conduct Internet research to determine what makes Gutenberg Bible authentic, view Ransom Center's digitized version of Gutenberg Bible, and create Powerpoint presentation supporting research findings.
Curated OER
The Decisive Victory: Philadelphia and the Winning of the War for American Independence
High schoolers examine primary documents and apply their knowledge to describe them. For this primary document analysis instructional activity pupils interpret sources and evaluate roles of foreign allies.
Curated OER
Campaign Posters 1788-1816
Seventh graders examine the first years of the U.S. under the U.S. Constitution. They identify the main themes of the Federalist and Republican parties, conduct research, and write a campaign speech and create a campaign poster.
Curated OER
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site: Birthplace of the Modern Presidency
Students examine the circumstances under which Theodore Roosevelt first became President of the United States and how his policies and actions modernized the presidency.
Curated OER
Breakfast of Champions
Second graders classify foods using the food pyramid and write about the foods they eat. They distinguish between healthy and junk food and make healthy choices for their meals. They listen to the story "No Peas for Nellie" and discuss...
Curated OER
The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Students discuss their prior knowledge of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Using the internet, they research the personal, political and economic influences that made an impact on the expedition. They also discover how the expedition...
Curated OER
The Second Amendment and the Right to Bear Arms
Students examine procedures and processes of the Michigan Supreme Court. They explain the Second Amendment to others. They compare and contrast two cases dealing with the Second Amendment.
Curated OER
Labyrinths
Whether studying metaphors or Greek mythology, this labyrinth project is a fantastic lesson plan to add to your unit. It includes two versions of the labyrinth; making it with yarn or stone. If your materials are limited, you can even...
State Bar of Texas
Schenck v. US
Freedom of speech is absolute—or is it? The Supreme Court case Schenck v. United States has learners research what free speech really looks like. A short video along with paired work creates open discussion and thought on what speech is...
Curated OER
Timeline of the American Revolution
Eighth graders cut out and place the labels/events on the timeline where they think they ought to go on an American Revolution timeline. .
Curated OER
Negro Leagues Scrapbook
Students compile a scrapbook of photographs, quotations and notes, representing the perspective of a Negro Leagues baseball player. The scrapbook should include photographs with captions, letters, news headlines, and any other materials...
Curated OER
What Portraits Reveal
High schoolers examine how portraits can tell us more about people of the past than just what they looked like. They compare three portraits of U.S. Presidents, analyze portraits of Americans from the Revolutionary War, and write a...
National WWII Museum
“My Dear Little Boys…” Interpreting a letter home from the war
Letters have long been prized by historians as primary sources for what they reveal not only about events but also about the emotional responses of the writers to these events. "My Dear Little Boys," a letter written by Leonard Isacks on...
Curated OER
Egyptian Expedition
Students identify and analyze ancient Egypt and interpret how to develop bibliographical references. They research topics using multiple resources and various forms of media of media. Finally, students practice and deliver an oral...
Carnegie Mellon University
Hydroelectricity
Use a simple PowerPoint presentation to introduce you environmental studies class to hydropower. Hold a debate about the pros and cons of developing this form of alternative energy. Power up your class with this simple lesson on a topic...
Curated OER
Hoot: Bloom's Taxonomy- Questioning Strategy
What better way to examine a text than to ask your own questions? Use Bloom's taxonomy to guide kids through Carl Hiaasen's Hoot by asking questions based on knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.
Curated OER
Pictures of the Past: I Remember When...
Learners, after discussing and analyzing the value of reminiscence for people of all ages, write a reminiscence essay on their own lives and then create a story form the perspective of an older person.
Curated OER
Lives of Native Americans and Settlers
Students assess the effect of contact between the Native Americans and Europeans after 1492. They explore the lives of the early European colonists and the Native Americans living along the East Coast of North America. Lesson contains...
National First Ladies' Library
Brrrr! Expeditions to the North and South Poles
Students examine the first successful explorations of the North and South Poles, through a study of the four men who accomplished them. They present the fruits of their research on posters, or with PowerPoint presentations.
Curated OER
WWII and the Atomic Bomb
Students explore three decisions about the atomic bomb faced by the U.S. during WWII, take a position on each of the decisions, and defend their position. Should a bomb have been built, dropped, and was the right decision made?
Curated OER
Colonization And The Quarkers
Eighth graders explore the colonization of Pennsylvania and the Quaker religion. They share how they believe Quakers treated the Native Americans. Students take notes and listen to a lass lecture. Afterward, they write at least two...
Curated OER
Reader's Theater
Students act out and interpret the story for their peers. They study the simplest form of an organized reading to a more elaborate activity involving props, costumes, or a reinterpretation of the narrative into another art form.