Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Statistical Look at Jewish History

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students complete their examination over the Jewish Diaspora. Using population figures, they discover the importance of percentages in exploring trends. They use their own ethnic group and determine how it is represented in the United...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History in the Making

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students create and perform a skit that demonstrates the historical period and foriegn policy of a particular president. They first complete a diagram of George Washington's presidency as a class and then form small groups to research...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Contemporary History: Watergate

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners explore the Watergate scandal. In this Watergate lesson, students watch a video regarding the scandal and use the Internet to research it as well. Learners then interview adults who share memories of the scandal.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Symbols of Our Land

For Teachers 2nd
Students explore the symbols and figures significant to the American culture in the five lessons of this unit. The U.S. flag in various versions, the Statue of Liberty, and the Lincoln Momorial are all covered in short segments in this...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WWII and the Atomic Bomb

For Teachers 7th - 8th
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?
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Studies: Micronesian Independence Day

For Teachers K - 5th
Learners pretend that they are visiting a relative in Micronesia and compare its Independence Day with the U.S. holiday. They compare the two countries' flags while older students in grades three through five create travelogues. Younger...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Two Ways of Life

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students visit Internet sites to compare ways of life of Indians on western Texas frontier and U.S. military men at Texas forts, and draw pictures to illustrate clothing, transportation, weapons, and shelter of both Indians and U.S....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Public Presence: Rulers and Leaders in Our Lives

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students compare the presence of Roman rulers with that of U.S. presidents in the lives of the people the led. They complete a worksheet imbedded in this lesson plan.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Al Qaeda's New Front

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers view a documentary, read articles, discuss and write about Europe's struggle with strained U.S. relations, increased terrorist activity, a growing Muslim population and the logistics of uniting under the European Community.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

International Trafficking of Women to the US

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students develop an understanding of the problems of the illegal international trafficking of women into the U.S. They locate nations where trafficking originates. They explain their solutions to the problem in short essay format.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The End of United States' Occupation of Japan

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine and discuss reasons for end of U.S. occupation of Japan in 1952, locate surrounding Asian countries on map, explore changes to Japan after World War II, and discuss how changes in Japan impacted other countries.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Invasion of Iraq

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the war in Iraq. They use videos, newspapers, and other media to examine the circumstances leading up to the invasion, the war's major battles, and the post-war situation on the ground. Students read letters from Iraq...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A "State of the Arts" Coin K-3

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students recognize the U.S. penny, nickel, dime, and quarter by design, size, and denomination and that the portraits and other images depicted on the coins were designed by artists. They study common Texas symbols and choose one to draw...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

President Who? Forgotten Founders and Their Capitols

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students explore the beginning of the United Colonies that were formed in 1774.  In this history instructional activity, students discuss the Articles of Confederation and then answer questions about the events surrounding the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

George Washington's Foreign Policy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare George Washington's foreign policy to the policies of presidents who followed him. In this primary source analysis lesson plan, students compare Washington's Farewell Address to the Roosevelt Corollary, the Monroe...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Join or not to Join the League of Nations - That is the Question

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students evaluate the possible reasons the United States did not become part of the League of Nations. In this World History lesson, students discuss the pros and cons of what might have happened if the United States had joined the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The United States Flag

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students study the United States flag. In this American history and government lesson, students define and give examples of familiar symbols.  Students design a classroom flag.  Students identify and describe the American flag.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Black American Soldiers in the Civil War

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the actions needed to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.  In this US History lesson, 8th graders analyze documents pertinent to the Congressional Medal of Honor.  Students examine the process of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States 1846-48

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate how the United States acquired land after the Revolutionary War ended. In this establishing borders lesson, students use maps to identify territories acquired by the US and the states that later developed. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Cuban Missile Crisis

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore facets of the Cold War. In this Cold War history lesson, students research a Cold War event in order to write a news story about the events that features direct quotations and images.
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
US Mint

Absolutely and Relatively: The Puerto Rico Quarter Reverse

For Teachers 5th - 8th
How much does your class know about Puerto RIco? How much can they learn from the back of a 2009 quarter? Use the coin, part of a series of quarters that depict US territories, to teach learners about the geography, culture, and history...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Progression of Political Movements

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the various political parties throughout history. In groups, they are given documents identifying the platforms of the parties in the 1868 election. To end the lesson plan, they share their information with the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Expansion and Reform: Applying the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct inquiries and research-acquiring, organizing, analyzing, interpreting, evaluating, and communicating facts, themes, and general principles operating in American history. They use the Declaration of Independence to...