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Curated OER

Philosophical Conflict and the Founding of New Societies: Gandhi and Nehru in India, and Jefferson and Hamilton in the United States

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the foundations of "new societies" such as those created by figures like Jefferson &  Ghandi, The evaluate the differences between what was intended and the actual reality of these societies including where the...
Lesson Plan
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Lewis and Clark: Meeting the Indians of the Northwest

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the relationships forged with Native Americans by Lewis and Clark. In this Westward Expansion lesson, 8th graders research digital and print sources to study details regarding the Native American tribes that Lewis...
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George Washington Teaches Map Directions

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners follow teacher given directions, either oral or written to plot points on a grid to create a profile of George Washington. They apply cardinal and ordinal directions to find the points on the grid.
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Primary Process in Elections

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners read "How Does the Primary Process Work" and complete the accompanying worksheet. They explore how the primary and caucus process works in small groups or in pairs. They answer questions based on the primary process to...
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Squanto's Science Lesson

For Teachers K - 5th
Students explore Squanto's contribution to the settlers. They plant seeds and follow instructions for water and fertilization. Students keep a record of the growth of the seeds. They write a paragraph that tells what they learned from...
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Using and Creating Timelines

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders analyze information presented in a timeline and then create a time line. They put the following events in order from oldest to recent: Telephone invented (1876), Massacre at Wounded Knee (1890), First transcontinental...
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Ben Franklin's 300th Birthday Bash

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students read a story about Benjamin Franklin's 300th birthday and answer vocabulary and comprehension questions about it. In this Benjamin Franklin birthday lesson plan, students explore Mr. Franklin's role as an author, editor,...
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Analysis of Dorothea Lange's Photographs

For Teachers 7th - Higher Ed
Pupils analyze a photo of Dorothea Lange and make connections to its historical context by creating a written and visual response. In this photograph analysis lesson, students analyze Lange's photograph and explain the historical impact...
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Family Life During the Great Depression

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Learners practice the skill of photo analysis. In this Great Depression lesson, students analyze photographs from the era and write fictitious diary entries based on the images. 
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The Great Depression - FDR and the New Deal

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students consider the role that government should play in economics. In this Great Depression lesson, students analyze New Deal legislation to develop an informed opinion about the public programs and then present their findings to their...
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Hopi Agriculture

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners discuss the farming practices of the past and present of the Hopi people and discuss the importance of corn. In this Hopi agriculture lesson plan, students also plant their own seeds of corn.
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The Cold War at Home

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders discover the perspective of Cold War on the American homefront. In this Cold War lesson plan, 11th graders watch Duck and Cover video segments that instruct citizens what to do in case of nuclear attack. Students discuss...
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The Civil War through a Child's Eye

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students read Paul Fleischman's Bull Run in Readers Theater format. Next, students examine and interpret primary source images of Civil War era students and reveal their understanding of a child's perspective in a literary portrait.
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19th Century Immigration.

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders analyze primary source cartoons depicting discrimination against immigrants. They study the historical relationship Dominican Republic has had with the United States. They assess how this relationship is linked to...
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This Life Stinks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study how organisms that live in cold seep communities get energy from methane.  For this organism lesson students write a brief report and identify oxidation reduction reactions and explain if these are dependent of...
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What's in That Cake?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore the depths of the Gulf of Mexico. In this deep-sea habitat lesson, students construct edible models of deep-sea habitats as they bake cakes that include representations of the habitats and the organisms that live there....
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Life is Weird

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students describe features of cold seep communities and list organisms that can be found in these communities.  For this exploratory lesson students complete an activity and describe the process of chemosynthesis. 
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Exploring Cultural Rituals

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed
Young scholars analyze images and music of common rituals in America with those of other countries. They use worksheets to compare and contrast the events.
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The Louisiana Purchase

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners take a closer look at Lewis and Clark's expedition. In this Louisiana Purchase lesson plan, students play an interactive game based on the expedition and respond to questions about the game once they finish it.
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Secrets of the Presidents

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students research little-known facts about presidents of the United Statesusing the Internet. They complete a printable technology activity.
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The European Union

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders construct a timeline depicting the development of the European Union and label and color countries on a map belonging to it. They write essays about how the Union affects the United States.
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Evaluating the "Save the Indian" Reforms

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the policies of the "Save the Indian" reforms. Working in groups, they review the motives, methods, and effects of the "Save the Indian" campaign of the late 19th century. Through discussion and writing, they form an...
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Surprising Facts About Life 50 Years Ago

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students research a specific time period and look for interesting facts about that time. They compile a list of these facts and share what they find by creating a class book or bulletin board.
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Getting To Know Famous People

For Teachers 1st
First graders use the internet to research a famous American. Using the information they collect, they write a paragraph noting their accomplishments. They find a picture of the person they are researching or dress up like them to...