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Trek Across America
Bring a time machine into your classroom with this writing lesson, in which young writers project themselves back in time and have a variety of choices from that point forward. They either write a conversation with a historical figure,...
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Family Traditions, Customs and Beliefs
Students discuss African childhood, explore family traditions, customs, and beliefs, examine African recipes, discuss differences or similarities in food preparation between the U.S. and Africa, and prepare a dish with adult supervision.
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Play House
Students explore U.S. government by participating in a role playing activity. In this House of Representatives lesson, students discuss the first day of congress and the role the House plays in running the United States. Students define...
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Putting It All Together: Early American History 1776-1812
Students view the reverse side of state quarters of those states that entered the union before 1812 and make predictions about what the symbols mean to each state. They complete a worksheet during a lecture describing the symbols and use...
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Arab Americans: In the Aftermath of the Terrorist Attacks on the U.S.
Students examine the effects of the terrorist attacks in 2001. In this lesson on discrimination and the dangers of stereotyping, students will expand their understanding of stereotyping in contemporary society and compare in to similar...
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Ohio's U.S. Presidents
Fourth graders investigate the state of Ohio's claim to be the "Mother of Presidents." Nine U.S. presidents were from the state and their contributions and terms of office are examined in this lesson.
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Roundtable
Fifth graders apply the Five Themes of Geography as they relate to the U.S., the world, and specific places in United States history. They recognize and label geographical locations on a map of the United States.
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Texas, Our Texas
Students explore U.S. geography by completing a coloring activity in class. In this Texas history instructional activity, students utilize the web to locate Texas on a map of the U.S. Students view a PowerPoint presentation which...
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Trading Traditions: Based on the American Samoa Quarter Reverse
Young scholars investigate U.S. Currency by researching American Samoa. In this monetary unit lesson, students define the reverse and obverse of a coin while completing a currency related worksheet. Young scholars identify...
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Dark Days
Fifth graders explore U.S. history by viewing video clips in class. In this dust bowl era lesson, 5th graders identify the impact of giant dust storms on the U.S. agriculture systems and the U.S. economy in the 20th century. Students...
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A Feat of Daring with Lewis and Clark Jeopardy
Sixth graders discover the exploration of the United States by participating in a class activity. In this U.S. History instructional activity, 6th graders research the Lewis and Clark expedition and participate in a game of...
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Let Me Tell You About My State
Fifth graders research one of the 50 U.S. States that they were unfamiliar with. In this U.S. Geography lesson, 5th graders utilize encyclopedias as well as the Internet to research a chosen U.S. State in order to write a report....
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A More Perfect Union
Fourth graders complete a unit of lessons on the development of the U.S. government. They examine the main ideas of the Declaration of Independence, develop a class translation of the preamble to the Constitution, create a flow chart,...
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Civil War Battlefields
Eighth graders research a specific battle of the U.S. Civil War. Using the Internet and the Encarta Encyclopedia they conduct research, and create and publish a travel brochure that incorporates historical and visual information about...
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A Tough Nut to Crack
Sixth graders explore agriculture by examining world geography. In this pecan cultivation lesson, 6th graders identify the history of the famous nut and the impact it has on the U.S. economy, diet and human body. Students define...
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Projections and the Census
Students learn why the census makes a difference. In this U.S. Census lesson plan, students connect data and history in their study of previous population booms and analyze census data in order to make predictions about the future.
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Under the Blood-Red Sun
Fifth graders explore U.S. history by reading an award winning book about World War II. In this Japanese internment camp lesson, 5th graders read the book Under the Blood-Red Sun and discuss the entrapment of Japanese-Americans on our...
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Winter Olympics History Year by Year
Investigate the history of the Winter Olympic Games. After researching this event and compiling necessary statistics, pupils use a graphic organizer to chart their findings. A template for a chart is included in this resource. Have your...
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Life in Ancient Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
Students study the ancient African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. They brainstorm what they know about ancient African kingdoms before investigating the trade and barter situations, and researching one of the kingdoms for an oral...
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Breaking Barriers
Determine how African-Americans have broken barriers in this history lesson. Middle schoolers discuss the 15th Amendment and the American civil rights movement prior to analyzing Barack Obama's speech "A More Perfect Union," taking care...
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Survey of the Louisiana Purchase in 1815
Students explore the survey of the Louisiana Purchase by creating their own surveying and mapping techniques such as natural maps, pace maps, and orienting. Other students then try to follow the maps.
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U.S. History Timeline
Fifth graders complete a timeline activity in which they outline the events from explorations to the early Colonial era. In groups, they discover an overview of the events that lead up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. ...
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U.S. History: Immigrant Scrapbooks
Students role-play as immigrants coming to America around the turn of the 19th century. They conduct Internet research and print out pictures to use in an immigrant scrapbook. Students write captions for the pictures and narratives to...
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Immigration/Migration
Sixth graders investigate the immigration into America by researching Ellis Island. In this United States History lesson, 6th graders research the Internet to view photographs and find information about the immigration to Ellis Island....