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Let Freedom Ring

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students go to the computer lab to engage in this thoughtful lesson plan on our national symbols. Students access the internet, and solve an on-line puzzle of a national symbol of freedom. The symbols are the Eagle, The Statue of...
Lesson Plan
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The Bill of Rights: Debating the Amendments

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the Bill of Rights. In this U.S. Constitution instructional activity, students participate in classroom debate regarding the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. Students then vote for the amendments they would like...
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The Bill of Rights is a-Rockin

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Young scholars explore the U.S. Constitution through music. For this Bill of Rights lesson, students discuss a hypothetical case regarding lyrics by Madonna and the historical Massachusetts Blue Laws. Young scholars use the Bill of...
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Black History Stamps

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore the lives and contributions of the many black Americans who are honored on U.S. commemorative postage stamps, make a presentation that synthesizes information about a historical figure and time, and write a persuasive...
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Pets are Popular with U.S. Presidents

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students discuss their pets and read about pets that have lived in the White House. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a vocabulary activity and pet survey, then the students read the...
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Yankee Doodle... More than Just a Catchy Tune

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Learners investigate the history of patriotic music and practice singing the tunes with classmates.  In this U.S. History lesson, students examine lyrics of the traditional song "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and discuss the differing points...
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U.S. Post Office Mural Walking Tour

For Teachers K - 6th
Students discover a sense of community by examining Post Office murals located in cities and small towns throughout the United States. They explore the significance of the murals by contacting and communicating with local Postmasters....
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Claiming Common Ground? The Civil War and the Preservation of Claiming Common Ground? The Civil War and the Preservation of George Washington's Mount Vernon

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore how people viewed George Washington in the 19th Century.  In this U.S. History lesson, students create a timeline of events during the Civil War, including government and court decisions.  Following...
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The Affects of Environment on Native American Culture

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars research the culture of the Native Americans.  In this U.S. History lesson plan, students are given the major geological areas where the Indians lived prior to the arrival of the Europeans, then they create a notebook...
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Westward Expansion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the Westward Expansion Movement of U.S. history. In this Westward movement lesson, students use primary and secondary source documents research personal accounts of those who travelled west during the era....
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Our Constitutional Amendments

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students analyze how the Bill of Rights affected people.  For this U.S. History lesson, students research specific Amendments then prepare an oral report and visual presentation on one amendment to share with the class.
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When Turtle Grew Feathers

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students explore the Choctaw Native American tribe.  In this cross curriculum literacy and U.S. history lesson, students locate where the Choctaw Indians lived on a United States map.  Students listen to When Turtle Grew...
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Oral Assessment Plan

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students practice active listening skills.  In this literacy and U.S. history lesson, students predict the hardships pioneers using the Mormon Trail might have faced. Students view the movie "Children of the Wagon Train," then...
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Thanks Be To You

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students research U.S. history by completing a worksheet activity in class. In this historical figure lesson, students identify the contributions and risks taken by the former African-American leader Martin Luther King Jr. Students read...
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Paul Revere, American Patriot

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research Paul Revere's life and role in U.S. history by examining first-person accounts, works of historical fiction, a popular narrative poem, and other resources. They create a mural depicting their findings.
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Ch'in (Qin) Dynasty Debate on Censorship

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders learn team building, fair play, keeping an open mind towards others' opinions, U.S. government policies, and a better understanding of the meaning of censorship as they debate the merits of censorship.
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Comparing the 1945 Vietnam Declaration of Independence and Constitution of 1992 with the United States Declaration of Independence and Constitution

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare and contrast the Vietnamese and American plans for government. In this government systems lesson, students analyze and compare excerpts of the 1945 Vietnam Declaration of Independence, the Vietnam Constitution of 1992,...
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Understanding Freedom: Catching "The Spirit of '76"

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders complete activities about colonial history through an examination of art from the American Revolution period. In this history and art lesson, 6th graders define an iconic image, sing the song 'Yankee Doodle,' and analyze...
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Dekanawidah- A Forgotten Founding Father

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students compare plans for government. In this early American history lesson, students compare and contrast the U.S. Constitution with the Iroquois Constitution. Students identify cultural features, government functions, and citizenship...
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The Bills of Rights: Cutting It down to Size

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore democratic values. In this U. S. Constitution lesson, 8th graders read the Bill of Rights and consider the significance of the amendments. Students design a governmental time capsule that includes their own plan...
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The Bill of Rights

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders determine why the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution. In this U.S. government lesson, 7th graders discuss the first 10 amendments and any vocabulary they may be unfamiliar with. Students then read different...
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Remembering the Forgotten War

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine the major events and significance of the Korean War, including U.S. involvement in the war. In this World History lesson, 9th graders read primary source materials to understand the political, social, emotional...
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I Do Solemnly Swear: Presidential Inaugurations

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students read about the most recent presidential inauguration, and then use primary online resources to answer general and specific questions about U.S. presidential inaugurations.
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The Revolving Door: U.S. Immigration

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students compare current cultural perceptions of the immigrant experience with ones of the past. They will relate current immigration stories as seen in the PBS documentary "The New Americans" to those of the historical past.