Curated OER
Discovering Places & Regions
Fifth graders research physical and cultural features of a place. They practice skills in gathering information from various sources, using tools such as graphic organizers, word processing, multimedia, and use of the Internet.
Curated OER
Barack Obama
In this famous person activity, students read a passage about Barack Obama and then complete a variety of in-class and homework activities to support comprehension, including partner interviews, spelling, cloze, synonym matches, and...
Curated OER
Who Were the Settlers?
Students examine why people move from one country or area to another. Using photographs, they analyze the culture and lifestyles of people pictured in the image. They research and explain the daily experiences of the settlers to...
Curated OER
Everybody Fiesta: A Unit on Hispanic Celebrations
Students examine the various types of celebrations in the Hispanic culture. Using the internet, they research customs and traditions of the culture and identify important members of society who are hispanic. They are also introduced to...
Curated OER
Freedom from Oppression
Students investigate instances of genocide and role play as reporters writing news stories and editorials.
Curated OER
The Constitution on Trial: The Internment of the Japanese During World War II
Eleventh graders analyze primary source documents during the Second World War. Students recall statements of Japanese-Americans who were placed into internment camps during the war.
Teaching Tolerance
The Power of Words: Ethnic Stereotypes
Pupils study stereotypes that are associated with different ethniciites or regional groups. They examine how occupations can be hypothetically related to ethnic sounding names.
Curated OER
Who is Who in the Old West?
Students consider the backgrounds of those who settled the Old West. In this Westward Expansion lesson, students participate in a simulation that requires them to role play miners, ranchers, Native Americans, Chinese, African...
Curated OER
Social Movements of the 20th Century
Sixth graders study the social movements of the 20th century. In this social movements lesson, 6th graders discuss social unrest, review social and political movements of the 20th century, and discuss the main movements for unrest....
Curated OER
Affidavit and Flyers from the Chinese Boycott Case
Students divide into small groups and study one of the three union flyers. Groups share their findings with the whole class and clarify unfamiliar vocabulary terms.
Curated OER
A Twist On American Symbolism
Learners discover how and why flag and national anthem of the United States were created, and in what ways they represent the foundation of our national identity.
Curated OER
Moving West with the Forts: Using an Interactive Map
Seventh graders practice reading maps and locating the forts stationed in Texas. Using the internet, they analyze westward movements from statehood to the Civil War. In groups, they complete a worksheet about the forts and share their...
Curated OER
The United Nations and Women
High schoolers analyze the role of the Commission on the Status of Women in the post-WW II era by looking at the general framework the Committee worked within. They propose their own solutions to the case studies.
Curated OER
Fertilizers, Pesticides and Human Health- American Lessons
Students explore migration and why people move. They explore the movement of native populations. Students explore the economy as an factor in migration. They discuss the exploitation of the migrant worker.
Curated OER
Primary Sources
Learners write personal facts on a photograph of themselves to create a Primary Source. They then define Primary Source and list examples as a class of places where they could find primary sources. They also discuss the importance of...
Curated OER
California Mission Slide Show
Fourth graders research the details of a California Mission. They design a slide show to present their research.
Curated OER
Letters from the Japanese American Internment
Students make deductions about life in an internment camp by reading and comparing letters written to Clara Breed. Along the way, they consider the advantages of looking at a historical event from the multiple points of view of...
Curated OER
Whose Business?
Fourth graders compare and contrast the businesses in Fort Griffin with those in their own community. Using the internet, they discover the factors that have influenced the development of businesses in a town. They also create a map of...
Curated OER
Legends and Myths: Trickster Tales
Students work in groups to research the characteristics of various myths and legends. They read tales, illustrate them, record oral storytelling efforts and write an original folktale. Students then invite parents to a dramatic...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Irish and German Immigration
Read about the reasons thousands of Irish and Germans emigrated to the United States in the first half of the 19th century. Find out why there was a backlash to influx of so many immigrants, and learn about the Nativists who wanted to...
Harvard University
Harvard University Library: Open Collections: Immigration to the u.s.,1789 1930
Find books, pamphlets, photographs, maps, and manuscripts about immigration to the United States, principally nineteenth-century immigration. With a timeline of key dates in U.S. immigration history and a browsable list of search themes...
Lin and Don Donn
Lin and Don Donn: u.s. History Lessons: Immigration
This personal site provides a list of links and lesson plans related to immigration up to the current time.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Rush of Immigrants
Read about the new wave of immigrants who came to America in the late 19th century. See differences between these groups of immigrants and those who came earlier. Find out where immigrants settled, and read about those who did not...
Immigration and Ethnic History Society
Iehs: Goodman, Writing u.s. Immigration History on the Other Side of the World
This article is written by a doctoral student of American foreign relations and immigration policy who doing research in Cameroon, Africa. In 1990, just 3000 Cameroonian immigrants resided in the United States. Today the number has...