Curated OER
Fifty States
Fifth graders find each state and its capital city on a map before memorizing the information. They work in small groups after watching a modeled lesson by the teachers. They write a statement about their assigned states and capital...
Curated OER
Puerto Rico: The 51st State?
Students research the history of Puerto Rico, its culture, and geography. In this Puerto Rico lesson, students find Puerto Rico on a map and find specific regions or cities. Students discuss Puerto Rico's statehood and listen to salsa...
Curated OER
The 8th Amendment: The Death Penalty
Students take a closer look at the death penalty. In this U.S. government lesson, students watch a Discovery video about capital punishment in the United States and then compose letters to the editors of newspapers about their stance on...
PBS
Connecting Post-Civil War Mob Violence and the Capitol Hill Riot
Anti-democratic violence is not new in the United States. Learners watch videos and then compare and contrast the 1873 Colfax and the 1898 Wilmington massacres. They then watch a video about the Capitol Hill insurrection of 2021 and...
Curated OER
Design a Coin
Young scholars research a state and then design a quarter for it. They use dough or foil to create the coin! students explore state quarters that have already been issued by the U.S. Mint. Their quarter is for a state that hasn't had one...
Curated OER
Las Vegas: We Are Just Like You
Students practice making multimedia documentary films by investigating cities of America. In this U.S. geography lesson, students examine Las Vegas and compare the state of Nevada to 15 other states and discuss their main...
Curated OER
51st State
Students, in small groups, design a new state and create a brochure to present to an agency representative outlining the given information in the lesson. Students use templates in the compute lab to write sentences they have created...
Curated OER
Educational Complacency Will Make U.S. Feel the Pain
Twelfth graders examine the educational system in the United States in reference to the job market and available expertise. In this Current Events lesson, 12th graders read an article and discuss their opinions with the class.
Smithsonian Institution
Cuban Missile Crisis
The United States—specifically John F. Kennedy—played a large role during the Cuban Missile Crisis. A history resource poses questions that encourage critical thinking as well as in-depth analysis of images from the time period.
Global Oneness Project
The Nature of Happiness
The U.S. Constitution states that the pursuit of happiness is an inalienable right. The United Nations' Global Happiness Index ranks countries according to the happiness of its citizens. As part of a discussion of the nature of...
Curated OER
Puerto Rico: The 51st State?
Students examine the political status of Puerto Rico. In this global studies lesson, students explore Puerto Rico and consider the feelings of Puerto Ricans regarding their unique political status.
Curated OER
Who Decides Who Dies?
Students explore various state laws concerning capital punishment and conduct a mock meeting of the United States Congress to set standards for the death penalty.
Curated OER
America Will Be
Students work together to research and create different types of maps of the United States to be used as part of a geography trivia game.Groups research North American annual rainfall, climate, mountain ranges major rivers and state...
Curated OER
Al Otro Lado
Students view a video about the border between the United States and Mexico. They discuss the forces that influence human migration. They write a paper from the point of view of the main character in the film.
Curated OER
Bill of Rights and Lawmaking
Ninth graders consider how the Bill of Rights impacts the lawmaking process in the United States. For this Bill of Rights lesson, 9th graders discuss the amendments and their limitations. Students research the role of the Legislative...
Curated OER
What is Meant by Returning to Fundamental Principles?
What did the Founding Fathers mean by the importance of continually returning to fundamental principles? Your young historians will analyze a series of quotations illustrating the fundamental ideals and principles of the...
Curated OER
Projects For USA Units
Students study different regions of the United states through interdisciplinary activities. This instructional activity presents very creative, artistic ways for students to explore the variety of regions found in the United States.
Curated OER
Mystery State #8
In this mystery state worksheet, students answer five clues to identify the state in question. They then locate that state on a map.
Curated OER
Mystery State #47
In this mystery state worksheet, students answer five clues to identify the state in question. They then locate that state on a map.
Curated OER
Our Country's Geography
Third graders study geography. In this United States landforms activity, 3rd graders create a map of the U.S. made out of dough. They use various edible treats to mark the country's capital, the plains, the mountains and the rivers &...
Curated OER
End of the Line: What Happened to the Blue Ridge Railroad?
Sixth graders study the westward expansion and the role of railroad construction to the expansion. For this railroad history lesson, 6th graders complete KWL activity for the topic. Students view a PowerPoint about the growth of...
Curated OER
America and the Sino-Japanese Conflict, 1933-1939
Students examine the U.S. stance regarding the Sino-Japanese conflict. In this diplomacy lesson, students analyze the sanctions employed by United States on Japan when they took over Manchuria. Students determine how actions...
The Imagination Factory
Design a Postage Stamp for Black History Month
Learners create a postage stamp for Black History Month. In this U.S. History lesson, students discuss the contributions of African-Americans and design a postage stamp to celebrate their impact.
Curated OER
How Resourceful Are You?
Students investigate the concept of resources. They differentiate between natural, human, and capital resources. Prior to the lesson the students need to build background knowledge of goods, services, needs, and wants. They create a...