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Unit Plan
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Slave Narratives: Frederick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs, and the Columbian Orator

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Young historians practice in-depth, quality analysis of primary source texts in this three-lesson unit, which examines excerpts from the slave narratives of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs, and Caleb Bingham. 
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Interactive
US National Archives

WWII: The Atlantic 1939-45 – Battle of the Atlantic

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
The most dangerous line of attack during World War II wasn't the German planes soaring above Britain, but the U-Boats cutting off their supplies of food and equipment. Learners research the Battle of the Atlantic, the German campaign to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

National Expansion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers investigate the Manifest Denstiny. They explore how the idea was evident in 19th century American maps. Students brainstorm the relationships between maps and national expansion. They review a map from 1816 that called...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Role of the United Nations in Postwar Iraq

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the history of the United Nations and answer study questions regarding the role of the UN in present day post-war Iraq.
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Unit Plan
California Polytechnic State University

Australian Geography Unit

For Teachers 7th - 9th Standards
At the heart of this resource is a beautifully detailed PowerPoint presentation (provided in PDF form) on the overall physical geography of Australia, basic facts about the country, Aboriginal history, and Australia culture and lifestyle.
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Lesson Plan
Scholastic

Consider the Source

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Who is more trustworthy when it comes to marijuana: a high school student, or The National Institute on Drug Abuse? Sources matter when reading informational text. Help teenagers discern which facts are true with an activity that focuses...
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Unit Plan
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Madison Public Schools

Journalism

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Whether you are teaching a newspaper unit in language arts, covering the First Amendment and censorship in social studies, or focusing on writing ethics in journalism, a unit based on the foundations of journalism would be an excellent...
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Lesson Plan
1
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Smithsonian Institution

Cuban Missile Crisis

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
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.
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Lesson Plan
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Advocates for Human Rights

Nativism and Myths about Immigrants

For Students 8th - Higher Ed Standards
Where do anti-immigrants myths come from, and how can they be refuted? Learners critically analyze media reports and how to identify reliable sources. After studying a timeline that details the history of US nativism, groups research the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

First Nations: Analysing Sources

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine the lifestyle and culture of First Nations people. They investigate and analyze primary and secondary source documents.
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Activity
2
2
National Park Service

A Peace Park

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Piece together American and Canadian culture by learning about peace parks! Scholars discuss differences between Waterton Lakes National Park and Glacier National Park as a group. The newly-informed pupils answers questions about this...
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Lesson Plan
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Dream of a Nation

Big6 Research Project

For Teachers 8th Standards
Do research projects at your school look like a class of eighth graders staring at a blank screen? Use the Big 6 research method to guide middle schoolers through the process of finding a topic, searching for and evaluating sources,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Plan 13: Going Deeper Mini-Lesson

For Teachers 5th - 8th
November is NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month! If your class is participating (or simply doing a narrative writing unit), this peer review lesson is part of a larger unit which can be easily found online. Once your writers have...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Makes the Writer Write

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Your 11th and 12th graders are ready to critique society! Channel that inclination by studying a novel that offers social criticism of other eras (book recommendations included). This resource presents a well-thought-out overview of such...
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Activity
PBS

The Roosevelts: An Intimate History—Snapshot Lessons

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
The Roosevelt family was one of the most influential and prominent political forces in the 20th century, leaving behind a wide-ranging legacy of conservation, progressivism, and economic growth. Learn more about President Theodore...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oh, Say, Can You See What the Star-Spangled Banner Means?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners research the historical inspiration for the lyrics of the "The Star Spangled Banner". They explore websites, read articles and analyze poetry in an examination of America's patriotic symbols and history.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

How Often Do You Interact with People of Another Race or Ethnicity?

For Students 7th - 12th
Is interacting with people from different backgrounds part of a well-rounded education? A big question awaits young readers as they explore two New York Times articles that discuss modern-day segregation, population statistics, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil Liberties and War Powers: Korematsu v. United States

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders compare and contrast Supreme Court decisions dealing with the application of civil rights during times of war, with emphasis on discrimination and detention. Working in groups, 11th graders review cases and analyze how...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Interpreting & Verifying the News in an Era of Info Overload

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students practice their critical thinking skills. In this media awareness lesson, students read articles about media overload and interpretation of media. Students respond to discussion questions and discuss how they verify news....
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Worksheet
Curated OER

King Andrew And His Critics

For Students 6th - 8th
In this United States history worksheet, students utilize a word bank of 10 terms or phrases to answer 10 fill in the blank questions about the Andrew Jackson and his critics. A short answer question is included as well.
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Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Celebrate National Financial Literacy Month

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Boost achievement and engagement with real-world financial literacy lessons!
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Lesson Plan
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University of Arkansas

Promises Denied

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
"Promises Denied," the second instructional activity in a unit that asks learners to consider the responsibilities individuals have to uphold human rights, looks at documents that illustrate the difficulty the US has had trying to live...
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Activity
Smithsonian Institution

Young People Shake Up Elections (History Proves It) Educator Guide

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Vote, it's your civic duty! The resource provides several videos about voting in the United States. Scholars watch a series of topics ranging from youth participation to civic action. The educator's guide provides teachers with...
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PPT
Curated OER

The Treaty of Versailles: June 1919

For Teachers 10th - 11th
There were four key players involved with the Treaty of Versailles. Present information and critical thinking questions regarding Woodrow Wilson, David Lloyd-George, Georges Clemenceau, and Vittorio Orlando. Included also are lists of...