Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Defense Mechanisms

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the Cold War roots of the recent debate over the construction of United States and Russian missile defense shields. They begin by reading and discussing the article, Putin Says Russia Would Counter U.S. Shield.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bridging the gap between the U.S. and Cuba

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the events that led to the strained relationship between Cuba and the United States.  In this US History lesson, 11th graders create an illustrated timeline of Cuba-U.S. relations.  Students write an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rice Farming in Texas

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore how rice farming came to Texas. In this rice farming instructional activity, 3rd graders discover the history of how farmers began to grow rice in the United States. Students color code maps and create a timeline...
Lesson Plan
Syracuse University

Women's Suffrage Movement

For Teachers 7th - 10th Standards
Women gained the right to vote in the twentieth century, but the fight for equality dates back centuries. Using an invitation to an 1874 suffrage convention, eager historians consider the motivations behind supporters of the suffrage...
Lesson Plan
Scholastic

Voyage on the Mayflower

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd Standards
After completing an online activity about the Mayflower, scholars draw a picture about what they know of the Thanksgiving holiday, including a one-sentence summary. A reading of If You Were at the First Thanksgiving by Anne Kamma is...
Lesson Plan
Civil War Trust

Gettysburg Address

For Teachers 4th - 12th Standards
The Gettysburg Address may have been four score and seven years ago, but its message is still as relevant today. Young historians explore the context of the famous speech, as well as its central theme and argument, before discussing the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Time Marches On

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers discover the times of Colonial America by creating a timeline.  In this U.S. History lesson, students research a teacher-directed website about African Americans in early colonial times.  High schoolers utilize...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Westward Expansion

For Students 4th - 6th
In this westward expansion learning exercise, students read and assess comprehension. In this short answer, matching, and timeline learning exercise, students write answers to twenty-five questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Baseball the National Pastime of the Dominican Republic

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine how the game of baseball has played a significant role in shaping the culture of the Dominican Republic. They analyze a world map, and read and discuss an informational handout. Students can then create a sports...
Lesson Plan
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Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary

Benjamin Franklin and the Long Struggle for Independence

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore U.S. history by reading biographical material in class. In this Benjamin Franklin lesson, students identify the life of Franklin and the events that led him to become one of America's first heroes. Students complete an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Under the Blood-Red Sun

For Teachers 5th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Suffragettes

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate peer pressure by discussing women's suffrage. In this Women's rights lesson, students explore the history of voting in the United States and when women were finally allowed to do so. Students create a poster in order...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Light in the Storm

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Examine the genre of historical fiction while reading A Light in the Storm. They extract events in chronological order to make a timeline. Then, they use information in the book important to the characters to create a presentation of an...
Lesson Plan
US Holocaust Museum

Time Capsule in a Milk Can

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Imagine dumping out a milk can and finding letters from one of the darkest moments in history! Scholars use Holocaust Reading Passages and research to discover how people recorded and hid history during the events of World War II. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage: Grades 6-8

For Teachers 6th - 8th
To gain a better understanding of Hispanic heritage and culture, as well as to build informational comprehension skill, learners explore facets of Hispanic American History. They engage in a class discussion, research three facts, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inventions Change the World: The Enigma Machine

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore WWII by analyzing technological advances. In this invention lesson, 3rd graders discuss the use of the Enigma machine which decoded private German messages that communicated with U-boats. Students utilize a timeline...
Unit Plan
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Echoes & Reflections

The Ghettos

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Young historians examine primary sources, including diaries, poems, and photographs, to consider the conditions in the ghettos and how they fit into the escalation of the Third Reich's plot against the Jewish people. 
Unit Plan
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Echoes & Reflections

Jewish Resistance

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Resistance to the Holocaust took on many forms. Learners explore the passive and active resistance of Jewish people who continued their practices and observances, as well as organized resistance against the evils of the Nazis. An...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Leader's Lifetime and Legacy

For Teachers 6th - 12th
In this activity, young scholars consider their prior knowledge about Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat and consider the immediate events surrounding his death. They then create timelines and write papers examining his political career.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Roosevelt's New Deal

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders examine what President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal was, examine the New Deal programs, and realize how the New Deal still affects American lifes today. They search the Internet for information about these topics in this...
Lesson Plan
6
6
The New York Times

Decision Point: Understanding the U.S.’s Dilemma Over North Korea

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Simulate the Situation Room and analyze the US's relationship with North Korea. The plan starts off with a quick review and an examination of a online timeline that updates as the situation continues. Next, the class reads an article and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Railroads and Settlement of the Great Plains

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Enhance your American literature unit with this resource, in which readers access the Nebraska Studies website and read about "Railroads and Settlement." They search for a photograph of some aspect of the railroad from the Prairie...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

1960 America: Foreign Policy

For Teachers 11th
The 1960's marked shifts in American culture, politics, and policy. Your class groups up to research a series of primary source documents resulting in a timeline and a 15 minute oral presentation. Active learning all the way.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Honoring Holocaust Remembrance Week

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Examining a difficult history through contextual foundations, personal stories, and Dr. Seuss.