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Curated OER

Placing the State of the Union in Historical Context

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students review the history of the State of the Union addresses and work in groups to analyze one particular speech as a reflection of its times. They compare modern State of the Union speeches to those given in the past.
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Colonial History: Fearless and faaithful

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discuss reasons why early europeans immigrated to North America. Working in groups, they complete Internet activities on the PBS Website. They take a simulated voyage to the new world and rercord their actions on worksheets. ...
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History is a Series of Decisions

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine cause and effect. In this American Revolution lesson, students analyze primary source documents regarding the Stamp Act, the Boston Massacre, and George Washington. Students imagine if the events had unfolded differently...
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Court Documents Related to Martin Luther King, Jr., and Memphis Sanitation Workers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read about the civil rights movement in their textbooks. They engage in a whole-class discussion of how nonviolent direct action can be a powerful tool for bringing about social, economic, or political change.
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"how To Think Like an Archaeologist" Suggested Pre-visit Activity for Historic Jamestowne

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners study grocery receipts to simulate the archaeological activity of classifying items. They discuss the receipts as if they were find lists.
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Historical Perspectives

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders watch episodes of Star Trek and analyze the works of it that pertain to the theory of relativity.  In this creative lesson students also write and illustrate a children's book about the special theory of relativity.
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William Howard Taft National Historical Site

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine the role William Howard Taft played in American History. They analyze his background and how he got to be president. They compare qualities of leaders today to Taft.
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Latino-American Authors and Historical FIgures

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine various websites and gather information from them about influential Latino-Americans. They synthesize the information they gathered to create a poster about their chosen influential Latino-American. Students...
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Teaching With Documents: Powers of Persuasion - Poster Art of World War II

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars analyze 11 posters from wartime and complete a worksheet. They discuss the similarities and differences between the posters and where the posters might have been posted. Student volunteers from each group present the...
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Was Reconstruction a Revolution?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Reconstruction lesson, students research details pertaining to Congress's role in Reconstruction. Students use the provided worksheets to...
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Understanding Federalist #10

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students read the Federalist #10. In groups, they discuss the meaning of each paragraph. Afterward, students write a summary exploring the important arguments of the paper. Students explore the historical significance of the document.
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Social Studies: Devastating Diseases

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are able to critically read literature addressing historical data and answer relevant questions. They are able to formulate an opinion and support it using all knowledge documented and learned in this and previous lessons.
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Breaking Through Reading Roadblocks!

For Teachers 4th - Higher Ed
Students apply reading strategies to interpret a map, a diagram, a scientific chart, and a historical text. In small groups, they examine and analyze various documents. They present their findings to the class.
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Why was the Constitutional Convention Necessary?

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explore the steps leading up to the Constitution.  In this American Government lesson, 11th graders practice document based questions.  Students create a letter that describes how a person felt during this...
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Civil War Images: It's in the Cards!

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders review important figures of the Civil War. In this American Civil War lesson, 8th graders create flash cards of historical figures of the war and use them to review the war.
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Jamestown Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students identify and share Primary Sources in Early American History by Janey Levy. Then they discuss the usefulness of using primary sources in uncovering the past. Students also research original documents from Jamestown to complete...
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"Disapproved": Censorship of Film in Pennsylvania

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students analyze primary source documents of the 1920s to find the roots of film censorship and understand Pennsylvania's leadership in this movement. They analyze government censorship documents that banned a film in Pennsylvania and...
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Juvenile Delinquency

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders analyze and interpret historical research by examining, analyzing, and forming opinions regarding primary resources. They compare/contrast social conflict, its causes and effects, in regards to continuity and change over time.
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Indian Resistance

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students observe the pictures and maps of the Sequoyah Indians. In this Sequoyah lesson plan, students use the maps and pictures to discuss observations and write responses of the Indian point of view.
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African-American Civil War Soldiers Lesson Plan

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary resources. In this Civil War lesson, students examine the service of African Americans in the Civil War and consider their plight to secure the rights and...
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Assassination and Aftermath: The Death of JFK and the Warren Report

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine the ways in which the assassination of President John F. Kennedy affected American history and American culture. They explain the role of the media in documenting American history and also influencing that history.
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European Explorers

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders research European Explorers lives. They create a Word Document, or slide show based on their research.
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Celebrating Explorers

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students create a PowerPoint presentation using graphics, text and animations. They access the Internet to research a topic and find historical photographs and documents to enhance learning. They demonstrate how to use an overhead LCD...
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Colonial Research Fun

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students review the characteristics of the thirteen colonies. In groups, they use the internet to research one of the colonies more in depth and answer questions about it. They develop a newspaper or travel brochure to share the...