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History of the American West
Ninth graders research early mining in California. They study the "placer method" for mining gold, which is surface mining that does not involve tunneling. They examine what it was like for the early miners to pan for gold with...
National First Ladies' Library
Opening the Olympic Games
Learners examine the history of the Olympic Games, including the opening ceremonies. In small groups, they create Olympic flags using symbols that represent their country and communities. In phase two of the lesson, learners work in...
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Symbol Minds
Students examine the fears and frustrations of citizens in the tolerant Muslim nation of Indonesia during the holy month of Ramadan. They explore the symbols used in various world religions and create 3-dimensional displays for a class.
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My Family Tree
Students create a family tree. For this ancestry lesson, students research a country that one of their ancestors is from. Students interview a grandparent and map out a family tree.
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Doing the Right Thing
Students consider the payoffs of doing the right thing. In this philanthropy lesson, students examine the virtue of courage in Jackie Robinson's life and in their own.
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Mythology and Ancient Civilizations
Third graders examine ancient world civilizations and the mythologies they created to explain natural phenomena, as well as the writers and poets who wrote about the mythologies.
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Social Studies: Bombing of Hiroshima
Students read a first person account of the bombing of Hiroshima written by a Japanese physician. By reading Michihiko Hachiya's journal, they discover the fatalities caused by the bomb itself and later by radiation poisoning. To...
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Wushu Were Here
Students create a fan-shaped story screen that explains 4 major points surrounding various facts, myths, expressions, or story elements in Chinese history, culture and/or literature.
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South Africa Story: Apartheid, Diamonds & Gold
Students explore South Africa. For this South Africa lesson, students investigate the natural resources of the nation and how they have impacted the culture and history of the nation. Students also create a children's book regarding...
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The Japanese Empire: The Beginning
Ninth graders explore empires by researching Japan's history. In this Japanese research lesson, 9th graders discuss the history of Japan and the elements of World War II that caused Japan to become an enemy of the United States. Students...
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The Art and Writing of Estelle Ishigo, Heart Mountain Internment Camp, 1942-1945
Students view images of the Heart Mountain Internment Camp created by Estelle Ishigo. They discuss the time and place portrayed in the images and create a timeline recording events related to the internment of Japanese Americans.
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Put on a Happy Face!
Students explore using recycled materials. For this ecology/art lesson, students use recycled materials to create a Halloween mask. Students view folk art made of natural and available resources, and discuss possible cultural uses for...
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Island Culture: Puerto Rico
Students explore the culture of Puerto Rico. They create maps of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. They work in small groups to research a decade in history and add drawings and pictures to a timeline of their decade. They practice...
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Enduring Influence: Rome, Greece, and Byzantium
Students explore ancient cultures. For this ancient history lesson, students view programs that depict the ancient Roman, Greek, and Byzantine cultures. Students consider how archaeologists, geologists, and scientists have uncovered the...
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I Have a Dream...
Students explore the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr. In this civil rights activity, students utilize their computer skill as they compose "I have a dream" statements.
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Ancient Egypt: Connecting Literature and Geography
Students brainstorm prior knowledge of Ancient Egypt, locate Egypt on map of Africa and on world map, watch King Tut film, discuss term biography, and map geographical information mentioned in stories and documentaries about Ancient Egypt.
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Roman Gods and Goddesses
Learners discuss Roman gods and goddess and give reasons the religion would be difficult to follow. In this Roman gods and goddesses lesson, students read the Legend of Romulus and Remus and complete a chart on all of the gods and...
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Japanese Folktales
Students identify that Japanese folktales reveal information about Japanese history, life, and customs. Students identify and interpret the work kamishibai, paper play and explain that in Japanese folktales are told through a series of...
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Nelson Mandela, Symbol of Courage
Fifth graders study Nelson Mandela. In this leadership lesson, 5th graders study the life of Nelson Mandela. Throughout their learning, they read biographies on Nelson Mandela, compare their community to those in South Africa, discuss...
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Looking Back
Students work together to research the history of Macedonia. As a class, they compare and contrast a free market economy with a state-controlled economy. In groups, they read a letter by a Peace Corp volunteer and compare it to their...
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Analyzing Poetry and Characters
Students investigate historical context by reading poetry. In this language arts lesson, students discover the work of Michael Longley and examine his poem "Ceasefire." Students identify the sonnets used in the piece and...
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Cultural Comparison
Students choose from a group of entries about the culture of Peru. In this Peruvian culture instructional activity, students understand the definition of culture. Students describe the culture of Peru researched in the entry and complete...
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Early American Leaders
Students discover what the qualities or characteristics of a leader are by describing the traits of the principal of the school, followed by the leader of the town, state and country. In this leadership lesson plan, students will take...
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Simulation: Norse Scratchings
Students discover the meaning of a Norse runic message as they study a Vikings unit. In this Norse alphabet lesson plan, students decode a runic message as a part of a study about Vikings. Students earn the letters to decode the message...