Curated OER
Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome Unit Plan
High schoolers make two T charts, one for Sparta and one for Athens, showing pros and cons for living in either city-state. They use the physical information from the map and the cultural captions given for Athens and Sparts to come to...
Curated OER
The Mekong River
Junior geographers explore the region through which the Mekong flows, its pathway, the landscape, how people depend on the Mekong, and future uncertainties. They apply the five themes of geography to examine the region. They create a...
Curated OER
Geography/Current Events Project
Using the Balkan region as an example, fourth graders review the five themes of geography as a class. They identify the physical and human characteristics of a region before labeling the countries and landforms on a map. They then...
Prestwick House
Lord of the Flies
Nothing about William Golding's Lord of the Flies is straightforward, but you can map out the characters and key details in a helpful crossword puzzle. Twenty-seven clues review the book in an engaging and fun way.
Curated OER
New Perspectives
Students examine maps that are designed to give different perspectives. They create mental maps that illustrate their own perspectives and those of people from other parts of the world.
National First Ladies' Library
Are We There Yet?
Pupils study the wide-reaching effects of the Cold War, even to its involvement in domestic road construction. They research the National Defense Highway System (Eisenhower Highways) for information about the creation of the program, the...
Curated OER
Comparing Ethnic Groups
Eleventh graders explore the relationship between the United States and the Native Americans from after the Civil War to the early 1900's. They evaluate the actions of the United States towards Native Americans and compare the actions to...
Curated OER
Humanitarian Aid in Iraq
Students research the impact of the Iraqi war on the civilian population in Iraq. They read an article, participate in class discussion and consider efforts that are being made to alleviate difficult conditions.
Curated OER
City Bound
Fifth graders identify the reasons for people migrating to cities after the Civil War. Using population data, they discover why populations in cities rose while rural populations fell during 1860 to 1900. They discuss the impact a...
Curated OER
Sending Messages, Then and Now
Students analyze how patriots created ways to communicate during the Revolutionary War. After reading about and discussing ways patriots communicated, students create a chart analyzing the way messages are sent today with the way...
Curated OER
Charge and Defeat
Learners discuss traditional tools used by historians and archaeologists. They conduct a debate on the advantages and disadvantages of rewriting the past and discuss which side of the debate has the strongest case.
Foreign Policy Research Institute
A Geography Lesson
Fewer and fewer people have a strong grasp of world geography, but this activity helps high schoolers understand geopolitics by creating their own original historical map. The activity requires selecting a country from the list provided,...
Historica-Dominion Institute
Underground Railroad - Secondary
This is a one-day activity to explore the Underground Railroad and its impact on Canadian immigration. Class members explore the government's immigration policies in the past and present. It requires viewing a short video clip and...
Curated OER
Hungary: The Landscape
Students work in small groups to create a topographic map of Hungary. The map will include labeled line drawing of the bordering countries. Hungary should be three dimensional, made of salt and flour clay. The mountains, plains and...
Curated OER
The Talking Goat
Young scholars read and analyze an African folktale. They read and discuss the folktale, analyze a map of Africa and Liberia, complete a worksheet, answer discussion questions, and analyze the patterns and analogies of the folktale.
Curated OER
World History/Current Events Activity
Students define the term terrorist, and examine how terrorist methods are used to promote fear and endanger the lives of innocent individuals. They analyze why President Bush has declared war on terrorism, and write essays on terrorism.
Curated OER
War and the Animal
Students analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments in a spatial context. They gain personal insight into the horrors of war and the importance of ethnicity. Students define all key terms, analyze a world map...
Curated OER
I Had To Tell This Story
Tenth graders analyze the video "Berga: Soldiers of Another War." For this World History lesson, 10th graders read a quote and discuss the meaning of the quote. Students read and answer questions based on a video
Curated OER
Clothesline Sleuth
Sixth graders investigate the origins of clothing production. In this Social Studies lesson, 6th graders examine the components of agriculture involved in making clothes. Students research cotton.
Curated OER
Carbondale: The Biography of a Coal Town
Students use a brief history of the growth and decline of the anthracite region in the state to create a photograph and map "peak shaped" time line. They practice map and photo analysis strategies to "read" photographs and maps.
Curated OER
Chain Across the Hudson Lesson Plan A - Locating the Chain
Learners read a letter from George Washington requesting them to identify on a map a location that would stop the advance of British warships. They choose a location and justify their choice.
Curated OER
America Grows - Trailblazers Pave the Way
Students study the time period after the Revolutionary War when people were striving to move away from the coastal areas and look for pathways to the west. Westerward expansion is a central theme and students use a variety of resources...
Curated OER
Trade in the Indian Ocean: Should China End Zheng He's Treasure Voyages?
Students examine the amount of trade that occurs in the Indian Ocean. Using China as an example, they discuss the reasons why it ended its treasure voyages in the area and predict what would have happened if the voyages continued. They...
Curated OER
The Road to Revolution: (1770-1776)
Posing a guiding question about the inevitability of the American Revolution, the presentation guides students through the circumstances leading up to "The shot heard 'round the world" up to the Declaration of Independence. Teachers can...