Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The United States and the Soviet Union were Engaged in a Cold War

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students work together at figuring out the definition for what cold war means. In this social science lesson, students listen to "The Butter Battle Book" by Dr. Seuss and recognize how this story relates to the cold war between the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Out of the Dust: Visions of Dust Bowl History Lesson Overview

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners complete activities with the book Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. In this literature lesson, students read this story and view the Dust Bowl history from the eyes of a child. They discover the Great Depression and life in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students engage in a video activity to research the effects of war upon the Japanese to live in the world after World War II. They answer specific questions in order to complete the unit.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Europe Before and after WWI

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders compare and contrast maps of Europe before and after World War I. In this World War I lesson, 8th graders color and label maps of Europe prior to the war and after it. The historical maps can be accessed online.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eyewitness to History W.W.I.

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders take a closer look at the weapons used to fight World War I. In this World War I lesson, 11th graders complete a reading assignment, discuss it, and form research groups. Students work in the groups to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Holocaust

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders consider how something like the Holocaust could happen. In this Holocaust activity, 8th graders analyze German propaganda that was used to garner support for World War II. Students discuss which pieces of propaganda were...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Would You Do?

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders determine whether or not they would have dopped the atomic bomb. In this Truman presidency lesson, 11th graders research primary and secondary sources about the Manahattan Project and World War II. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Christmas in the Trenches, 1914

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students investigate the role of Trench Warfare in World War I. For this World War I lesson, students read Christmas in the Trenches, 1914 and then discuss the conditions of war in trenches and how Christmas 1914 interrupted the war....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Map Skills

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the nations, battlefields, troop movement of the Germans through Belgium and the location of both fronts during World War I by creating a map. They visualize the strength of the Germans early in the war.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Japanese American Internment: Examining Racial Tensions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars discover how racial tension led to Japanese Internment. In this World War II lesson, students analyze political cartoons and posters related to the movement of Japanese-Americans to internment camps in the wake of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Voices of Tragedy and Horror: Remembering the Holocaust

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars consider the implications of the Holocaust. In this World War II lesson, students read the graphic novel Maus at the end of a unit on World War II. Young scholars discuss the impact of reading about the Holocaust as well...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to the Holocaust

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the implications of the Holocaust. In this human justice lesson, 8th graders unknowingly participate in a segregation simulation and discuss its outcome. Students compare the simulation to the discrimination that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Voices or the Holocaust

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders determine how victims of the Holocaust fared. In this World War II lesson, 8th graders collaborate to research Holocaust deportation, ghettos, resistance, hiding, escape, and survival. Students discuss their findings...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Dr. Seuss Political Cartoon Questions

For Students 8th - 12th
In this primary source analysis worksheet, students examine a political cartoon by Dr. Seuss about World War II and then respond to 5 short answer questions.
PPT
CHPCS

The United States in the 1920s: The New Negro Movement and the Harlem Renaissance

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Music, writing, and activism all tell the story of history! The resource uses these elements and more in a presentation to discuss the Jazz Age and Harlem Renaissance. Your class views biographies, discusses important events, and...
Lesson Plan
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US Institute of Peace

Perspectives on Peace

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Is peace simply the absence of war, or is there more to the story? Young social scientists define peace in the second installment of a 15-part series. Groups work together to explore cultural concepts of peace and the peacemaking process...
Lesson Plan
Facing History and Ourselves

Us and Them: Confronting Labels and Lies

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
Stereotyping and discrimination based on religion catalyze many atrocities in the world. Explain the awful treatment of Jews and the lies Nazis spread by using an informative yet sensitive resource. Learners participate in a warm-up and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Calendar Creations About The Civil War

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders research Civil War events occurring during one month of the year, recording specific events and the dates on which they occurred. They list each event by month, day, and year on a one-month calendar of their own creation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World Religions

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders investigate the symbols and historical figures of the five main religions of the world. They participate in a class discussion, listen to a lecture and take notes, and write five Haikus, one about each major religion of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Decision to Americanize the War in Vietnam

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Young scholars research the major events of the Vietnam War and construct a timeline. They do the same with the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson or the 1960's. They act as an advisor to President Johnson to recommend a course of action...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Across Five Aprils-Civil War Virtual Field Trips

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the Civil War by reading Irene Hunt's novel, Across Five Aprils. They take virtual field trips to these battle sites and answer questions that guides them in their study of the Civil War.
Lesson Plan
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Refugees From Vietnam and Cambodia

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The United States may have pulled its troops from the Vietnam War in 1973, but the conflict was far from over for the citizens living in Asia at the time. An informative resource lets learners know about the wave of over 220,000...
Lesson Plan
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Student Achievement Partners

Laura Hillenbrand's "Unbroken" and Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston's "Farewell to Manzanar"

For Teachers 7th - 9th Standards
Passages from Unbroken and Farewell to Manzanar provide the context for a study of the historical themes of experiencing war, resilience during war, and understanding the lasting trauma of war. Appendices include extension...
Unit Plan
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Echoes & Reflections

Studying The Holocaust

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
While many young scholars are familiar with the Holocaust, they may not understand the specific history that led to the unprecedented atrocity. The first lesson in the unit helps teachers gauge their pupils' background knowledge. A...