Constitutional Rights Foundation
History of Immigration Through the 1850s
Everyone living in the United States today is a descendant from an immigrant—even Native Americans. Learn about the tumultuous history of American immigration with a reading passage that discusses the ancient migration over the Bering...
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Exploring Mexico
Sixth graders describe images of a characteristic of a cultural group from 4 different time periods of Mexico's history analyzing how it has changed and why the student thinks it changed. They describe maps on 4 different time periods in...
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Maize to Maquiladoras: Movement from Mexico to Arizona
Students label maps of Arizona and Mexico of the products that moved from one place to another. In this Arizona and Mexico lesson plan, students also summarize the effects of the movement on life in Arizona.
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Economic Use of Public Natural Areas
Students examine the public controversy between the use of public natural areas for economic activities by viewing video clips, researching on the Internet, and calculating sustainable land.
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Mexican American Labor in the U.S.
Ninth graders examine how the United States historically shifts policies toward Mexican and Mexican American laborers to acquire cheap, temporary labor. In this US History lesson, 9th graders research the history of immigration from...
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The Economics of Risk
Students consider the plight of immigrant food industry workers in the United States. In this social justice lesson, students identify the pros and cons of being an undocumented worker in the U.S. and discuss labor laws.
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History of Immigration through the 1850's
Students research the history of Immigration. For this World History lesson, students explore European immigration then specifically focus on ways African Immigration was different. Students then divide into small groups and create a...
Council for Economic Education
The Columbian Exchange
What did you have for dinner last night? Many scholars ask that question without considering the history behind the foods they eat. Using a simulation, scholars investigate how the foods they eat are the product of the Columbian...
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The Embodied Presidency Wilson
Students take a closer look at U.S. intervention in Mexico. In this 20th century history lesson plan, students examine primary documents to consider why the United States entered the Mexican War and then write DBQ essays on the topic.
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Rural America in Transition
Students examine the changes in rural America in an economic sense. In groups, they research the problems rural areas face in the 21st century. They examine the economic policies in effect and how they help or hurt rural America.
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Three Centuries of Child Labor In America
Fifth graders investigate the history of child labor that is found in America. They use a variety of resources to conduct research. Students create cause and effect arguments using the information that is found. They also compare and...
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The Embodied Presidency
Eighth graders discover details about Thomas Jefferson's life. In this early American history activity, 8th graders view a PowerPoint presentation that outlines some aspects of Jefferson's life. Students research the life of slaves at...
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Border Art: the Study of Artworks Responding To the Border Between the United States And Mexico
Pupils discuss the concepts of immigration and migration and explore their own family's history. They examine the media's presentation of the Border Art Project and then incorporate their own views into what they have studied through an...
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Cinco de Mayo
Students investigate the Cinco de Mayo holiday. They discuss the history of Cinco de Mayo, listen to the Legend of the Mexican flag, color a worksheet of the Mexican flag, and create a class coat of arms.
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Newsworthy Journey
Students conduct Internet research about ancient civilizations to produce a newspaper that reflecting the cultural, political, economic and religious views of the ancient civilizations of Egypt or Mexico.
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Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States 1846-48
Students investigate how the United States acquired land after the Revolutionary War ended. In this establishing borders lesson, students use maps to identify territories acquired by the US and the states that later developed. Students...
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NAFTA Trade Unit
Students research the geography, economics and government of Canada and how that affects US/Canadian trade relations. In this NAFTA lesson, students play a game, read about Canadian history, and creat a graph.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Special Order 40
The city of Los Angeles' 1979 Special Order 40 states: "LAPD officers shall not initiate police action with the objective of discovering the alien status of a person." After reading a fact sheet that details the history of Special Order...
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Call to Arms: A Service Project
Sick of selling candy and washing cars? How about hosting a Digital Day or a Learning Lunch? The suggestions here make fund raising fun and rewarding. Raise money to preserve important maps and other primary source documents.
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Central American Immigrants to the United States: Refugees from Unrest
Students identify the major aspects of Olmec and Mayan civilzations, including economic, political, and religious. They list contributions of these civilizations. Students identify the Central American countries where the United States...
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A Dollar Goes A Long Way
Investigate life along the Old Spanish Trail! They visit websites and identify the history and environment. They create journals, dramatic enactments, and maps to discover the role individuals played in society. They also explore the...
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American Becomes a Colonial Power
Exploring the idea of America joining "the imperialist club" at the end of the 19th century, this presentation presents reasons why America not only had the drive to explore the world, but the power and wealth with which to do so....
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About Life: The Photographs of Dorothea Lange Going to the Promised Land
To better understand the migrant experience during the Great Depression, pupils analyze two primary resources: photographs by Dorothea Lange and a U.S. Map that shows the Dust Bowl. They compare and contrast Lange's images to Steinbeck's...
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World Oil Reserves: Assignment
Understanding and analyzing data is a critical skill. Included here are three worksheets a list of countries with the largest oil reserves, a graph of the same, and an assignment. The class uses their data to create a bar chart then...