Joy Uzarraga
Famous American Research Project
Designed specifically for lower elementary pupils, this is a great biographical research project in which students research a famous American, and then design creative poster boards to help them "become" the famous American they have...
K20 LEARN
Analyzing Early American Figures: Analyzing History
Who were they? High school freshmen brush up on their research skills by investigating an important person in American history. They select a name, fill out a KWHL chart, and research why their person is important. Scholars then complete...
Curated OER
Stories of the American Experience
Learners interview a veteren of any of the major U.S. wars. They must identify one quote from the veteren that sums up their experience.
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Americans
Students explore what it means to be an "American" in the eyes of people from other cultures. In this geography and cultural lesson plan, students discuss values that they have. Students read about behaviors that other cultures have...
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To Be Black and American: World War II
Twelfth graders research wartime conditions African American had to endure during World War II. They explain what role African Americans played in World War II and describe what life was like for African Americans in the United States...
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What Is an American?
Students explore different backgrounds of Americans. In this activity, students discuss how people in the United States may come from a different background, yet have similar values and beliefs. After the class discussion, several...
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Are We Americans Again? A Portrait of Japanese American Internment
Learners study American citizens, specifically Estelle Ishigo, who were forced to live in relocation centers during World War II. Using primary sources, students describe the internees' experiences during and after internment. They...
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Revealing Untold Stories
Students explore how and why various historical resources present information about slavery differently. They work in pairs to examine written texts to interpret the objectives, points of view, and depictions of slavery in these resources.
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The Unseen Army: Conscientious Objectors During World War II
Learners study World War II and why it was called "the Good War". In this World War II activity learners identify the different kinds of conscientious objectors.
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Is Seeing Believing?
Pupils study different photographers who started the concept of battlefield photography. In this media lesson young scholars explore how to "read" a photograph and relate the use of photography during the Civil War to current use today.
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What does it mean to be American?
Students create a mural depicting what it means to be an American. In this being American lesson plan, students pull out magazine ads that depict what it means to be an American, then they make a mural out of it, and finally they present...
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Spanish-American Voices in American Poetry
Eighth graders read excerpts from a variety of poems by Hispanic and Spanish authors in Spanish. Individually, they identify any vocabulary they are unfamiliar with and view examples of poetry elements. To end the lesson, they research...
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Oral Histories
Students investigate the theme of what it means to be American in a pluralistic society. They conduct oral histories with a family member and create a presentation of the interview. Students develop a better comprehension of their own...
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Mexican and American Views of Texas
Students study the territorial status of Texas in 1830, 1840, and 1846 and interpret an historical timeline. They develop a general statement of Mexican and American views of Texas.
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The Final Word
Middle schoolers research biographies of Americans who advanced science. They create an obituary for the person to share what information they have gathered. They discuss the importance of the obituary as the "final word" of a person to...
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Grappling with Identity in Latino Poetry
Students identify some common themes involving the Latino immigrant experience as conveyed through a variety of media, explore issues of identity in some examples of poetry written by Latinos and learn some basic poetry reading strategies.
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Famous Americans
Students use the Internet to research a famous American. They complete an outline and are graded based on a rubric given to them. They also present their information to the class and write a report.
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To Be An American
Students research the symbols of America, present their research to the class, write a paper about being an American and write their own Declaration of Independence.
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Systems of Power Against and Within American Indian Communities, 1880-1940
Students explore methods and the struggles of power between the federal policies and Native populations. They discuss the issue of controlling the Native Indian population, driving them from their land, and providing a mandatory...
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Japanese and American Values
Ninth graders compare and contrast the values that Americans and Japanese people deem as important. They use the internet and the school media center to find the information in order to answer research based questions.
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Charles Young Photographs
Students view photographs of Charles Young. They analyze the photograph to decipher the time period. As an introduction, students brainstorm questions they may ask the man in the photograph. Students investigate the era of the...
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Letters from the Japanese American Internment
Young scholars make deductions about life in an internment camp by reading and comparing letters written to Clara Breed. Along the way, they consider the advantages of looking at a historical event from the multiple points of view of...
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National And International
Learners participate in a series of geography lessons in which they identify the meaning of national and international. They discover the regions of the US after identifying the planet on which they live, the continents, the oceans and...
Curated OER
Famous Americans
Third graders use the Internet to research a famous American. They complete an outline and are graded based on a rubric given to them. They present their information to the class and write a report.