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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A House Divided: Slavery in the United States

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the history of the United States and slavery. In this slavery lesson plan, students view primary sources, complete journal writing, view videos, and answer short answer questions.
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Interactive
Curated OER

States in the USA Quiz

For Students 4th - 9th
In this online interactive geography quiz worksheet, students respond to 50 identification questions about the states in the United States of America. Students have 4 minutes to complete the quiz.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Wisconsin

For Students 4th
In this Wisconsin state history instructional activity, 4th graders read two pages of information about Wisconsin then complete 10 true and false questions.
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Lesson Plan
Scholastic

The Rise of Railroads: Illinois

For Teachers 4th Standards
Railways not only cross the US, but they are also intertwined with the history of America. Using a timeline format, individuals explore the connections between major events in American history—such as the Civil War—and the rise of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Route 66

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students research the Internet to locate information about the Route 66 Festival. They focus on the history of the route in Illinois and create a web page of information.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Missouri

For Students 4th - 5th
In this Missouri worksheet, students read a detailed 2 page history of the state. Students answer ten true and false questions about the passage.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stampin' Around Chicago

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discuss the United States Postal Service and choose an artifact from one decade. In this art lesson, students research how the artifact chosen relates to Chicago and the United States. Students create their own postage stamp...
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Lesson Plan
Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Section Three: What's the Status of Biodiversity?

For Students 3rd - 5th Standards
Biodiversity is essential for every habitat, but many species are at risk due to pollution and other factors. Explore several different species native to Illinois in a gallery walk with posters that learners have created after research...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Barack Obama

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this black history learning exercise, students read a short, informational passage about Barack Obama. Students then answer 8 questions about the text.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stage a Debate: A Primer for Teachers (Lincoln-Douglas Debate Format)

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
For a comprehensive overview of debate styles and formats, look at this resource. It details the Lincoln-Douglas debate format (one-to-one debate with specific, timed rounds of points, cross-examination, and rebuttals). You can also find...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moving Objects

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discover the history of the United States by examining the Great Migration.  In this U.S. History lesson, students research the immigration movement on the Internet and complete a worksheet about the large population shift. ...
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Lesson Plan
Agriculture in the Classroom

Pumpkins... Not Just For Halloween

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Celebrate fall with four pumpkin themed hands-on activities! After learning about pumpkins, scholars complete two activity sheets that reinforce estimation and word problems. They then plant pumpkin seeds and bake a pie in a bag.   
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Picture: Worth One Thousand Words?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine photographs from the Civil War. Using a primary source document, they discover the conditions of a private during the Battle of Chickamauga. In groups, they use the sources to determine the authnecity of the documents.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Abraham Lincoln

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
In this biography worksheet, students read a one page factual story about Abraham Lincoln. Students then answer 7 questions about the story.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The ABC's of Artifacts

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students create their own ABC book about artifacts. In this artifact lesson, students read ABC History Mystery and review the artifacts pictured in the book. They create their own ABC book with each student working on a letter. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Golden Spike

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate modern transportation in the 19th century by examining artifacts.  For this U.S. history lesson, students read the story Joseph's Railroad Dreams, and discuss the Golden Spike used in the first transcontinental...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

School Museum

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research individuals who contributed to the history of Illinois, and what school was like at that time. They compare schools of various times.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the influence of Abraham Lincoln on events of the 1800's and crate a group life-size poster.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History Detective: The Case of the Mysterious Trunk

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students role play as history detectives. In this historical inquiry lesson, students discuss what detectives do, analyze a trunk of "artifacts" and make conclusions about its fictional owner. Students complete six pages of related art,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Choosing the Lincoln Statue

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research photographs or artwork depicting Abraham Lincoln during the time when he was traveling the 8th Judicial Circuit and practicing law in Champaign County. They develop a Powerpoint presentation of the results of the...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Barack Obama

For Students 4th - 8th
In this famous person worksheet, students read a passage about Barack Obama and then complete a variety of in-class and homework activities to support comprehension, including partner interviews, spelling, cloze, synonym matches, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Corn: An A-maizing Plant

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the corn crop. In this farming instructional activity, students identify which states are in the corn belt and read about the history of corn, its uses and its development and growth. Students dissect a corn kernel....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Literature to Introduce the Five Themes of Geography

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners listen to a read aloud of "If You Grew Up With Abraham Lincoln". Using the text, they identify examples of the five themes of geography and write them down. Using a map, they plot the places mentioned in the book and sort facts...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Show Me a Flowerpot

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students compare and contrast handmade and machine-made products in a study about the evolution of production processes in American history. In this production history instructional activity, students explore a flowerpot in depth....