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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Effects of Urban Growth

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Learners explore population growth in the United States and the impact it has had on society. First, they brainstorm the reasons for population growth and the results of these increases. Then, they design surveys, record results, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is Coming to the United States of America Good for the Immigrant?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Student discuss whether coming to the United States was good for certain groups of immigrants. Using the internet, they examine settlement patterns for immigrants over a period of time. In groups, they role play the role of a family...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

1900 America: Historical Voices, Poetic Visions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the United States at the turn of the century. Using primary source documents, they interpret them within a specific historical context. Using this information, they write a poem with metaphors and a specific meter They...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mosaic America: Patterns of Racism

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders use print and electronic resources to gather and analyze information on the political system in the United States. Using the Constitution, they identify and discuss instances of racism included in amendments and laws. ...
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Lesson Plan
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2
Smithsonian Institution

Borders and Community: Early 20th Century Chicago Neighborhoods and Ethnic Enclaves

For Teachers 8th - 11th Standards
Chicago is one city, four neighborhoods, and countless nationalities. The lesson explores the ethnic division of Chicago in the early twentieth century. Academics read primary sources, analyze maps, and tour an online exhibit to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Immigration

For Teachers 8th - 12th
This 3-day immigration study draws on historical trends and current events. A worksheet accompanies initial research on one group's U.S. immigration history, giving opportunity for collaborative learning through sharing findings. Groups...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Statue of Liberty

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students make their own Statue of Liberty. In this Statue of Liberty lesson plan, students research the symbol of the United States, create a KWL chart for it, and cut and paste their own Statue of Liberty.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Urban Concentration And Racial Violence

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers investigate the struggle for racial and gender equality and for the extension of civil liberties, the social and economic impact of the Great Depression, and the economic boom and social transformation of post-World War...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Alternatives

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students brainstorm a list of all of the ways they use energy in a day. In groups, they research the energy situation today and discuss what is being done to solve the problem. They also examine the issues related to this in politics...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Urbanization

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the impact of urban change. In this Indiana history lesson, students read excerpts of The World Does Move by Booth Tarkington and then research the noted Web sites about the urbanization of Indianapolis. High...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Mongolia Really Like?

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students discover the people of Mongolia. In this social studies lesson plan, students look at the Mongolian nomadic culture by reading a letter written by a member of the Peace Corps. They describe the different types of communities...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photography and the National Park Service

For Teachers 9th - 12th
During the 1800s the United States was expanding westward; land was there for the taking.  Kids explore how some early photographers used their photography to influenced the US Congress to save areas like Mirror Lake. They complete a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Journey to America

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders carefully analyze the artwork, Les Emigrants, and explore the reasons that people emigrated to the United States, and what life was like for new arrivals. They discuss what things immigrants were able to bring with them and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. Geography: The Northeast

For Teachers K - 5th
Young scholars investigate U.S. Geography by creating a map in class. In this natural resource lesson, students create a map of the United States and research the Northeast based on their resources and recyclable materials.  Young...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Regions of the United States

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Learners present a travelogue, an alternate format to preparing their writing, of a specific U.S. geographic region that includes the aspects of population, climate, landforms, economics, culture, famous people and places and natural...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Industrial Revolution

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders explore the impact of the Industrial Revolution. In this Industrialization lesson, 10th graders take notes on a SMART Board presentation and conduct research on urbanization, enclosure, assembly lines, boarding houses, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Family Life in America: Past, Present and Future

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders brainstorm the economic and social functions of a family. In groups, they research the roles of each member of a family in the past and compare it with their family today. In groups, they develop criteria for what the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Culture Regions of the U.S.

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the location of different cultural groups within the United States (agricultural, retirement, urban, etc.) They map these areas and analyze the correlation between the landscape of a given region and the type of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Different Kinds of Maps

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the landforms and population diversity. They read maps and examine geographic terms. Students create their own map of the United States and answer questions about the location of people. After exploring the map, 3rd...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geography, Ecology, and Folklife

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students identify how do geography and ecology influence a region's folklife. Then they investigate this question and consider how an outsider might view their own region in this lesson. Students also identify how the natural world, even...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Forest to Farm to Urban Forest

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students participate in a group discuss revolving around urban development and their answers to worksheet questions. They analyze maps and historical records to compare and contrast the day to day activities of a forest manager.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping the Changes

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students research an aspect of life of their choosing of a western state either before the Civil War, after the war or today. They are to write about the aspect they choose and make illustrations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ragtime: 1880-1920

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Build an understanding of the social, economic, and cultural changes that were incited by the American Industrial Revolution. Learners will research the historical context of the Ragtime Era, and compose an oral presentation in the voice...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colonization and Emigration

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore emigrants deciding to leave the United States and the events that lead to their decisions.