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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Time of Slavery

For Teachers 5th
Young historians learn about abolitionists, The Civil War, Frederick Douglas, and so many more details about slavery in this highly engaging presentation. Teachers could use this as a whole class review and discussion tool.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Constellations

For Students 6th - 10th
In this constellations learning exercise, students read about the different constellations and how to locate them in the night sky. Then students complete 4 multiple choice and 7 short answer questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Navigation By the North Star: A Lesson Plan in Four Parts

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students investigate why the North Star was important for navigation, how stars move across the night sky, how to locate the North Star, how to make a crude sextant, and how to determine latitude using a sextant and the North Star. They...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Science: Create a Star Clock!

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students identify and use the starts to tell time just as people had for thousands of years. They identify the stars that appear to rise in the east and set in the west, and that those stars near the North Pole appear to go in circles...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let the North Star Tell You Where You Are

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students create an astrolabe and locate the North Star in the night sky. They determine the latitude of the North Star, and calculate an average latitude based on class results.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mystery Constellations

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders predict constellations each month. In this astronomy lesson, 4th graders are presented with two constellations every month, and guess what they are as clues are given.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Following the North Star

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students give examples of the impacts of science and technology on the migration and settlement patterns of various groups. They draw stars explaining how the North Star was used to give directions on the Underground Railroad.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How to be a Great Navigator!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students, through teacher lecture and class discussion, explore historical methods of navigation: dead reckoning and celestial navigation.
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Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: African American Mosaic: Influence of Prominent Abolitionists

For Students 9th - 10th
See documents and pictures of those actively involved in the anti-slavery movement. From the Library of Congress.
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Primary
Other

Many Roads to Freedom: Locally Published Abolitionist Newspapers

For Students 9th - 10th
Selections from abolitionist papers that were published in or near Rochester, New York are provided here for download in PDF format.
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Website
Other

Boat Safe Kids

For Students 3rd - 5th
This is a delightful site about boats and boating. Lots of games plus a terrific overview of the history of navigation. Includes a visit to a reproduction of Columbus' Nina.
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Lesson Plan
Other

Uss Constitution Museum: How to Be a Great Navigator!

For Students 7th
In this lesson plan, 7th graders are shown how Great Navigators of the past stayed on course with the historical methods of navigation. The concepts of dead reckoning and celestial navigation are discussed. Using Vector Voyage students...
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Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Stuff to Do: Stargazing

For Students 3rd - 8th
Get started on the road to becoming an expert stargazer by following these recommendations for identifying stars, planets, and constellations. Includes an example of a journal that can be used as a record of your investigations.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Shackleton's Antarctic Odyssey: Let the North Star Tell You Where

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Through this instructional activity, young scholars will understand how to determine latitude and locate specific stars in the night sky. They will also have a chance to build and use an astrolabe.
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Activity
Other

Denver Museum of Nature and Science:telling Time at Night Using Big Dipper [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Students examine how to tell time by using the stars and arithmetic. Some topics explored are the Big Dipper, the North Star, and the Little Dipper.
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Website
Other

Frederick Douglass Comes to Life: A Short Biography of Frederick Douglass

For Students 9th - 10th
In addition to providing a brief biography, this website includes pictures of Frederick Douglass as well as links to speeches and important quotes.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: African American Abolitionists

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about three African-American abolitionists who worked alone and in concert with white abolitionists. The most radical was David Walker, who was the founder of radical abolitionism.
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: How to Be a Great Navigator!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lesson, students will learn how great navigators of the past stayed on course - that is, the historical methods of navigation. The concepts of dead reckoning and celestial navigation are discussed.
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Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: The Life of Frederick Douglass

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief biography of Frederick Douglass with links to pictures and short biographies of his wife and children.
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Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Douglass, Frederick

For Students 9th - 10th
This encyclopedia entry gives a brief overview of the inspirational life of Fredrick Douglass, abolitionist, essayist, and promoter of rights for everyone. There are references to several of his stirring essays.
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Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Frederick Douglass

For Students 3rd - 8th
As a leader in the abolitionist movement Frederick Douglass (1817-1895 CE) was a most inspirational man. This site provides much interesting information including an account of his escape from slavery and his newspaper THE NORTH STAR.
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Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story; Frederick Douglass

For Students 3rd - 8th
As a leader in the abolitionist movement Frederick Douglass (1817-1895 CE) was a most inspirational man. This site provides much interesting information including an account of his escape from slavery and his newspaper THE NORTH STAR.
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Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Finding Polaris

For Teachers 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart explains how to find Polaris or the North Star.
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Article
Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies

Mocomi: What Is a Constellation?

For Students 2nd - 8th
Constellations are patterns formed by groups of stars. Take a look at some of the familiar constellations.