Curated OER
Abolish the Office of Governor
Students explore the history of the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776. In this historical analysis activity, students analyze the constitution of the state and determine how citizens benefited (or didn't benefit) from the document....
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Crawford Grill: Opening the Doors of Opportunity
Analyze the role the Crawford Grill played in the history of Jazz music. Budding historians research interviews and video clips to learn about the Crawford Grill in Pennsylvania and black music history. The lesson culminates when...
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Digging, Smelting and Forging: But Why in Pennsylvania
Students examine the history of the iron industry in Pennsylvania. In this iron industry lesson plan, students learn about Israel Acrilius and his role in the iron industry. Students identify natural resources used in forging iron....
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The Pennsylvania Turnpike: Then and Now
Students study the history of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. For this Pennsylvania history lesson, students use primary documents to study the history of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. In a culminating activity, students create an advertisement...
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The Most American Thing in America: The Chautauqua
Middle schoolers explore the Chautauqua movement. In this Pennsylvania history lesson, students use primary documents to explore what the Chautauqua was and how it made a difference in the American way of life.
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Everything's Coming Up Roses: Creating Beautiful Areas in Your Neighborhood
Learners study the history of Pennsylvania and the city beautification movement that originated in that state. In this community service instructional activity, students study the city beautification movement started by Mira Lloyd Dock....
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Levittown, White Picket Paradise?
Middle schoolers study the origins and happenings of Levittown, Pennsylvania. For this Pennsylvania history lesson plan, students use primary and secondary sources to research the beginnings of Levittown, PA. As a culminating activity,...
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The Moravians: What Does It Take to Build a Religious Community
Young scholars study a Moravian community, its town structure, and compare the town to other non-religious communities. In this religious community lesson, students research a Moravian community using the town plan documents and excerpts...
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Mary's Choice: To Go or Stay?
Students read about Mary Jemison and her decision to stay in her adopted Indian culture or return to her native culture. In this Pennsylvanian history instructional activity, students read about the true story of Mary Jemison's kidnap as...
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Daily Life in Pennsylvania's Historic Cloistered Religious Communities
Study the daily life of three religious communities from Pennsylvanian history. Learners research the religious communities of the Ephrata Cloister, Bethlehem, and Harmony. They study primary sources for each community and complete...
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Mr. Coal's Story: An Appeal to End Child Labor
Pupils read about child labor in the early 20th century. In this Pennsylvania history lesson, students read a story about child labor and discuss reasons why child labor laws should have existed during the early 20th century.
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Betrayal of Penn's Promise - The Walking Purchase
Pupils role-play the 1737 Walking Purchase. For this Pennsylvania history lesson, middle schoolers role-play the 1737 Walking Purchase and analyze its effects. Pupils also consider how it would affect their community today.
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Patchtowns: Big Industry, Little Towns
Students explore what it was like to live in a coal mining town. For this history lesson plan, students discuss specific details about the lives of coal company workers and their families.