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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wagons Ho! Hard Times! Hard Choices!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
You have just hit the lesson plan jackpot! This isn't just a lesson, it's a ten-day unit covering westward expansion, pioneer life, and the Oregon Trail. Activities include baking, model building, role-play, newspaper writing, science...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Contamination Challenge

For Teachers 8th - Higher Ed
Students play a game to analyze further the effects of water contamination. In this environmental concerns lesson, students play an online game about water contamination and may visit the additional links to further their studies on the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Orienteering - Lesson 7 - Compasses

For Teachers 9th - 12th
More compass practice! This activity has your scholars practicing getting their bearings. They will participate in a schoolyard compass game where they will have a specific starting point and then navigate through the course according to...
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Lesson Plan
Edgate

Discovering New Resources

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
What is a natural resource, and what resources did the Lewis and Clark expedition seek? After reading an article on the mapping of the west, learners get into small groups to discuss the important natural resources of the period. They...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Survivor!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students play a game in physical education class to examine how a deer survives. Using nature as a guide, they discover how it is constantly changing due to weather, food, water, pollution and predators. They discuss the characteristics...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Orienteering - Introductory Lesson

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Gain knowledge of directions and degrees while learning how to read a compass. NEWS - north, east, west, south, and everything in between. It's crucial to be accurate in reading a compass and understanding degrees and direction when...
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Interactive
Curated OER

Winning Words (World Cup Championship Games)

For Students 4th - 8th
In this winning words worksheet, students complete short answer questions about which team won in the World Cup for each year asked. Students complete 16 questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Selling of the West, or The Portrayal of Emigrant Travel on the Oregon Trail

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners compare and contrast the realistic and romantic art and literature about experiences on the Oregon Trail. Using this information, they compare their viewpoints and write messages on what they believe it was like on a trip down...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Inflation Game

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders explore the goals of economic growth, stability, full employment, freedom, security, equity, and efficiency as they apply to US economic policy. They is expected to analyze how economic growth, stability, and full...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Entrepreneur's Game

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders explore the basic principles of the US free enterprise system. They examine the basic principles of the US free enterprise system including profit motive, voluntary exchange, private property rights, and competition.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Good, the Bad, and the Goofy

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Upper elementary learners read about jobs on a cattle drive and the lives of cowboy during U.S. Westward Expansion. They create a "Help Wanted" poster for one of the jobs. After reading primary source accounts of cowboys, they write...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Manifest Destiny

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the Manifest Destiny. They interpret quotations, study point of view in writing, research English words that derived from Mexico, and analyze reasons why settlers moved west. After writing journal entries in first-person...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Through The Looking Glass

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners examine the time period of westward expansion. In groups, they use the internet to research the reasons why people moved west during the 1800s. They write their own narratives playing the role of a member of a pioneer family...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

USA State Tag / Mississippi River Shuffle

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners are given the opportunity to play a tag game while studing geographical sites in the U.S.A. (relative to the Mississippi River or to other geographic features you may choose).
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Read a Map ... It's a Snap!

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students are introduced to map and globe skills. They use grids and are able to construct their own simple maps of familiar places. Students are able to define a map, globe, and symbol and use the direction words north, south, east,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Being There: Exploring China And Japan

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students discover the culture, society, geography, and history of Asia through games, food, art, and literature in this multi-day lesson about China and Japan. An exciting lesson for upper-elementary or lower-middle school classrooms.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Symbols of the World, Country and State

For Teachers 1st
First graders understand what a symbol is and recognize symbols of the world, country, state, and local areas. In this symbols instructional activity, 1st graders identify symbols, and play a bingo game with traffic symbols. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Capitals, Oceans, And Border States

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students investigate geography by completing games with classmates. In this United States of America lesson, students examine a map of North America and identify the borders of Mexico and Canada as well as the Pacific and Atlantic....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Directions, Directions

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders review cardinal directions, moving around the room so that they are standing in the part of the room that is nearest the north, south, east and west. They are asked what would you do if they are lost? Pupils work as a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pioneering Children on the Move

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students inquire about life for pioneer children. In this pioneer period lesson, students analyze photographs of children, make information foldables, and create a covered wagon that was typical of the ones of the past. Students will...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Field Trip to the Watsonville Wetlands

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the differences between food webs and food chains.  In this wetland lesson students play a food web game and go on a scavenger hunt. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Age of Exploration

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students investigate U.S. history by examining North American timelines. In this American exploration instructional activity, students research the events that led to Columbus finding America and participate in a jeopardy game regarding...
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PPT
Curated OER

Science Jeopardy - Virginia Geology

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Unique in content, this Jeopardy-style game quizzes participants on the geology of the state of Virginia. Categories include provinces, east or west, under the surface, once alive, and fun facts. Other than teachers of upper elementary...
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Lesson Plan
Lakeshorelearning

Read and Write about It

For Students 3rd - 5th Standards
Reading informational text is a skill that transcends subjects and grade levels. Practice reading about different topics in various formats with a language arts lesson that includes opportunities for writing and research as well.