Global Oneness Project
Recording a Dying Langauge
Is there value in preserving indigenous languages that are almost extinct? That's the question posed to viewers of a short film about the attempt of one Native American woman who is creating a dictionary for Wakchumni, the language of...
DocsTeach
Benjamin Franklin: Politician and Diplomat
Benjamin Franklin was many things: a scientist, businessman, diplomat, politician. Learners explore facets of the legendary figure with a matching activity. By matching primary source documents to their descriptions, they analyze the...
Curated OER
Political Cartoons: Literacy
Readers decode and deconstruct political cartoons to heighten critical thinking, extra-textual literacy, and making meaning from symbolism and metaphor. A compatible activity to use in English class when your 8th or 11th graders are...
C-SPAN
Primary and Secondary Sources: Trailblazers in Congress
Trailblazers forge the path into uncharted territory, they establish a precedent for others to follow. Young historians research trailblazers in Congress using primary and secondary sources to profile outliers that changed the face of...
Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: "Election Day, November, 1884" by Walt Whitman
To begin a study of Walt Whitman's poem, "Election Day, November 1884," learners first call out a word or two that describes their reaction to the recent presidential election. They then read an encyclopedia entry about the Presidential...
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Classroom Constitutional Convention
Students investigate the eight phrases that comprise the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution to determine its principles and purpose. Their own Constitutional Convention is convened to craft a preamble for their school's governance.
Curated OER
Korematsu v. United States (1944)
High schoolers examine equal protection. In this Supreme Court lesson, students examine primary documents from Korematsu v. United States and discuss the implications of the decision with regards to Japanese internment.
Curated OER
Crossroads of the Continent: Early Trade in Kansas
Students study early Native American-European trade. They play bartering games to discover trade as an economic funtion, as well as other implications of trading one good for another.
Curated OER
GNP Simulation Using Foods in the Americas
Young scholars explore food supply distribution. In this GNP distribution lesson, students participate in a simulation that requires them to eat foods from the American continents. Young scholars are served according to their chance...
Curated OER
Geometry of Democracy
Young scholars explore the architecture of New England by identifying geometric shapes. In this architectural lesson, students examine photographs of classic building architecture and use a transparency to trace geometric shapes...
Curated OER
Baseball Saved Us Teacher’s Guide
Learners read the book "Baseball Saved Us" and respond to the story through writing activities. In this reading lesson, students create a chart of events which they predict will take place in the story. Learners then use their...
Curated OER
A New Twist on Race Relations
Learners analyze the impact of American Bandstand on race relations. In this race relations instructional activity, students use the music and dance show American Bandstand to learn about race relations. Learners categorize pivotal...
Curated OER
Active Citizens 101
Students explore and investigate multiple aspects of citizenship and democracy in a sequence of lessons that involve thoughtful discussin and participation to assist in gaining a better perspective of what citizenship and domocracy is,...
Curated OER
Western Expansion or Eastern Invasion?
Fifth graders read from their textbook a story about the pioneer settlement of the Western Frontier. They review the pioneer standpoint, but also discuss how the Homestead Act of 1862 affected Native Americans. They write another story...
Curated OER
AIH-5: Westward Expansion
Fifth graders research how the westward expansion affected the American Indians.
Curated OER
History of the American West
Ninth graders research early mining in California. They study the "placer method" for mining gold, which is surface mining that does not involve tunneling. They examine what it was like for the early miners to pan for gold with...
Curated OER
Forced Assimilation
Students identify ways that a society promotes assimilation and examine areas where it still occurs in our present culture. They assess the value of assimilation.
Curated OER
Planting Seeds of Philanthropy
Middle schoolers explore the importance of maintaining a democracy through philanthropic actions. In this character education lesson, students discover what the Japanese internment camps were, and why they were an infringement on...
Curated OER
We the People…in the News
Students use the newspaper to explore the world around us, our past and our government. In this civics unit, students complete 40 different lessons in civic education using that day's newspaper to reinforce the concept being taught.
Curated OER
Health Enhancement Traditional Games
Fourth graders participate in Tribal games. In this tribal nations lesson, 4th graders play games that help improve on the physical skills for survival, invention, and problem solving. They discuss what is needed for survival and how...
Curated OER
Animal Tales Around the World
Students explore characteristics of Indian Tales/ Parables. In this literature instructional activity, students compare contemporary society to western culture through analysis. Students create their own tales using this genre.
Curated OER
This Land Is Our Land
Learners explore land use. In this land lesson, students examine the use of land and land records. They create a diagram of a specified piece of land and determine the area of the land. Learners discuss their findings.
Curated OER
Are We Americans Again? A Portrait of Japanese American Internment
Students study letters and images of the Japanese American Interment during World War II. They discuss the issues presented.
Curated OER
The Constitution: Counter Revolution or National Salvation?
Pupils take a close look at the foundations of American government. For this U.S. Constitution lesson, students analyze the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution. Pupils participate in a...