Center for Civic Education
The Power of Nonviolence: What Is Nonviolence? What Does It Cost?
Your young learners will delve into the language of primary source documents in order to identify the characteristics, benefits, and costs of nonviolence. The lesson plan includes a mix of activities, including an anticipatory activity,...
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Anticipatory Set for Japanese Internment
Students simulate Japanese relocation to internment camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. They select items to pack that are personally, sentimentally, and financially important to them. They create a Venn diagram comparing and...
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Celebration of Living History
Students create a living history book about themselves and read it to a senior friend. In this living history lesson plan, students complete a project about the living history of their lives by filling out venn diagrams and sharing it...
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The Presidential Quotation Report
Famous quotations by American Presidents are the focus of this Six Trait writing activity, which could be used in a U.S. History class or in language arts. After reading the picture book Theodore by Frank Keating, have your 7th graders...
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War Poetry, Journals and Letters: Viet Nam
Examine letters written during war-time. In this cross curricular history and English instructional activity, middle and high school scholars read letters and poems written by soldiers in the Vietnam war. They will examine the...
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The Clark Family Story: Tracing the Cause of Hemophilia
Ms. Strohfeldt did not omit anything when she designed this comprehensive lesson plan on DNA mutation and sex-linked traits. Begin with a pretest as an anticipatory set. Read a case history of the Clark family and the occurrence of...
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Underground Railroad/Quilts
Students explore the Underground Railroad communication system. In this cross curriculum fine arts and United States history Civil War lesson, students view several websites that feature quilts constructed by slaves during the...
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Living History- An Intergenerational Philanthropy
Students gather information from a senior friend to write a biography. In this living history books lesson, students organize information to complete a book about their senior friend. Detailed teacher instructions for completing the book...
Briscoe Center for American History
Applying the SOAPS Method of Analyzing Historical Documents
Young historians use the SOAPS (Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject) method of questioning to determine the historical value of primary source documents. The third in a series of five lessons that model for learners how...
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What is History and Why Do We Study It?
Students examine why it is important to study American history. In this American history lesson, students discuss why it is necessary to study history, arrange an outline of American history events in chronological order, and write an...
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Four Foot Feat
Students examine cultural customs and practices in family histories. In this family history lesson, students read the poetry in 'All the Colors of the Race' to analyze the family history. Students complete guided reading activities....
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A Series of Intolerable Events
Eighth graders investigate the events that led to World War II. For this Holocaust lesson, 8th graders research primary and secondary sources about the events that led to the war. Students create PowerPoint presentations that provide...
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Aztec History
Students explore facets of Aztec history. In this ancient civilizations instructional activity, students map landmarks in Mexico, read excerpts from The Sad Night: The Story of an Aztec Victory and a Spanish Loss, by Sally Mathews and...
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African Americans in Oregon
Learners interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. For this African American history lesson, students examine the African American experience in Oregon.
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Staged Sit-in
Students watch a PowerPoint presentation that includes pictures of a sit-in and participate in a simulated sit-in. In this sit-in lesson, students perform a sit-in skit based on The Civil Rights Movement for Kids by Mary C. Turck. ...
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Mayan History
Students examine Mayan contributions to the world. For this Mesoamerican culture lesson, students view a slideshow about the Maya and then peruse books about the accomplishments of the culture. Students create charts that highlight Mayan...
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Bio-Poems and U.S. History
Students explore U.S. History by writing poems. For this United States leader biography lesson, students identify elements needed to create a good poem, and write a Bio-Poem about themselves. Students utilize the same form to write a...
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Understanding History By How America Felt
Students explore public opinion of presidential decisions. In this history activity, students examine various graphs that depict overall American approval of U.S. Presidents and government decisions then answer questions about the...
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Michigan History of Philanthropy
Students investigate how philanthropy began in Michigan. In this philanthropy lesson, students read Michigan History of Philanthropy and read a timeline of several events. Students create a picture with a sentence about a time when they...
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History of the X-Ray
Seventh graders discuss the history of the x-ray machine. In this social science instructional activity, 7th graders understand how a x-ray machine works. Students recognize that there have been many improvements to the x-ray machine...
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Immigration in America
Students use primary sources to study immigration. In this immigration lesson plan, students analyze photographs, posters, letters, and documents from Ellis Island. Students complete analysis worksheets as they evaluate the primary sources.
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Civic Virtue in Democracy
Students identify and describe characteristics of civic virtue. Following a class discussion, they create their own definitions of civic virtue. They write essays based on their own definitions and formulate conclusions on the state of...
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Self-portrait In a Masterpiece: Computer Illustrations
Students create a self-portrait using an artistic masterpiece as a guide. In this art appreciation lesson, students research famous artists online, electronically saving a particular portrait or masterpiece made by the artist. Students...
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Early Champlain Valley History
Class members use primary sources to craft an essay about early Champlain Valley History. I would use this as a homework assignment.