Reading Through History
Early History and Exploration Unit
We all know about Christopher Columbus, but who else explored the Americas, and specifically, the future United States of America? Learners find out these answers and more in a resource that includes four different reading sections,...
Curated OER
Culture in Art
Students explore how cultural aspects of their lives are depicted in society. They view a video on Frida Kahlo and identify the cultural elements that she referenced in her work.
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AIH-16: Effect of Revolutionary War on American Indians
Students examine how American Indian cultures changed as a result of the Revolutionary War.
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Puerto Rico: The 51st State?
Students examine the political status of Puerto Rico. In this global studies lesson plan, students explore Puerto Rico and consider the feelings of Puerto Ricans regarding their unique political status.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
History of Immigration Through the 1850s
Everyone living in the United States today is a descendant from an immigrant—even Native Americans. Learn about the tumultuous history of American immigration with a reading passage that discusses the ancient migration over the Bering...
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Exploring South America
Young scholars research South American to prepare a PowerPoint presentation about its culture, traditions, and societies. In this South American research lesson plan, students research South American based on their export products to...
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The Poet's Message-"The Colored Soldier" by Langston Hughes
Students analyze the poem, "The Colored Soldier" by Langston Hughes to gain a greater experience of how poets use language to create meaning, influence thinking and thus become pioneers of change in American society. They work on the...
Teaching Tolerance
Changing Demographics: What Can We Do to Promote Respect?
America has always been seen as a melting pot to the world. Scholars research the concept of blending cultures in the United States and how it is changing over time. The final lesson of a four-part series analyzes the changing...
DocsTeach
Twelve Years a Slave
It's difficult to truly grasp the effects of slavery. Young historians use historical analysis to understand the struggle of slavery on African Americans. The resource provides text from the autobiography Twelve Years a Slave to help...
Curated OER
A Meat By Any Other Name. . .
Students, using a New York Times article as a springboard, discuss how food reflects different aspects of a culture and reasons why cultural differences in food are seen as bizarre or, oftentimes, cruel by members of other societies.
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The Twentieth Century
Fifth graders summarize a decade in the twentieth century and compare it to another decade. They present facts in a Hyperstudio document that includes text, photos, and audio to describe the decade.
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Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes
Third graders explore their culture in comparison to Japanese culture by reading the book, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. They identify islands of Japan, create a Venn diagram comparing Japanese culture to American culture, and...
Curated OER
What It Means to Be an American Indian
Pupils analyze primary source documents and evaluate historical evidence to find consequences of the policies that were adopted from the 1830s to today regarding Native American Indians.
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Miwok Legend Storytelling Movie
Young scholars read Native American legends and practice storytelling skills. They complete a worksheet about the elements of storytelling and create an iMovie.
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Bigger Than Life, But Not Necessarily Better
Students evaluate images of health in American society, then students examine where one develops his or her views about health.
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Harlem Renaissance
Students investigate the African American culture in the 1920's and the Harlem Renaissance. They read and analyze poems written by poets of the Harlem Renaissance, listen to jazz music and identify the characteristics of the music, and...
Syracuse University
Harlem Renaissance
The music and literature of the Harlem Renaissance defined American culture, including its poetry. Using a poem from the period, individuals explore its musical qualities and how it is reflective of the period. Then, they use what they...
Curated OER
What's In A Name? Non-British Surnames
Students investigate the origins of Non-British surnames that exist in modern America. They examine the meanings of these surnames.
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Jazz in America Lesson Plan 6
Students survey bebop, cool jazz, and hard bop. They explore how bebop, cool jazz, and hard bop reflected American culture and society in the 1940s and 1950s.
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Jazz in America Lesson Plan 7
Students survey free jazz and fusion. They explore how free jazz and fusion reflected American culture and society in the 1960s and 1970s.
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Alaska's Cultures: Regions & Native Peoples of Alaska
Young scholars read the essay "Did American Aborigines have Culture?". They discuss culture and what is meant by culture.
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The Microwave and the Jiffy Store
Young historians examine the lifestyle changes and cultural changes that occurred as a result of the challenges posed by World War II on society in general. With regard to American History and culture, pupils write an essay on the...
Curated OER
A New Society Project
Ninth graders examine the social and political movements of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. In this American history lesson, 9th graders work in groups to form their own society and laws. Students make a diagram of their town and...
Curated OER
Changes in Draft Registration
Students evaluate the differences between the first draft registration and today's Selective Service form. They explore how changes in American society and culture influence changes in the draft system.