Curated OER
American Bison
In this bison worksheet, students read several paragraphs about the American Bison. Students learn about its history and its current status and answer questions about the text.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
If Men Were Angels: Teaching the Constitution With the Federalist Papers
Much like the methods of group work, the writers of the Federalist Papers worked together to advocate for their viewpoints against the anti-federalists. The resource enables learners to break into small groups and conduct research before...
Curated OER
The Brief American Pageant: The Stormy Sixties
Intended for use with The American Pageant by David Kennedy, Lizabeth Cohen, and Mel Piehl, this slideshow includes maps and graphs that detail politics and social dynamics in 1960's America. The textbook is not necessary for...
Curated OER
The Brief American Pageant: The American People Face a New Century
The political landscape of Y2K is the focus of this series of slides, which cover the later years of the 20th century. Charts detail the poverty and social welfare rates in the 20th century, as well as a pie graph displaying the sources...
Curated OER
Presidents: Past and Present
Students identify George Washington and the current president and distinguish between past and present events. They listen to a text about Washington and make predictions. They generate a list of synonyms for past and present and...
Curated OER
What's In The Bag?
Pupils research a historical figure from the United States and introduce their classmates to items associated with this person. They also predict how that historical figure would fit into today's society.
Curated OER
Religious Intolerance in Afchanistan
Students, as a group, examine and discuss the destruction and planned demolition of Buddhist artifacts in Afghanistan by the Islamic Taliban government. They further research the issue and then hold a simulated summit with Buddhists,...
K12 Reader
The Louisiana Purchase
Readers are asked to identify the main idea and two supporting ideas in a brief passage about the Louisiana Purchase.
Curated OER
Perceptions of War
Tenth graders share perspectives on war with Iraq with students from various countries, and write position papers expressing specific stance on issues.
Alabama Department of Archives and History
Conflict in Alabama in the 1830s: Native Americans, Settlers, and Government
To better understand the Indian Removal Act of 1830, class members examine primary source documents including letters written by Alabama governors and the Cherokee chiefs. The activity is part of a unit on the expansion of the United...
Library of Congress
Understanding Immigration Through Popular Culture
Class members are introduced to a project-based learning unit on US immigration with an activity that asks them to analyze sheet music and other primary source materials to uncover issues raised by immigration.
Curated OER
The Persuaders
Have your upper graders watch the documentary, "The Persuaders" as they explore how advertisers try to gain potential customers. The video is followed by a discussion and close examination of new marketing trends and strategies.
State Bar of Texas
Grutter v. Bollinger
A university decides not to allow a qualified scholar to enter its institution based on skin and gender—but this case is about a white female? The 2003 Supreme Court case Grutter v. Bollinger lays the foundation for open discussion and...
Curated OER
Hopi Running
Students identify why the Hopi tribe practiced running as it relates to health, delivering messages, defeating other tribes, and for ceremonial events. In this social studies lesson, students use maps to identify latitude and longitude...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Ellis Island—The “Golden Door” to America
Are you one of the 100 million Americans whose ancestors passed through the doors of Ellis Island? Learn about the historic entry point for immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with an informative reading passage. After...
Curated OER
The Problem with Profiling
Students explore the issue of racial profiling and post their conclusions to a youth message board. They research the issue of racial profiling and post their thoughts to a message board.
Curated OER
Evaluating Information on Food Labels
What kinds of foods include corn? Corn syrup? Start by viewing a clip of Food Inc. with your middle or high schoolers. Then, study a list of corn-derived ingredients, encouraging your class to see how many food products contain corn. A...
Curated OER
Evolving Views about Minority Rights in the United States
Tenth graders compare and contrast majority and minority outlooks on issues. In this social justice lesson, 10th graders research majority and minority values regarding the Salem Witch Trials, Plessy v. Ferguson, the McCarthy hearings,...
Curated OER
The Cenozoic Era
In this Cenozoic Era worksheet, students recognize words that relate to this time period. Students complete a crossword puzzle by finding all of the twelve Cenozoic Era clues.
Curated OER
Picturing First Families
Young scholars complete a variety of activities as they study Washington, D.C., the Presidency, and George Washington. They take a virtual trip to Washington, D.C., and visit the National Portrait Gallery, the White House, and the...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
A Geography Lesson
Fewer and fewer people have a strong grasp of world geography, but this activity helps students understand geopolitics by creating their own original historical map. The activity requires selecting a country from the list provided,...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Understanding China: The Prospects for Democracy in China
This document provides useful information for a unit on democracy in China. While it does not include detailed activities, it does have a list of democratic principles, and important facts about China that facilitate understanding of its...
Curated OER
Lewis and Clark and the Native Americans
Students practice using maps and identifying landmarks on the Lewis and Clark expedition. They research Lewis and Clark's relationship with the Native Americans and report their findings to the class. They identify the impact of the...
Curated OER
Immigration
Students explore the effects of immigration on the immigrants and on society as a whole. They survey opportunities to understand the complex issues of the immigrant experience, both past and present. Illustrations of immigration...