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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colonial Research Fun

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students review the characteristics of the thirteen colonies. In groups, they use the internet to research one of the colonies more in depth and answer questions about it. They develop a newspaper or travel brochure to share the...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Airborne & Special Operations Museum- Grade 5

For Students 5th
In this gallery scavenger hunt learning exercise students answer 11 questions about the displays in the Airborne & Special Operations Museum (location unknown).
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Iowa Agriculturist

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders review the Iowa Agriculturist, retell the annual and seasonal cycle of farming and describe pioneer farming practices.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Columbus Park

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students complete activities that go along with the study of and possible fieldtrip to Columbus Park in Chicago, IL. They discover how urban conditions influenced the creation of city parks. They examine the preservation of historic...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Predicting the Past

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study how archaeologists record the past. They discuss archaeology and artifacts. They view a list of artifacts discovered by Marquette at the Illinois Village and answer questions regarding them. They complete a test about...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Dream and an Idea: Searching for a Roadmap to Create a Country

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students compare and contrast opposing visions of government held by the founding fathers. They evaluate the roles of historical leaders in shaping the U.S. as an emerging nation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

City Bound

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify the reasons for people migrating to cities after the Civil War. Using population data, they discover why populations in cities rose while rural populations fell during 1860 to 1900. They discuss the impact a...
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: The Remarkable Star Map of Simeon De Witt

For Students 9th - 10th
Simeon de Witt created his star map in 1780 after studying European star maps and the skies. His is the 'oldest surviving Anglo-American star map.' Read about the history of star maps, a biography of Simeon de Witt, and the influence his...
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

National Park Service: Saugus Iron Works: Life & Work at an Early American Site

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this site to learn about life and work at an early American industrial site. Understand the need for iron ore for the early Puritans through excellent history info, an inquiry question, maps, images, readings, activities and more....
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Lesson Plan
Library of Virginia

Virginia Memory: Blank Space: Mapping the Unknown

For Teachers 9th - 10th
How did early maps show the mapmakers' perception of the known world? Early mapmakers used maps drawn from coastal explorations, land travels, and even information heard word of mouth from American Indians or from colonists or traders....
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: The Colonial Period

For Students 9th - 10th
The early settlers to the New World began to map strategy for their own system of government. This site details that strategy and what kinds of events spawned the idea of representative government.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: The African American Odyssey: A Quest for Full Citizenship

For Students 9th - 10th
Online exhibit from the Library of Congress explores black America's quest for equality from the early national period through the twentieth century. Exhibit contains a wealth of items including books, government documents, manuscripts,...
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Article
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: Advanced Technology

For Students 9th - 10th
From a lengthy essay on the history of the railroad in the United States. This section describes the debate over the construction of railroads, the competition between canals and railroads, and the companies that were building rail...
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Graphic
Other

Pre Contact Culture Areas (Map)

For Students 9th - 10th
This excellent map shows where different tribes were before first contact, links to related information.
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Graphic
Library of Congress

Loc: American Colonization Society: Maps of Liberia 1830 1870

For Students 9th - 10th
These maps, historical primary materials, show the early settlements in Liberia that were created by the American Colonization Society as they resettled free black Americans in West Africa. A timeline of the history of Liberia is included.
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Unit Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Mapping the Past

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Students will examine European world maps from the Middle Ages, the Age of Discovery, and the period of New World exploration. They will then look at maps that record the early exploration of the American West and collect present-day...
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Website
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: American Indian Culture of the Southeast

For Students 6th - 8th
The Southeast Indian tribes were known for their agricultural success. Examine their farming practices, pottery, mound building traditions, and societal structure in the following summary. Also included are pictures, maps, critical...
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Website
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: American Indian Culture of the Plains

For Students 9th - 10th
The Plains Indians had a dynamic society that changed over time. See how the introduction of the horse changed their way of life. Read about their religion, societal structure, housing, and tools. Included are pictures, maps, critical...
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Handout
Other

Museum of Unnatural History: Virtual Exploration Society: Colonel Percy Fawcett

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the exciting adventures of Col. Percy Fawcett as he mapped the jungles of South America in the early 20th century.
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Website
Other

South Carolina Indians

For Students 9th - 10th
A thorough site that provides good basic information on the early indigenous peoples of South Carolina. Information includes tribes, a map of the location of the tribes, history of the tribes, cities and towns with Native American names,...
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Website
A&E Television

History.com: Amerigo Vespucci

For Students 5th - 8th
Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian-born merchant and explorer who took part in early voyages to the New World on behalf of Spain around the late 15th century. By that time, the Vikings had established settlements in present-day North...