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Worksheet
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K12 Reader

Gold Rush Boomtowns

For Students 4th - 5th Standards
The California Gold Rush sparked many people to try for their fortunes and led to the formation of some well-known California cities. Have your class read about the changes that happened and then respond to the five included questions.
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Lesson Plan
University of Southern California

Coming to America After the War

For Teachers 10th - 12th Standards
As part of their exploration of the American dream, class members examine primary source materials to compare immigrant experiences of those arriving early in our country's history to those arriving in the US after World War II. To...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Narrative History - Hypertext Dialogues

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students create scripts about California settlers. The document reflects the settlers' fears, expectations, and realizations.
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Lesson Plan
American Documentary

American Aloha: Hula Beyond Hawai'i

For Teachers 9th - 12th
In this lesson, learners will examine Hawaii's issues of colonization, authority, authenticity and cultural identity, and understand the distinction between native and non-native Hawaiians. This lesson includes links to videos, links to...
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Worksheet
2
2
K12 Reader

Traveling to the Distant West

For Students 6th - 8th
If you build it they can come. After reading a short article about the impact of western expansion, middle schoolers cite evidence from the article to explain how this expansion forced changes in transportation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Handy Measure

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd Standards
Hold your horses! Young learners discover the history behind measuring the height of horses "by hands." They also study the history of Oklahoma, and how horses played such an important role in settling the state. An excellent worksheet...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photography and the National Park Service

For Teachers 9th - 12th
During the 1800s the United States was expanding westward; land was there for the taking.  Kids explore how some early photographers used their photography to influenced the US Congress to save areas like Mirror Lake. They complete a...
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Activity
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Conservation, Preservation, and the National Parks

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Going green? Scholars investigate the creation of the US National Park program. Through diary entries as well as expert testimony, they synthesize information and analyze the need for conservation and preservation. Finally, they display...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 6: Native Americans in the West

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students recall their knowledge of Native American people who lived in the West and reflect on how their perspectives differed from pioneers and argonauts of the 19th century.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Handy Measure

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
How many hands tall are you? Challenge kids to measure themselves the way the 19th century Oklahoma horse traders measured their prize horses (can they guess how many hands tall a horse had to be?). There's some background information...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

First Nations vs. Euro-Americans

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students analyze primary and secondary source documents to help them describe the cooperation and conflict that existed among the American Indians and new settlers. Then, students analyze the purpose, challenges, and economic incentives...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bison on the Plains

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore U.S. geography by reading assigned text about American Indians. In this migration lesson, 5th graders identify the differences between Native Americans and European settlers who traveled through middle America in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clothesline Sleuth

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore the make up of fabrics. In this agriculture lesson, students examine the cotton and wool crops of the United States and discover how fabrics are created.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where is Rice Grown?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders create a timeline of the development of rice as an important crop. In this agricultural history lesson plan, 5th graders read about the history behind why rice was grown and where it is grown. Students demonstrate their...
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PPT
Curated OER

Colonial North America

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Showcase the religion, conflicts, daily life, and politics of Colonial North America. A very well-done presentation highlights all the major colonial groups, social norms, demographics, and political struggles of the time. Perfect for an...
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Activity
2
2
US Apple Association

Apples: A Class Act! (Grades Pre-K–3)

For Teachers Pre-K - 3rd Standards
Discover the nutritional wonders of apples and get to know Johnny Appleseed with a plethora of learning experiences that cover subjects math, history, English language arts, health, and arts and crafts. Activities include an apple...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native American Project

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore the influences that geography has on a Native American tribe's culture and lifestyle. They examine how the first encounters with Europeans affected that tribe.
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Website
Other

California Missions Resource Center

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Peruse this thorough resource featuring historical California missions stretching from San Diego to San Francisco as the Spanish established themselves on the west coast of North America between 1768-1853. Read stories of the early...