National First Ladies' Library
Movies for a Nickel! The Nickelodeon
Students identify and participate in this activity to identify and learn about the early history of the film industry, and consider the impact of movies on society ever since. Then they use the websites listed to study various aspects of...
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Don't Touch That Dial!
Students explore the affects, both positive and negative, that television has had on society in the past half-century. They read the article "Inside the Soap Opera of Television's Early Days."
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Corn Cob Toys
Students make toys from corn cobs. They study the many uses for corn, both historically and today. They write a description of the toy/object he or she has made and provide instructions for making it. They write and perform plays,...
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Conditions of City Life in the Late 19th Century
Students examine tenement life. In this lesson on early urbanization, students research the role of journalism for social change in early American cities. Students write a journal article for themselves that demonstrate an understanding...
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A Prelude To Beowulf
Students study the literature and literary techniques of the early Middle Ages, thus preparing students to read Beowulf with an appreciation for its artistry and beauty. Students solve online riddles, write riddles and study Anglo-Saxon...
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Migration and Immigration in the United States: Three Case Studies
Students examine the early migration of Native Americans, African Americans, and the British Colonists. They conduct Internet research, complete a timeline, label maps, compare/contrast the three groups' experiences, and write an essay.
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Play Ball
Students study the history of baseball in Brooklyn. They read a shared reading about the history of baseball in Brooklyn and respond to an archival picture of an early baseball game. They write two "teacher questions" for the class to...
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I'm Done! What Now?
You can use these lesson plans to give your high ability math students something challenging to do when they finish early!
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Coping With Exam Stress
Students revise unique ways to study on a spreadsheet to display. Students share useful study skills with each other. Students solve problems for imaginary students. Students role play examples.
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Human Evolution
Students recognize that achievements of human beings throughout human history can be considered part of the ongoing story of human evolution. They research settings such as the biosphere and Mars and write imaginative short stories using...
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Buying, Selling, and Trading in Antebellum South Carolina
Young scholars research the role of general stores in the development of communities. In this South Carolina history lesson, students study the economic development of early U.S. communities. Young scholars write essays and create...
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History of the American West
Ninth graders research early mining in California. They study the "placer method" for mining gold, which is surface mining that does not involve tunneling. They examine what it was like for the early miners to pan for gold with...
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World War II: Causes And Consequences
Students discuss the U.S. economy, society, and politics in the years following World War II. They explore the boom in advertising during this period by reviewing print advertisements from the late 1940s and early 1950s. Students view...
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Documenting an Historic Journey
Students read and analyze journals written by Lewis and Clark. They watch and discuss a video segment, complete a graphic organizer, and write a journal entry written from the point of view of someone involved with the Lewis and Clark...
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Poetic Analysis
Students write a poetic analysis on a poem by Carl Sandburg. They take their previous knowledge of poetic devices and apply them to a piece of writing that displays their knowledge on a specific poem. They explain what they know about a...
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Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Students write a short description similar to "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," describing their own favorite food, and what kind of weather it would be in the story. they continue to observe the weather outside of our classroom.
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Let's Make a Mural
Learners social skills blossom as they work together on this mural-making activity. In this early childhood visual arts lesson, students develop creative-thinking, fine-motor, language, and social skills as they work together to plan,...
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Hero Research
Students examine and research the idea of heroism. They watch and discuss a Powerpoint presentation, conduct research, and write a research paper about the qualities and characteristics of a hero.
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Sporting Tolerance
Students investigate African-American baseball players from the early 20th century. They read an article, answer discussion questions, write a journal entry, and create a poster-size baseball card for an athlete.
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Hoboes on Harvest
Young scholars study the role Oklahoma's wheat fields played in the history of labor movements in the US. They write imaginary letters describing their experiences on a wheat harvest. They research on the internet or in encyclopedias to...
National First Ladies' Library
We're off to see the Wizard!
Students explore the process of play and movie making from books. They study the basic elements of drama and write and produce a play based on a chosen theme. Students explain the basic elements of a play by looking at "The Wonderful...
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Historical Heroes
High schoolers determine whether the ends truly justify the means by examining the behavior of historical and fictional heroes. They view and discuss film versions of Gangs of New York and Les Miserables. Then they break into small...
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What Can the Wind Blow?
Students observe math and science concepts no matter which way the wind blows. In this early childhood problem solving lesson, students will develop science, math, and observation skills as they learn about the wind.
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The Postbellum Period and Freemen
Students become familiar with the ways slaves reacted to educating themselves. In this postbellum and freeman instructional activity, students complete readings from chapters in the book Up From Slavery. Students write about the...