Newseum
Breaking News: Tracing the Facts
Breaking news reports can be short of facts. Young journalists select a pair of news articles about a disaster; one published within hours of the event and the second published the following day. They examine whether facts in the report...
Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: “Making History” by Marilyn Nelson
What makes an event newsworthy, worth a reference in a news magazine or textbook? Who decides? These are questions Marilyn Nelson asks readers of her poem "Making History" to consider. To begin, class members list details they notice in...
PBS
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech as Visual Text
Young historians watch a video of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivering his "I Have a Dream" speech and answer questions that test their knowledge of the event. After discussing the fact sheet, they reread the speech, select a phrase or...
Curated OER
Call It a Hunch
Give young scholars a chance to practice making inferences after reading the book Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges. They confirm whether or not their conclusions are true, have a class discussion, and then independently complete an...
Newseum
Civil Rights: Turning Points
As part of a civil rights movement study, groups select an event from an interactive timeline that they feel marks a turning point in the struggle. After collecting evidence to support their choice, the teams develop a multimedia...
Curated OER
Major Events Leading to the American Revolution
Students explore the causes of the American Revolution. In this taxation without representation lesson plan, students analyze political cartoons in order to gain an understanding of the efforts of the colonists to resolve conflict with...
Curated OER
Animating a Historic Event
Research a historic event using textbooks, primary source documents, the Internet, and other library and media resources. Young historians will take the research they have gathered and write an attention-grabbing, historically accurate...
Curated OER
Arkansas History Lesson: Arkansans
Third graders investigate famous Arkansans and their contributions. In this Arkansas history lesson, 3rd graders are divided into small groups and use a variety of resources to research one important Arkansan. Students write a biography...
Curated OER
My Secret War: Lesson 8
Fifth graders explore American history by viewing videos on the Internet. In this Japanese internment lesson, 5th graders discuss the politics that took place between America and Japan during WWII and why it was necessary to incarcerate...
Curated OER
Hazardous Waste Events Chain
Students identify sources of hazardous wastes and their effects on the ecosystem. In this hazardous waste lesson plan, students are given a hazardous waste card and walk around to locate other links in their hazardous waste events chain....
Curated OER
Create a City: An Urban Planning Exercise
Students explore the effects of population growth in Arizona. In this history activity, students work in small groups to create a "perfect" city. Activities include examining the Arizona census results then discussing the importance of...
Facing History and Ourselves
Emmett Till: Examining the Choices People Made
The choices made by Roy Bryant and J.W. Millam, the men who murdered Emmett Till in 1955, are usually the ones people ponder when they examine the case. But other individuals made choices that contributed to the event and its subsequent...
Curated OER
Putting a Spin on Current Events
Students examine the symbolism on a 17th-century cabinet. In this symbolism instructional activity, students view samples of a 17th century cabinet and identify it's symbols. Students create their own cabinet by using various art...
Curated OER
Putting a Spin on Current Events
Students discover propaganda. In this Greek mythology lesson plan, students discuss meanings of ancient art work with their class. Students investigate the dishonesty behind propaganda.
Curated OER
Connecting International Events with Values and History
High schoolers explore international and global concerns. In this World History lesson, students discuss differences in values across the globe, then create a poster depicting their thoughts.
Curated OER
Stars and Stripes Forever: Researching Veteran's Day and Historical Events
Sixth graders research Veteran's Day and wars that affected the United States. In this research lesson plan, 6th graders work in small groups to create an oral presentation based on Internet and conventional research. They complete...
Curated OER
Esperanza Rising: Lesson 8
Sixth graders complete activities with the book Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. In this literature lesson, 6th graders read Chapter 8 of the book and discuss the chapter. They practice putting events in sequence and record new...
Curated OER
Esperanza Rising: Lesson 9
Sixth graders explore culture by reading a book with classmates. In this Hispanic history lesson, 6th graders read the story First Day in Grapes, and discuss the tough lives of migrant workers. Students answer study questions after the...
Curated OER
Spanish Culture Lesson - Cinco de Mayo
Students role play the characters and events which led to the holiday of Cinco de Mayo. In this Cinco de Mayo lesson, students dance the "La Raspa" dance. Students complete a Cinco de Mayo word search.
Curated OER
Reporting Live From an Important Event in History
In this writing worksheet, students pretend they are reporting live from any important event in history. Students write what they would say about the day and its newsworthy events.
Curated OER
Night Lesson Plan: Stereotypes and Scapegoats
Young scholars read the novel Night by Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel and complete related activities. In this novel analysis instructional activity, students prompt write and discuss the answers. Young scholars take notes on stereotypes...
Curated OER
Swahili Alphabet Lesson
Third graders learn about other cultures. In this Swahili instructional activity, 3rd graders discuss if they know any other languages, read the book Jambo Means Hello, discuss why it is important to learn about other cultures, learn a...
Curated OER
Civil War Reader's Theater Lesson Plan
Students participate in a reader's theater about the Civil War. In this performing arts instructional activity, students review the Civil War through a reader's theater. They practice reading their parts to work on expression and...
Curated OER
Breaking News English - ESL/EFL Lesson Plan - Disability
Students complete ESL/EFL reading comprehension and vocabulary building activities. In this ESL/EFL current events instructional activity, students read or listen to the article "Paralysed Man Takes Hopeful First Steps," (22nd May,...