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Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day?
"Columbus Day"? Indigenous Peoples' Day"? "Native Americans' Day"? The controversy over what to call the federal holiday celebrated on the second Monday in October is the focus of a lesson that asks high schoolers to consider various...
Curated OER
Life in Ancient Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
Students study the ancient African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. They brainstorm what they know about ancient African kingdoms before investigating the trade and barter situations, and researching one of the kingdoms for an oral...
Curated OER
Exploring a New World
Fifth graders create a PowerPoint presentation about Christopher Columbus. The integration of technology helps them to be engaged in the subject matter. The basis for the information in the presentation is for students to answer some...
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Exploring the Hudson in 1609
While this lesson focuses on a study of the Hudson River, it could be used as a template for a discussion of map skills, converting measurements, and plotting a route. The lesson includes vocabulary and other resources to make it a...
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Rollin' Down the River
Students examine the contributions of Lewis and Clark. In this Louisiana Purchase lesson, students research Internet and print sources regarding the Lewis and Clark expedition.
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Hernando De Soto's Trip Through South Carolina
Fourth graders become familiar with the explorations of Hernando DeSoto. In this DeSoto lesson, 4th graders recognize the routes and territories of DeSoto's explorations. Students use primary and secondary sources and research to answer...
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Celebrate Sunflowers
Students skip count with sunflower seeds. In this interdisciplinary instructional activity, students discuss the history of sunflowers. Students count by 1's, 2's, and 10's with bags full of sunflower seeds.
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THE PEANUT WIZARD
Students read information about George Washington Carver and outline the information. They are given peanuts in the shell, students examine them and eat them. Students discuss the following questions: Why did George Washington Carver...
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Jackie Steals Home
Students read articles relating to Jackie Robinson's breaking of the racial barrier in professional baseball. This leads to a deeper exploration of racism in the United States. They use a variety of worksheets imbedded in this plan to...
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Powerful Potato
Third graders make food. In this agriculture activity, 3rd graders learn about the history of the potato. Students then plant potatoes, harvest them, and make french fries, potato salad or potato soup.
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Pilgrims: The First Americans
Fifth graders become familar with the pilgrims and first Thanksgiving through essays about important people of the time. In this Thanksgiving lesson, 5th graders choose an important figure from the time of the Pilgrims and write a...
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Miners of the Prairie: The Days of Shaft Mining in Northern Illinois
Students explore the life and times of a coal miner in Illinois through the analysis of primary source documents and images.
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Blessings of a Free Government: The Louisiana Purchase in 1803
Pupils may take part in a multitude of activities listed such as creating political cartoons, comparison papers, and creating a portfolio to reinforce concepts and ideas surrounding the Louisiana Purchase.
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AT HOME ON THE RANGE
The student will learn how ranchers on the western frontier helped saved the bison from extinction.Hand out student worksheets. Have students read the information about bison on Student Worksheet A before completing Student Worksheet...
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Arizona!! How the Heck Did I End Up Here???
Students research the historical background of the potato. In this potato research lesson, students cut out the important dates in potato history. Students make a timeline for the events.
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Lewis and Clark Expedition
Ninth graders examine the goals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and identify the present day cities, towns, rivers, and regions that are on the route of the expedition. They complete an online WebQuest, recreating the route of the...
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Cougar or Human: Which Needs Protection?
Pupils conduct Interned research on the cougar, listing perceptions about cougars, and facts about cougars. They view a video, take notes during the video, and organize presentations to present their findings.
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Cultural Exchange
Learners are introduced to the concept of cultural exchange and identify two examples of the concept. Individually, they research two specific examples of exchange and write about how it affected the two groups involved. They identify...
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Rain Forest Rally
Eighth graders study tropical and temperate rainforests. For this rainforest lesson students complete a lab activity using the Internet.
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Ethnographic Film: Representations of the Other in Media
Students examine how film represents different cultures. They think critically about these representations and how they affect people who are watching them.
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Science Mystery: The Vinland Map
Students research proof regarding the authenticity of the Vinland map. In this geography instructional activity, students hold a debate based on their research findings. They discuss which side won and write a short essay about their...
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Exploration
Students are engaged in a research project about the planet Saturn. The learners use research skills in books and on the internet to gather information for an imaginary trip to the planet. This lesson is highly engaging because of the...
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POWERFUL POTATO
Students will observe the growth process of a potato plant.Plant a potato in a large clay pot or gallon bucket. You may purchase seed potatoes
from a seed outlet in early spring or use a potato from home that has started to sprout. Make...
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Mapping the West
Students determine how Americans' perception of the geographical features of the West changed following the Lewis and Clark expedition. They analyze historical maps of the West.