National Geographic
Measuring Elevation Past and Present
After viewing a short video about a climb up Mount Everest, high schoolers read about triangulation for measuring distant elevations. Have your class work in groups to construct an inclinometer and then use it to measure the height of...
K12 Reader
Colonization: for Gold, God, and Glory
Colonization, cartography, and circumnavigation. After reading a short article about early explorations, kids use the information provided to answer a series of comprehension questions.
National Geographic
Altitude: What's in the Air?
Introuduce your scientists to the differences in air at varying altitudes with a colorful explanatory graph. After some discussion, they view unbelievable footage of mountain-climbing Leo Houlding and a narrative about how he might do...
Curated OER
A Fiedl Study of an Integral Species
Young scholars compile baseline population information on a local species. They design and conduct a scientific investigation of a local species. Students interpret, analyze and communicate results based on sound scientific and...
Curated OER
Key Figures of the 1899 Harriman Alaska Expedition
Pupils gain general knowledge of the goals, route, participants, and significance of the 1899 Harriman Expedition. They link names of glaciers, fiords, mountains, flora and fauna with names of the 1899 Harriman Expedition participants. ...
Curated OER
Leif Erikson Day
Leif Erikson Day lessons breathe life into social studies classroom explorations.
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
Heading West
Students study the concept of the westward expansion. In this exploration of the western U.S. lesson, students participate in different activities that explain economic hardships, jobs, and land opportunities. Students describe...
Curated OER
Make Me an Offer
First graders examine the significance of the Louisiana Purchase and the journey of Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery. They become familiar with the features of the Keelboat Nickel reverse and identify trade goods used by Lewis and...
Curated OER
Hernando De Soto's Trip Through South Carolina
Fourth graders become familiar with the explorations of Hernando DeSoto. For this DeSoto lesson, 4th graders recognize the routes and territories of DeSoto's explorations. Students use primary and secondary sources and research to answer...
Curated OER
Prisoners in Another War
Learners examine the role of the Geneva Convention. In this world history instructional activity, students investigate primary sources that prompt them to consider the evolution of the Geneva Convention.
Curated OER
Native American Music: Call-and-Response
Students are introduced to call-and-response form of Native American song and dance. They identify and describe a call-and-response form as used in "0 Hal'Lwe."
Male students will perform "0 Hal'Lwe" in call-and-response style with drum...
Curated OER
Mountain Men
Students explore sites that have information about mountain men who helped developed the old West and explore their lives, adventures, and fur trading.
Curated OER
We're Going on a Bison Hunt
Students examine significance of Louisiana Purchase and the journey of Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery, and compose journal entry to demonstrate their knowledge of the use of the American bison as a resource to both the Corps and...
Curated OER
See Our Collection
First graders classify plants and animals based on their characteristics using examples from the westward journey of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery.
Curated OER
The Founding of Los Angeles, California
Seventh graders examine the social and cultural impact of settler groups in California and the origins of the founding of Los Angeles, California. They read and discuss an informational handout, and discuss what it is and was like to...
Curated OER
Sacagawea And the Lemhi Shoshoni: Contribution To the Lewis And Clark Expedition
Students dentify the period of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the life of Sacagawea on a timeline that demonstrates the chronology of important events in American History.
Curated OER
Cabeza de Vaca Meets the Coahuiltecans
Seventh graders examine Cabeza de Vaca's journal and differentiate between primary and secondary sources. They, in groups, design posters that portray the culture of the Coahuiltecan Indians in Texas during the 16th century.
Curated OER
Nebraska: Using Pictures
Students create a scrapbook about Nebraska history focusing on Post Office murals. They choose their favorite murals and write a story to go along with the mural. In groups, students present their murals to the class and visit the...
Curated OER
Which Side Is Which?
Students study the Louisiana Purchase and the journey of Lewis and Clark. They examine the Peace Medal nickel to differentiate between the heads side and tails side. They participate in a coin flip activity, graph the results and analyze...
Other
Vermont Historical Society
This site allows you to view exhibits from the Vermont Historical Museum collection. Click on 'Virtual vhs' for a list of their online exhibitions. The teaching resources section includes a collection of whiteboard lessons for Promethean...
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Explorer, Meriwether Lewis Was Born Aug. 18, 1774
A brief look at the life of American explorer, Meriwether Lewis. Provides a historical map of the Oregon Territory, a portrait of Lewis, and a photograph from Little Belt Mountain.
British Library
British Library:northwest Passage: Early Approaches, a Historical Account
Read about the early attempts to find a way through the Northwest Passage. Included are portraits and early maps of the explorers.
Curated OER
Etc: Maps Etc: Westward March of the Great Pioneers and Explorers, 1911
A map of the United States showing the historic sea and land routes taken by famous explorers across North America, from the coastal explorations of Cabot and Corte Real in the Northeast, Ponce de Leon and Alvarez in Florida and the Gulf...