National First Ladies' Library
The Medal of Freedom: The Nation's Highest Civilian Award
Learners discover the American Medal of Freedom, also known as the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Using the internet, groups of students research the history of the award, its recipients, and its origin. Each group prepares a PowerPoint...
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Jin Soo Kim
Students examine and discuss a sculpture by the artist Jin Soo Kim. They explore and identify basic sculpture techniques, and create a sculpture using found objects, plaster, and cardboard.
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The Heritage of a Pioneer Quilt
Students discuss and view how the first quilts were made. They compare modern quilts to ones of the past. They create a quilt pattern by using math and creative thinking.
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Becoming A Local Historian
Pupils practice the art of being a historian. They compare primary and secondary resources to conduct a critical thinking assignment. Students compare the map of the Baton Rouge area to a modern one in order to make inferences about the...
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Name That Place: Cultural Place Names in the United States
Students examine the origin of the people that settled in the United States. In this United States History instructional activity, students work in small groups to complete several activities that explore early settlement, such as a...
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Through the Looking Glass
Students conduct Internet 'treasure hunts' to explore how everyday items, both in their antique and modern forms, possess historic and cultural significance.
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Shigaraki Pottery
Young scholars write position papers from the point of view of a Shigaraki art collector in this instructional activity on pottery techniques found in Japan between the Kamakura and Muromachi periods.
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Koryo Dynasty Ceramics
Learners are exposed to the Koryo Dynasty period of pottery in order to appreciate the Korean culture. They conduct research in order to find out more information in order to explain different aspects of the pottery.
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New Perspectives
Students examine maps that are designed to give different perspectives. They create mental maps that illustrate their own perspectives and those of people from other parts of the world.
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Presentation of Pilgrims
Learners are given a category to research (clothes, life before the New World, the voyage, etc.) about Pilgrim life. s Students, in groups, create presentations using software program such as PowerPoint.
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Vocabulary Building - World War I
Students study the definitions of militarism, imperialism, and nationalism, and the significant individuals involved in the world alliance system prior to 1914. They examine the events that lead to World War I.
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Orfeo: Sinfonie e Ritornelli
Students identify the dramatic expression made by performance and how it relates to the content of the story L'Orfeo. They determine the form of orchestra and each instrumental group within the orchestra for this piece.
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The Origins of Business
Learners explore the world of inventions by utilizing Google Earth. In this global geography instructional activity, students research inventions such as the ball point pen, computer, telephone and typewriter. Learners use the Google...
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Constructing a Wardrobe
Sixth graders compare and contrast storage spaces of the past and present. They examine how furniture tells us how people lived, and work in pairs to design and construct a contemporary wardrobe that fits their personal needs.
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Sustained Resistance
Eleventh graders research events that led up to the Civil Rights movement using primary source documents that show attitudes about lynching.
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Contrivances: Orchids and the Panda's Thumb
Middle schoolers read and discuss selected and edited excerpts from the essays of Stephen Jay Gould on the subject of contrivances.
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Colonial Geography: To and From Canada
Students identify the major geographic features of colonial New England. They explain the essential parts to a map and interpret journals to plot a journey. They discover the connection between geography and life.
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Photographs as an Artist's Tool
Learners learn about Eakins use of photography as a tool for painting. They apply use of photography in their own painting or drawing. They incorporate time of day, composition and positioning of human subject in their own painting or...
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The Relationship Between Zen And Haiku Aesthetics
High schoolers examine the principles of Haiku as they relate to idealss found in Zen Buddhism in this High School lesson. The lesson concludes with the creation of individual haikus by each student.
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Getting the Word Out: From Gutenberg's Press to Zines
High schoolers examine the effects of Gutenberg's printing press on the world. Using this information, they create their own Zines or internet magazines about a social issue of their choice. They share their magazine with the class for...
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Shakespeare's Words
Students explore monologues of Shakespeare and the structure of the Globe Theatre. They participate in a Shakespeare phrase guessing game, examine a diagram of the Globe Theatre, and read and discuss monologues from Shakespeare.
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The Study of the Spanish-Speaking People of Texas: Daily Life
Students analyze the different ways that photography helps historians understand the lives of people who lived in the past. They examine images from Russell Lee's photo essay and discuss how Texas' has changed from an agrarian to an...
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Research Project on the Impact of Civil War and Conflict on the Common Person
Students create character using their knowledge from one of the civil war case countries. They create resume and cover letter for character to apply to a UN agency, and conduct research to create presentation that matches the character...
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Read "El Corrido de Gregorio Cortez"Americo Paredes version
Students see examples of other types of written stories. They are introduced to the ballad in literature. Students obtain ideas for their own family story. They discuss how ballads can relate true stories through music. Students discuss...