Curated OER
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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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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Guidebook
Young scholars create a guidebook page about a plant on the school grounds. For this life and plant science lesson, students identify plants around the school, then research the plant and write a narrative about it. Young scholars...
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The Crusades
Lesson plans about the Crusades can provide a variety of suggestions for motivating and educational activities.
Curated OER
Understanding Political Cartoons
Students draw two political cartoons. They compare the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890 to the stand-off that took place at Wounded Knee in l973. They examine the role that Manifest Destiny played in the West.
Curated OER
Shedding Light on Watersheds
Students discuss what a watershed is, complete online activities showing them how to take care of a watershed, and create a model of a watershed that they experiment with to see what happens when it is disrupted by civilization.
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Social Studies: Towne Planning in Tidewater
Students discover how European values dominated colonial life. They also examine the effects of slavery in the Americas. Students compare the planning of their home town with that of colonial Williamsburg. They locate key sites such...
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World War II: Bombs and Peace
Students explore the final events and end of World War II. They examine the community impact of such events as the dropping of the dropping of atomic bombs, and President Roosevelt's death. Students prepare a presentation.
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Social Studies: Population Distribution
Students create a population distribution map of Goodland Island indicating where people live by marking the locations with dots. After reading a written description of the island, they write short paragraphs explaining and justifying...
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Map Reading in the 21st Century
Students interact with MapPoint tools to view maps of the past and the present in multiple ways. They participate in mini-lessons aimed at locating certain points of interest or famous routes taken in history.
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Know Your Watershed
Students investigate the importance and the location of their own watershed by visiting and EPA website and also work in groups to create an action plan on how to protect their local watershed.
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On a Pilgrimage
Sixth graders engage in a variety of learning experiences surrounding the study of the Middle Ages. They construct a map of Europe, create a graphic organizer for the hierarchy of feudalism, design their own family crest, and write their...
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Poetry for Home: Homelessness
Students read a poem to learn about homelessness. In this poetry lesson, students make a list of words about their home and then feelings about their home. Students read the poem 'When I Think Home' and then write their own version of...
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Green Space in the City
Students examine city parks and their importance and affect they have on the health and well being of a community. An oral report with visual aids is prepared as a group to educate the class on the importance of green space in the city.
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Interpreting Aerial Photographs
Students interpret aerial photographs. They view aerial photographs or satellite-produced images to locate and identify physical and human features. They study satellite images and label their images for bodies of water, clouds,...
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Guidebook
Young scholars create a book about plants they observe after identifying and researching them.
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Planning a Healthy City
Ninth graders create a scaled model city. They create a blueprint that provides for the economic and cultural needs of a community. They identify where essential elements of the city should be located and explain the rationale for the...
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the Not Forgotten - Sharing History & Archaeology
Learners create a catalog of gravestones in a cemetery that includes a burial ground from the Revolutionary War. They photograph and document the grave sites, research the Battle of Bunker hill and work with community members to create...
US Geological Survey
U.s. Geological Survey: Land Use History and Changing Landscapes
This resource provides links that overview the history of land use in the United States. Numerous satellite images of different areas are provided.
PBS
Pbs: Journey to Planet Earth: Urban Explosion
From the "Journey to Planet Earth" series, PBS takes a look at the world's exploding urban population. Includes video clips and educational resources.
C3 Teachers
C3 Teachers: Inquiries: Geography, Humans, and Environment
A learning module on how humans change and shape their local environment. It includes several supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Topics covered include...
Digital History
Digital History: The South's Economy
A good look at the economy of the South prior to the Civil War. Read a good explanation of how the use of slave labor impeded technological innovation and a lack of urban development. See how transportion improvements and good public...
Curated OER
Unesco: Brazil: Historic Centre of the Town of Goias
Goias testifies to the occupation and colonization of the lands of central Brazil in the 18th and 19th centuries. The urban layout is an example of the organic development of a mining town, adapted to the conditions of the site. Although...