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Lesson Plan
National Council of Teachers of English

Timelines and Texts: Motivating Students to Read Nonfiction

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
With the emphasis on incorporating more nonfiction in language arts classes the question arises about how to design activities that motivate kids to engage with informational text. How about an assignment that asks class members to...
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Lesson Plan
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NPR

Chinese American Women Lesson Plan

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
The National Women's History Museum provides a plan designed to accompany their online CyberExhibit, Chinese American Women; a History of Resilience and Resistance. After examining a series of primary and secondary source documents,...
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Lesson Plan
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Smithsonian Institution

Targeted at Home: Islamophobia

For Teachers 8th - 11th Standards
September 11th was a terrible tragedy with long-reaching consequences. Scholars learn about the Islamophobia that occurred to many Muslim Americans following the 9/11 attacks. The resource provides videos, articles, and interviews to...
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Activity
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Council for Economic Education

Business in the Middle Ages: Working in a Guild

For Students 5th - 8th Standards
Long before modern labor unions, guilds worked to ensure that workers had a fair wage. But, in medieval Europe, they also cooperated with the government. Using a simulation and primary source analysis, young scholars become hatters in...
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Lesson Plan
News Literacy Project

Democracy’s Watchdog

For Teachers 7th - Higher Ed Standards
As part of a study of the importance of the First Amendment, expert groups research different historic case studies of investigative reporting, and then the experts share their findings with jigsaw groups. The case studies include Nellie...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Collaborative Works of Rodgers and Hammerstein: Show Business

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the work of Rodgers and Hammerstein in an historical context of the development of American musical theatre as an art form. Students explore "roots" of the genre as it evolves in last half of the 19th and first two decades...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

'Song of the South' a racist tune?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read the information about the movie "Song of the South" and watch some of the clips. They write their reaction to the proposal to re-release the movie. Students consider whether it would matter if the studio adds an...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Surreal Deal

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine the art-historical contexts used by Salvador Dali and identify examples of them. They explore surrealism by playing the game Exquisite Corpse, automatic writing or drawing, and dream illustration. They tour the Dali Museum.
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Unit Plan
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The Progressive Era: Muckrakers

For Teachers 10th - 12th Standards
Using Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, guide your class in the process of identifying unknown terms using context clues and formulating text-based answers. The lesson plan includes a useful worksheet incorporating scaffolding questions on an...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating Context: The Printing Press as Impetus

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders examine the invention of the Gutenberg printing press and its effect on society. In groups, they research how much the press enabled various revolutions around the globe. They also identify the causes and effects of each...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Exploring 9/11 in Historical, Cultural and International Context: Why Here, Why Us, Why Now?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the international conflicts that might have caused the terrorist attacks of 9/11. In groups, they research the similarities and differences between the three major religions and how they connect to 9/11. To end...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Civil War: On the Homefront

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the role of Indiana soldiers in the Civil War. In this American Civil War lesson, 8th graders listen to a lecture about the involvement of Indiana soldiers in the war and then analyze letters written home by the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Hoosier Perspective on the March to the Sea: The Diary of William Miller

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders take a closer look at Sherman's March to the Sea. In this American Civil War lesson plan, 8th graders analyze the diary entries of William Miller. Discussion questions are included with the entries. Students create...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War Reader's Theater Lesson Plan

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students participate in a reader's theater about the Civil War. In this performing arts lesson, students review the Civil War through a reader's theater. They practice reading their parts to work on expression and fluidity before...
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Lesson Plan
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Museum of the Moving Image

AdMaker, Nixon vs. Humphrey, “Convention” (1968)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
After viewing the infamous 1968 Presidential campaign ad, "Convention," groups use AdMaker to create their own 30 second ad that features Richard Nixon rather than Hubert Humphrey.
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Close Reading: The Introduction to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

For Teachers 5th Standards
As part of a group of lessons, your class will return to the primary text for this unit, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Key vocabulary as well as close reading strategies continue to be the focus skills; however, this lesson...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Close Reading: Unpacking Specific Articles of the UDHR

For Teachers 5th Standards
Lesson 6 of this extensive unit finally has your class begin to work their way through specific articles from the text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Before examining the rights actually detailed in the document,...
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Lesson Plan
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation

Making a Patriot Inquiry: Are Independence, Freedom, and Liberty the Same Thing?

For Students 5th - 12th Standards
As part of a study of the American Revolution, class members engage in an inquiry-based lesson that has them watch a scene from the play Slave Spy, examine multiple primary source documents, and then discuss the similarities and...
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

The Scarlet Letter and Transcendentalism

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Enhance your unit on The Scarlet Letter with a thorough and applicable lesson. Learners use the anchor text in this unit plan that asks them to consider the Transcendental concepts intertwined within Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic tale.
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Activity
Orlando Shakes

The Best of Enemies

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
History comes to life with the play The Best of Enemie. Scholars learn literary elements as well explore racial issues in American history. The play is based on a true story and addresses the universal truth that people are capable of...
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

Speeches on the Not-So-Big Screen

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine American speeches. In this interdisciplinary lesson, students explore the emotional context of historical periods as they analyze "The Gettysburg Address" and "I Will Fight No More Forever" speeches.
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Lesson Plan
Stanford University

Korean War

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners study the cause of the Korean War. In this World history instructional activity, Students read excerpts from two different textbooks, one from South Korea, and one from North Korea. They discuss how the cause of the war differs...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Emancipation Proclamation

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students analyze key components of a portrait and relate the elements to the historical context. In this lesson students evaluate the "Emancipation Proclamation" and it's significance.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life on the Trails

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore U.S. Geography by completing a worksheet. In this west coast geography activity, 4th graders discuss the Santa Fe and Oregon-California trails and the people who traveled them in the 1800's. Students define...