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Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Lesson Plans on the Intersection of History and Literature

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Finding out about "the story behind the story" can provide a greater understanding of literature and its historical and social context.
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Lesson Plan
NPR

The History of America’s Weed Laws

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
To understand the laws regarding marijuana use in the United States, you can go all the way back to the 1800's to learn about farming hemp, or you can go back to 2018 when California became the sixth state to legalize recreational...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Book: Latino Economics in the United States: Job Diversity

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students, after reading Chapter 1 in the book, "Latino Economics in the United States: Job Diversity," write an essay that compares the cultural as well as the historical factors (experiences with jobs, discrimination, education, etc.)...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

People on the Move

For Students 5th - 8th
Students explore transportation. In this transportation lesson, students examine the Jupiter locomotive, Washingtion D.C. streetcars, the Leviathan, the Salisbury Train Station, and Route 66. Students respond to 12 questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Island of the Blue Dolphins Jigsaw

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research three topics from the book, either Village Life, Sea Life, or San Nicholas Island. They research independently and meet in a jigsaw format to share what they learned. As group they create a poster for class...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conjunto Music from South Texas

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students listen to conjunto music and identify the instrumentation. After discussing the the history of South Texas, they examine lyrics of several songs and interpret them. As extensions, students can learn to partner dance to the...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

1920’s Questions

For Students 8th - 12th
In this 20th century history worksheet, students respond to 50 multiple choice questions about events and significant figures of 1920's America. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Legends and Myths: Trickster Tales

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students work in groups to research the characteristics of various myths and legends. They read tales, illustrate them, record oral storytelling efforts and write an original folktale. Students then invite parents to a dramatic...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Was It Like?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Pupils use the Internet to gather historical facts about the county in which they live. Using the information, they discover how to check it for accuracy and present their findings to the class. They write an essay about the history of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

California Mission Slide Show

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research the details of a California Mission. They design a slide show to present their research.
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Website
Other

Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund

For Students 9th - 10th
MALDEF offers many resources to the Mexican American community. Here anyone can learn about public policy, have access to laws regarding citizenship and equal access, and read news and events regarding the Mexican American community.
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Handout
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Ap Us History: 1865 1898: Chinese Immigrants and Mexican Americans

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the conflict with Mexican American and Chinese groups as white settlers pushed westward in the nineteenth century. Explains what brought so many Chinese immigrants to America and the roadblocks and discrimination that they had...
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Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Us History: 1865 1898: Chinese Immigrants and Mexican Americans

For Students 9th - 10th
Like Native Americans, Mexican Americans and Chinese immigrants suffered harsh consequences due to relentless westward expansion by whites in the nineteenth century.
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Handout
Countries and Their Cultures

Countries and Their Cultures: Multicultural America: Mexican Americans

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides an overview of the traditional culture and lifestyle of Mexican Americans. (Note: Content is not the most current.)
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Mexican Americans

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the terrible treatment of Mexican American citizens and immigrants during the Hoover presidency. See how they received some help with the New Deal.
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Mexican Immigrants

For Teachers 9th - 10th
As America grew and spilled into bordering lands, people found themselves living two cultures. LOC brings us a comprehensive site that traces the history of Mexican Americans and their culture.
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Lesson Plan
Stanford University

Stanford History Education Group: Mexican Labor in the 1920s [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Review historical documents of Mexican-Americans in the 1920's. Students will address what it was like to be a Mexican in America during this time considering working conditions, home life, etc.
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Immigration

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A content-rich site and Library of Congress "Featured Presentation" that looks at the immigration experiences of Americans from many backgrounds and countries. Includes lesson suggestions and resources, online immigration vocabulary...
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Website
PBS

Pbs: The New Americans

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from PBS chronicles the miniseries coming in April of 2004 entitled "The New Americans." The site documents the new American immigrants: read stories of immigrants from Argentina, China, Mexico, Hungary, Taiwan, Russia, and more.
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Mexican Immigration

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Excellent site that examines the Mexican immigrant group beginning with early settlement in New Mexico in 1598 through to present times. The history as well as the intricate multiculturalism of this immigrant group is addressed.
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Article
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Immigration in America

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is provided for by National Public Radio. There has been some time since the 9/11 tragedy when Americans were upset with immigration laws. Where is America now? How do Americans look at immigrants and the diversity they bring...
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Interviews With Today's Immigrants

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This site, part of a larger lesson plan about immigration from the Library of Congress, provides interviews that students had with immigrants from around the world.
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Article
Other

Ar Net: Hispanic Americans, an Under Represented Group

For Students 9th - 10th
An excellent description of the problems facing the involvement of Hispanic-Americans in American politics. The essay covers 1948 to 1996, with a good discussion of the civil rights era.
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Graphic
University of Oregon

Mapping History: American History

For Students 9th - 10th
Interactive and animated maps and timelines of historical events and time periods in American history from pre-European times until post-World War II.