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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Harriet Jacobs and Elizabeth Keckly: The Material and Emotional Realities of Childhood in Slavery

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Young historians learn how to make generalizations based on primary sources in a lesson that uses the autobiographies of two women born into slavery. The class watches a historical re-enactment of scenes from the lives of Harriet Jacobs...
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Unit Plan
C3 Teachers

Emancipation: Does It Matter Who Freed the Slaves?

For Teachers 11th
Scholars generally agree on the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. This inquiry-based lesson asks high schoolers to consider more than the claims of who freed the enslaved people but the significance of the issues...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Abigail and John in Love

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The second lesson in the series asks groups to analyze an exchange of love letters between Abigail and John Adams. Scholars identify the many allusions and references in the letters and consider what they can infer about the writers.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fire Fight

For Teachers 9th - 12th
While somewhat dated (high schoolers write letters to President George W. Bush about the Iraq War), this instructional activity could be a good way to reinforce rhetorical reading and critical thinking. Students examine information...
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Worksheet
Reading Through History

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

For Students 8th - 12th Standards
Why was the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 so important? The reading in the resource discusses how the act affected Southerners, Northerners, and the slaves themselves. Scholars complete the reading as a form of direct instruction while...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Geography Application: The Cuban Missile Crisis

For Students 8th
A complete activity! The class reads the provided text, then answers the 7 critical-thinking questions. Topics covered are interpreting informational text, reading comprehension, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and US Policy. 
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Writing a Book Review

For Students 1st - 2nd Standards
Introduce literary analysis, writing skills, and purposeful reading with a book review. Pupils answer five questions that ask about plot, characters, language used, story elements, and the main character. This is a wonderful way to start...
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Lesson Plan
Carnegie Mellon University

Debate

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Set your environmental studies class up to debate a current topic regarding your choice of six suggested statements about energy use in the United States. Teams read material that you have gathered and then form their arguments. The...
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Lesson Plan
Institute for the Professional Development of Adult Educators

Using Context Clues with Signal Words

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed Standards
When you come across an unfamiliar word in a text, do you skip it and move on? Practice using context clues to identify words you don't know with a thorough set of language arts lessons. The resource reinforces close reading and critical...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson: Ginger Brooks Takahashi: Powerstich: A Forum for Community-Building

For Teachers 9th - 12th
This is a great way to build community in your school, experience process-based art, and explore the critical-thinking process. While quilting as a class collectively (just like a quilting bee) pupils listen to poetry and prose of a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Immigration Debates in the Era of "Open Gates"

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Young social historians examine immigration debates of the early 20th century through primary sources, such as political cartoons. They analyze the material, discuss their findings, and complete a critical thinking worksheet. All...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

How were European nations capable of dominating the African contintnt?

For Students 7th - 9th
Help your class determine why European was able to dominate the African continent. They read 5 excerpts, each related to a reason why Europe colonized Africa. Then they answer 4 critical-thinking questions.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Primary Source Activity: Jose Marti

For Students 8th
Analyze a primary source document "Our America" which depicts a Spanish-American point of view. The class answers 3 critical-thinking questions based on the reading and create a time line of Cuba's struggle for independence. 
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Do You Prefer Your Children's Book Characters Obedient or Contrary? Opinion Writing

For Students 9th - 12th
With this New York Times "Learning Network" exercise, high schoolers read an article about the death of Maurice Sendak, author of Where the Wild Things Are and then respond to several prompts that require them to shape their own opinions...
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Lesson Plan
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Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Life Vest Challenge

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
After reading about the history and science of personal floatation devices, patents, and intellectual property, engineering teams design a life vest for a can of soup. To evaluate which groups considered the need for waterproofing, hold...
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Lesson Plan
Prestwick House

"Because I could not stop for Death" -- Visualizing Meaning and Tone

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Emily Dickinson's "Because I could not stop for Death" provides high schoolers with an opportunity to practice their critical thinking skills. They examine the images, diction, rhythm, and rhyme scheme the poet uses and consider how...
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Worksheet
Yummy Math

Sweethearts Candy

For Students 5th - 8th Standards
Sweethearts® candies are a beloved Valentine's Day treat—so much so that eight billion hearts are produced every year around the world! Learners use number sense reasoning and critical thinking to solve nine word problems about the...
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Website
University of North Carolina

Argument

For Students 9th - Higher Ed Standards
What elements make up a successful argument? A helpful resource describes aspects of an argument such as the claim, evidence, counterargument, and audience. Perfect as an individual assignment for a flipped lesson or collaborative work,...
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Lesson Plan
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US House of Representatives

Traditionalist, Feminist, and the New Face of Women in Congress, 1955–1976

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
As part of a study of women in Congress, class members read the contextual essay, "A Changing of the Guard; Traditionalist, Feminist, and the New Face of Women in Congress, 1955–1976." Groups then research a woman serving during this...
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Lesson Plan
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US House of Representatives

Recent Trends Among Women in Congress, 1977–2006

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
After reading the contextual essay, "Assembling, Amplifying, and Ascending: Recent Trends Among Women in Congress 1977–2006," groups select a female senator or representative and research her background and contributions.
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Activity
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Council for Economic Education

Out of Africa: Why Early Humans Settled around the World

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Why would someone want to leave home? The age-old question is at the center of a thought-provoking activity. Scholars consider why humans move around the world both during pre-historical times and today using a PowerPoint, reading on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Voting Game

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Upper graders play the voting game to help them understand voting patterns, political movements, and build a content specific vocabulary. Each student creats a chart to determine if his or her political view veers liberal or...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Question of Faith?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Should organized prayer be prohibited at high school sporting events? Students explore their own feelings about prayer in school-sponsored events, before discussing the recent Supreme Court decision banning public prayer at high school...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How are People Portrayed by Different Media?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Your 9th - 12th graders can hone their analysis and critical thinking skills by studying the way a subject is portrayed across media types. They examine how various print, visual, and online sources have portrayed key players in the 9/11...

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