Curated OER
Cultural Environment during the Great Depression
Eleventh graders research American culture of the Great Depression. In this role-playing lesson, groups of students develop "talking points" for their assigned topic and condense them into a Powerpoint or Hyper Studio presentation.
Curated OER
We Can't Decide
Second graders investigate decision making skills that they can apply on a daily basis. In this decision making lesson, 2nd graders listen to a read aloud of Pinocchio and make a list of times when decisions have to be made. They access...
Curated OER
What Does It All Mean?
Students investigate the symbolism and meaning of samplers in American history. In this American history and sampler lesson, students examine pictures of original samplers and look at lists of the symbolism included in them. They connect...
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An Effort to Ban Land Mines
Students campaign against land mines. In this WorldPeace lesson, students create educational posters about land mines. Students share their posters with their classmates.
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Benjamin Franklin: Master Diplomat for One Last Time
At 81, Benjamin Franklin was the oldest delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where he exercised significant influence in shaping key elements of how the United States operates. The class examines his role, using “The Scene at...
Curated OER
Shari'ah: An Islamic Law Simulation
Consider the role that shari'ah played in the development of Muslim civilization during the Abbasid caliphate. Learners become acquainted with both the religious and scholarly basis of Islamic law to help them understand the differences...
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The Poetry of Chinese Immigration
Numerous people from China immigrated to the US during the era of industrialization and expansion. Provide your class with a glimpse into the life of a Chinese immigrant through the poetry they left behind. They then compose a poem of...
Curated OER
Who Fought for the Union?
Learners read New York Times articles, letters, and listen to songs written from a soldier's perspective during the Civil War in order to understand who was fighting in the Union Army. This is a great lesson, complete with weblinks,...
Curated OER
Call It a Hunch
Give young scholars a chance to practice making inferences after reading the book Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges. They confirm whether or not their conclusions are true, have a class discussion, and then independently complete an...
Curated OER
Social Studies: Countries and Technology
Young scholars participate in a travel simulation and have just arrived in Canada. After choosing activities to research, they define their methods of exploration and development on plan sheets. Among the scenarios from which they...
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Art and Politics
Learners analyze the work of three artists whose art work illustrates important political and social events. In this art analysis lesson, students analyze the art of Jasper Johns, Charles Moore, and Andy Warhol. Learners complete image...
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Project Based Learing: Social Responsibility
Pupils explore social responsibility. In this service learning lesson, students participate in 4 weekly activities that require them to research "communitarians", write poems about their contributions, and create works of art that...
National First Ladies' Library
Designing an Appalachian Folk Art Museum
Learners investigate the concepts related to the Appalachian area and the movement of Folk Art. They conduct research using a variety of resources and use the samples as inspiration for creating their own works of art. They could...
Curated OER
Cave Art
Students explore cave art. In this Neolithic Age lesson plan, students get into groups and research a given topic. Students create a poster with information and visual aids. Students then look a pictures and watch a DVD about...
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Opening Doors to Social Studies with Children's Literature
Third graders use the Decision Tree strategy to brainstorm ideas about two decisions that must be made. They predict what will happen in the rest of the story. Students discuss the time period the story takes place in. They study the...
Curated OER
Art and War
Students analyze the war art of Pablo Picasso. For this art analysis lesson, students define political art and explore Picasso's response to war in his art. Students complete image based discussion and two related activities.
Curated OER
Blueberries: A Native American Treasure
Youngsters study the history and uses of the blueberry. There are actually six different lessons linked into this plan! The lessons can be useful within a variety of curricular areas, and are particularly appropriate around the...
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Picturing First Families
Students complete a variety of activities as they study Washington, D.C., the Presidency, and George Washington. They take a virtual trip to Washington, D.C., and visit the National Portrait Gallery, the White House, and the Library of...
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Truth Or Consequences
High schoolers examine historical works of art and analyze how these paintings could be used for personal, cultural, and/or political purposes. This exploratory lesson on art ideology includes two handouts/worksheets for student use and...
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The Changing Experience of Colonial Childhood
High schoolers research how childhood was depicted in art in the 17th through 19th centuries. In groups, they research pieces of art and write a paper explaining how the portrayal of students in art changed at the end of the 18th century.
Curated OER
Stereotypes About Homelessness
Students re-evaluate their own views of homelessness. They discuss their views on the homeless, examine where their ideas come from, and compare their views with what others have said. They write about "iam," a homeless man they study.
Curated OER
The American Revolution: A Play
No lesson accompanies this drama about the American Revolution. With 13 speaking roles, the short script could be used for a class production, a lesson on the parts of a play, or to supplement your social studies curriculum.
Curated OER
Design a Navajo Rug -- A Lesson in Symmetry
Young scholars investigate different types of Navajo rug design. They use a graphics program to create a rug-like design similar to the Navajo patterns they've researched.
Curated OER
Healing Art: Health and Illness
Students examine African artifacts relating to health and illness