TPS Journal
Sourcing a Document: The First Thanksgiving
How reliable is a painting of the first Thanksgiving if it was created 300 years after the fact? Learners assess the validity of a primary source image to determine what it can actually reveal about this event.
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Mystery Strategy for Elementary Students
Learners of all ages solve historical mysteries. Elementary learners research historical topics by organizing information presented by their instructor, formulating hypotheses, and considering solutions to mysteries presented about...
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Exploring the Hudson in 1609
Learners follow the journey of Henry Hudson down the river with his name. Using journal entries and maps, they learn about its exploration. They use maps to identify stages of the journey, and practice converting distances into miles.
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Wow! You're Eating Geography
Middle schoolers examine patterns of food producing areas, and identify foods that are grown locally, in the U.S., and around the world. They map and graph the major food crops of their local area, the U.S., and other countries, and...
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Where is Everybody?
Middle schoolers collect data from different grade levels at their school and develop thematic maps which show population density, and determine how this might affect the school and themselves in the future.
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Three Gorges Dam: Will China Sink or Swim?
Seventh graders study the Three Gorges Dam, which is the largest dam built in the world. They examine how the dam impacts China as it prepares for the 21st century.
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America Grows - Trailblazers Pave the Way
Learners study the time period after the Revolutionary War when people were striving to move away from the coastal areas and look for pathways to the west. Westerward expansion is a central theme and students use a variety of resources...
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Trembling, Spewing Earth: Impacts on Human Activity
Seventh graders study to identify patterns in earthquake activity and impacts on human behavior. They also develop plans to cope with such natural disasters.
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A Different Point of View
Fourth graders imagine what North Carolina looks like from the air. Looking at a map, they list the different kinds of views we might find, (i.e., beach, mountains, cities, farms, etc.) then attempt to draw their own version of a map.
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Philanthropic Literature: Quilt to Freedom
A reading of Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson launches this study of slavery, freedom, and the Underground Railroad. After a discussion of the importance of showing respect for others and of helping each other in...
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Documenting Texas Women’s History through Photographs
Students explore women’s history. In this women’s studies lesson, students will examine seven photographs that depict prominent female figures from Texas’s history. Students will engage in a discussion of the photographs as a mode of...
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Making Lewis and Clark's Journals Come Alive
Students are presented daily excerpts from Lewis and Clark's experiences. The dates and activities are tracked on a classroom map.
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Radio Program #2: Ethnic Mix
Students examine patterns of migration into the area. They complete various map activities and interviews. Students partake in family histories as well. On a map of Europe, identify the countries of immigrant origin mentioned in the...
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Indian Women in Texas History
Fourth graders study Indian women in Texas. In this US history instructional activity, 4th graders discuss what each Indian woman's contribution was by completing a timeline and table. Students examine the Caddo Women's pottery tradition...
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Geography With Dr. Seuss
Students read the book, The King's Stilts by Dr. Seuss and discuss the geographical information given in the book. Then they discuss and locate on a map the physical features that make up the continent of Africa. They create an original...
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Map Coordinate Bingo
Students play a bingo-type game to locate cities by coordinates. They explain the use of orientation on a map and identify cities in the western hemisphere. They compare road maps, shutttle images, and a CIR image and obtain an...
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The Nez Perce War
A lesson which combines the skills of notetaking with a history of the Nez Perce War against the United States Cavalry is here for you. Learners take notes while their instructor lectures them on the information. A quiz is given as a...
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Puerto Rico: The 51st State?
Learners research the history of Puerto Rico, its culture, and geography. In this Puerto Rico lesson, students find Puerto Rico on a map and find specific regions or cities. Learners discuss Puerto Rico's statehood and listen to salsa...
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Sybil Ludington's Ride - a poem
Fourth graders examine the role a teen from the Hudson Valley played in the American Revolution. They view the map of Sybil's ride and calculate the distance using the map's legend.
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Exploring National Flags
Sixth graders examine the importance of flags throughout the world. Examining different countries, they determine the geographical and historical contributions in the past and modern times. They compare and contrast the flags of five...
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The African Slave Trade: From West Africa to South Carolina and Beyond
Eighth graders explore the African slave trade. They identify the principal figures practicing the African slave trades at three locations. Students draw the physical routes of the slave trade on a map and they list the reasons for the...
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A "Boring" Lesson in Geography
Young geographers will enjoy this entertaining lesson on maps. You choose ten of the unusual town names that your students found and provide activities that challenge your charges to apply their newfound geography skills. A worthwhile...
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Freed Slaves
Students are given the identify of a newly freed slave at the end of the Civil War. Students participate in a discussion to explore some of the difficulties and decision making freed slaves had to consider. Students present their...
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March First Independence Movement
Learners study the pro-independence movement of 1919 in Korea. For this Korean history lesson, students investigate the implications of Japanese occupation of Korea and create posters that feature the essence of the Korean...