PBS
The Media and the War: The Penny Press, Walt Whitman and the War
The Mexican-American war marked a significant moment in United States history, as well as in the history of American media. The mid-nineteenth century saw the introduction of the Penny Press, which provided many American citizens with...
New York State Education Department
Global History and Geography Examination: June 2015
Looking for a new writing prompt or primary source practice for your global history or geography class? Take a look at a helpful state standardized test for additional practice for your learners. Writing prompts include asking scholars...
College Board
2002 AP® Human Geography Free-Response Questions
Nations and states may sound like similar ideas, but these concepts have led to endless wars and conflicts. Learners explore the terms using authentic College Board materials. An additional test item delves into the influence of...
College Board
2015 AP® Macroeconomics Free-Response Questions
Currency exchange is a big factor in governments making economic decisions. Scholars consider various scenarios to evaluate how factors such as interest rates and private investments would affect a nation's economy using a practice test...
Literacy Design Collaborative
To Be or Not to Be: The Evolution of Hamlet’s Personality
How does Hamlet's state of mind change over the course of Shakespeare's most famous revenge tragedy? After a close reading of Hamlet's soliloquies in Act III, scene 1 and Act IV, scene iv, class members engage in a Paideia/Socratic...
Literacy Design Collaborative
Exploring Character Development in The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963
How did the Civil Rights Movement affect young people in the United States? Scholars read Christopher Paul Curtis' novel, The Watsons go to Birmingham - 1963. Next, they write compare and contrast essays showing how the main characters...
University of Waikato
Solid to Liquid to Gas
Help classes understand heat as a form of energy. A hands-on activity has learners investigate how heat, or the lack of heat, affects the physical state of water. They then connect their discoveries to the water cycle.
Teaching for Change
Voting Rights History Quiz
An 11-question online quiz permits young historians to check their knowledge of the history of voting rights in the United States. After reading a short introduction, individuals click through the questions that test their knowledge of...
Center for History Education
The Louisiana Purchase: Real Estate Deal of the Century?
It's about real estate! Almost overnight, Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase about doubled the size of the young United States ... but was it constitutional? Using a variety of secondary and primary sources, including Jefferson's own...
Overcoming Obstacles
Playing by the Rules
The takeaway from the "Playing by the Rules" lesson is that it is each person's responsibility to learn the rules in a given situation and that they must accept the consequences if they choose not to follow the stated rules. Class...
C3 Teachers
Economics of Slavery: How Did Cotton Sow the Seeds of Panic?
An inquiry-based lesson challenges high schoolers to research and identify the economic forces and inventions that impacted the cotton industry. Researchers consider how the use of slavery impacted the economic growth of the United States.
Curated OER
President's Day
First graders imagine that they are the President of the United States. In this history activity the students think of three rules or laws that they would create if they were President. The students listen to a book about George...
Curated OER
Famous People and Cultural Diffusion
Students use the internet to identify cultural traditions throughout the world. In groups, they examine each culture and determine the effect they had on life in the United States. They use this information to write a family history...
Curated OER
Traveling with Flat Stanley
students use the internet to gather geographical data about a state of their choice. Using new vocabulary, they describe the features present in the state, its climate and attractions. They develop a PowerPoint presentation to share...
Curated OER
Who is the President Now?
High schoolers discover the presidents of the United States using digital tools. In life skills lesson, students use PowerPoint and SMART Board technology to match presidents of the United States to their photographs.
Curated OER
Map Memory
Fifth graders, working in a whole class setting, label a United States map with the names of all the states that they know. They transfer the names of the states to an individual map and color it. Next, they receive directions on how to...
Curated OER
Northwest Ordinance
Students examine the area where the Northwest Territory was located. They discover the steps territories need to follow to become states. They create a map of the Northwest Territory and label the states that came out of that region.
Curated OER
They Were Born Where?
Students assess where the presidents of the United States were born and analyze the role of geography in determining the outcome of presidential elections. They create graphs visualizing the birth and home states of the presidents along...
Curated OER
America and Texas: Where's The Symbol?
Students explore the flags of the United States and the state of Texas. They identify the flags using PowerPoint. Students use location words to drag symbols to the correct location.
Curated OER
Facts, Fictions and Perceptions of Regions
Students examine the different characteristics of the regions of the United States. They discuss places they have visited in the U.S., and in small groups conduct research on a selected region of the U.S. Each group labels a map of...
Curated OER
The Flag
Students see the flag as a symbol. In this flag lesson, students look at the flag to see different patterns and shapes. They review the importance of the flag and its meaning to the United States.
Curated OER
The U.S. Constitution
Students explain the differences between the three branches of government. Using the structure of a democracy, they listen to text about the United States Constitution. They discover how their government affects their lives in negative...
Curated OER
Classifying Matter
Second graders conduct investigations to explore matter. In this states of matter instructional activity, 2nd graders complete four activities to analyze the three states of matter. Students analyze the properties of solids, liquids, and...
Curated OER
Government
Students evaluate how the United States government has maintained a balance between protecting rights and maintaining order. They analyze the impact of Supreme Court decisions on governmental powers and the rights and responsibilities of...