Curated OER
The Civil War Era
Fifth graders explore both the causes of and the actual events of the Civil War. They write essays and descriptive paragraphs and explore a variety of websites. They create a series of skits highlighting the key points of the Civil War era.
Curated OER
Reforms of the Mid-1800's
Seventh graders complete a unit of lessons on the reform movements of the mid-1800's in the U.S. They participate in an Internet scavenger hunt, analyze primary source documents, and develop and perform a simulation of a mid-19th century...
Curated OER
Lena Horne: Race and the American Artist
Young scholars examine how race played a critical role in Lena Horne's life. They conduct Internet research, participate in a class debate, write a letter, and create a presentation based on their Internet research.
Curated OER
Why Is North Korea Going At It Alone?
Learners examine the division of North and South Korea. They identify the ideological differences and the tensions between the two countries. They discuss the threat of nuclear weapons as well.
Curated OER
Writing Up a Spanish Storm: Using Creative Thinking for Creative Writing
Students in a Spanish class are introduced to the techniques of creative writing. In groups, they focus on the pre-writing section of creative writing and keep a folder of their works throughout the lesson. They end the lessons by...
Curated OER
Sectionalism and the Kansas-Nebraska Act
Students define and discuss sectionalism and popular sovereignty, analyze impact of popular sovereignty in creation of state of Kansas, compare issues in territorial Kansas to current politically divisive topic, and evaluate primary...
Curated OER
History in Wax
Students surf the internet for information and important pictures on the person of their choice. They will cut and paste them in to a power point presentation and present them to the class. The student then dresses up like the person...
Curated OER
World War I: War in a Democratic Society
Students research opposition and support for World War I from a number of perspectives. They analyze a number of primary and secondary sources, while considering what (if anything) makes a war just and write a letter expressing his/her...
Curated OER
Activism and Social Reform in America from 1800-1850
Learners discuss idea of social status, examine antebellum social reform movements, and compare and contrast experiences of activists who sought to improve workers' lives, end slavery, reform immigration laws, and establish voting rights...
Curated OER
Mentors
Students are able to identify possible mentors. They are able to write a mentor contact letter and send it to the identified possible mentors. Students are able to acquire a project mentor, and establish an initial meeting with mentor.
Curated OER
Freedom, Rights, and Responsibilities
Students look at the primary sources that emerged from the Exodus (the Ten Commandments) and the War of Independence (the Declaration of Independence) and examine how each attempts to construct a free society and a definition of freedom....
Curated OER
Medieval News
Fourth graders engage in a instructional activity constructed in order to dissect the parts of a story used by the news media in order to communicate to the public. They use the media in order to help obtain information. Students create...
Curated OER
Terminating the War between the Allies and Japan
Ninth graders examine the arms race that took place in the period leading up to and during World War II that produced the atomic bomb. They analyze differing perspectives on terminating the war between the Allies and Japan. They ...
Curated OER
The Political Dr. Seuss
High schoolers discuss the role political cartoons have played in U.S. politics and public affairs since the 1700's. They analyze some of the political cartoons Dr. Seuss drew during World War II and discuss how these cartoons conveyed...
Curated OER
Orienteering
Students acquaint with co-participants and identify the practice basic compass functions and orienteering procedures. They also work together to solve a small challenge. Students then identify how the challenge of orienteering relates...
Curated OER
Happy Endings: The Final Battle
Fifth graders explore all the myths of the battle of Yorktown. A variety of primary documents are viewed and analyzed for discussion. They become aware that what one sees and hears is not always as it seems in reality. Each group...
Curated OER
Holocaust
Seventh graders explore the geography of Eastern and Western Europe. They compare and constrast the culture of Jewish people from Eastern and Western Europe. They analyze deportation and confinement in concentration camps, using personal...
Curated OER
The Man, The Dream
Students discuss how one person's life can affect a community . In this Martin Luther King Jr. lesson plan, students read about Dr. King's life and contributions. They formulate ideas about how they can meet the needs of their own...
Curated OER
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Suffragist
Students examine one woman's impact on a nation. In this suffragette instructional activity, students are introduced to Elizabeth Cady Stanton and examine her involvement in both the anti-slavery and woman's movement. Students compare...
Curated OER
How the Court Became Supreme
Students investigate how the Supreme Court changed under the leadership of John Marshall. In this Supreme Court lesson, students recognize the role of the Supreme Court as well as the significance of Marbury v. Madison. Students also...
Curated OER
Harriet Tubman
Young scholars investigate Harriet Tubman. In this African-American lesson plan, students read the book A Picture Book of Harriet Tubman and discuss how she was a conductor of the Underground Railroad. Young scholars identify the...
Curated OER
World War II
Fifth graders examine primary sources to explore the events leading to World War II. In this World War II instructional activity, 5th graders develop questions and research answers from information found in primary documents. Students...
Stanford University
Pullman Strike
Learners explore the Pullman Strike. In this U.S. history lesson, students view a PowerPoint about the Pullman Strike of 1894. Learners discuss how this strike divided our nation. Students work with a group to analyze a newspaper...
Curated OER
The Alphabet Game
Students participate in a game that promotes group unity while spelling words with letter cards. For this teamwork lesson, students have to work together to win the game, but may find it hard to do so without making a lot of noise. ...