Curated OER
The Great Depression: An Oral History
Students examine the hardships experienced during the Great Depression through an oral history interview with person who lived through the event. Students transcribe their interviews and discover the contributions oral history can make...
Curated OER
Andrew Jackson and the Formation of Political Parties
Eighth graders explore the political election process. They identify how the system changed during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. Students use analogies and discussion, and answering questions to explore Jackson and his cabinet. ...
Curated OER
Rallying to the Cause
Students study the role of volunteering during the Civil War, the Reconstruction, and today. In this volunteerism lesson, students work with a partner to read biographies of volunteers while looking for their Core Democratic Values. They...
Curated OER
Learning to give: freedom songs
Students learn freedom songs and discuss how the famous leaders of the Civil Rights Movement used them to motivate people to overcome adversity during this time. In this freedom songs lesson, students learn the songs and discuss their...
Curated OER
Clam Anatomy
Middle schoolers are introduced to the anatomy of the inside and outside of a clam before dissecting the animal. During the dissection, they label and identify the function of each part they see including the outside of the clam. They...
Facing History and Ourselves
Literature Circles: Preparing for Literature Circles through a Fishbowl Discussion
Students examine the attributes of productive conversations. In this fishbowl discussion lesson, students observe a modeled discussion of a literature circle. Students watch a discussion of "The Bear That Wasn't" and note how individuals...
Curated OER
The Philadelphia Convention/Constitutional Convention
Eleventh graders explore the major points covered during the Philadelphia Convention/Constitutional Convention. They discuss the Federalists and the Anti federalists. They discuss the Bill of Rights and the drafting of the Constitution....
Curated OER
Predator-Prey Relationships
Learners explore the interrelatedness of predators and prey in four different activities. They simulate an aquatic insect, fish, and osprey food chain during a poker chip game, play an M&M game to simulate the relationship between...
Curated OER
The Middle Passage
Young scholars examine historical documents and the role they played in history. They read excerpts from the book The Middle Passage by Olaudah Equiano to receive a first-hand description of the difficulties during the middle passage and...
Curated OER
Jim Crow Laws and The American South
Learners explore how Jim Crow laws affected the lives of people living in the south during pre and post-Civil Rights. Using a various research methods, students research various aspects of the Jim Crow south and complete a graphic...
National First Ladies' Library
So! You Want to Start Your Own Political Party?
Young scholars examine the emergence of third parties in American politics during the first half of the 19th century. Working in groups, they research a Third Party and determine why the party was founded as well as who were instrumental...
Curated OER
News Interviews of Historical Figures During the Indian Wars
Pupils examine the lives of important historical figures. Using primary source documents, they develop a list of questions to ask the figure if they were still alive. In groups, they discover information about the other historical...
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Main Idea and Supporting Details
High schoolers identify main idea and supporting details from a short reading selection using a two-column note taking process. In this literacy lesson, students work in groups of three to four, then compare their papers with the other...
Curated OER
Introduction to the Circulatory System
Fifth graders are introduced to the human circulatory system. After watching a Bill Nye video, they identify any misconceptions they had before watching it. They practice taking guided notes and discuss the video as a whole.
Curated OER
Political Reform in the Late 1800s
Eleventh graders examine the type of political reform in the 1800s. In groups, they analyze the Pendleton Civil Service Act and two other economic acts. To end the lesson, they take a quiz and discuss the impact of the acts on the...
Curated OER
Seventh Grade Geography Research Paper Project
Seventh graders work on a cross curricular project in both geography and writing classes. Students conduct research on Latin America using both non print and print sources and follow the MLA form of research. Students turn in source and...
Curated OER
The Internment of Ukrainians in Canada
Young scholars examine the condition of Ukrainian internment in Canada during World War I. In this World War I lesson, students research selected Internet sources to compare and contrast the internment of Ukrainians in Canada during...
Curated OER
Puberty
Students track body changes during puberty by close observation and accurate record keeping. They keeping a growth diary for self-observation and reflection. Artifacts include a personal essay and a notebook.
Curated OER
I Am Seventeen Going On ?
Students explore the differences between going through adolescence in New York City in 1980 and today by reading and discussing the article, "When He Was Seventeen." They write a script for a podcast about the teen/parent relationship...
Curated OER
Minding Your Manners
Students practice basic social etiquette skills. They view a video, write a thank you note with an addressed envelope, eat a dinner and simulate introductions and phone conversations. They identify accepted manners and demonstrate them.
Curated OER
Party Like It's 1992 or '84 or '76 or '68!
Students explore, analyze and study how political party platforms have changed over time. They create a party platform time line by researching Republican and Democratic Party stances on various issues during the last few decades.
Curated OER
Get to Know Snow!
Students learn about snow. In this snow themed instructional activity, students read a book, make a painting, and observe snow. A math activity timing how long it takes for snow to melt is included.
Curated OER
Youth Groups
Students explore the impact and effects of race identity during adolescence by discussing their perceptions of race and by conducting an obersavation-based study of the ways in which students choose to group themselves in their school.
Curated OER
To Go Where No Student Has Gone Before
Eighth graders participate in interactive video teleconference with employees of NASA Johnson Space Center. Students visit inside of space station module, take video tour of Russian-built Service Module by Astronaut Bill Shepherd, visit...