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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Home: The Ties That Bind

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students read two novels, The Human Comedy and A Separate Peace and an autobiographical memoir, Farewell to Manzanar. They focus on the difficulties faced by the teenage protagonists in order to set up a connection between adolescence...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Patriots v. Loyalists

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Students consider how colonial citizens chose sides in the American Revolution. In this Revolutionary War lesson, students role play Loyalists, Patriots, and undecideds in a classroom simulation. Students research their positions so that...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

911 As History

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students recognize persuasive techniques, think criticaly about the messages contained in various media, and discuss controversial issues in constructive ways. They analyze the deeper messages contained in children's literature, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's In a Name?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars explore onomastics. In this baseball history lesson plan, students create their own team name and explain the name they chose. After choosing a team name young scholars support their choice with revelant reasons and be...
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

The Mythical, Magical, Middle Ages...NOT!

For Teachers 4th
Students complete worksheets and roleplay feudal simulations as they are immersed in the daily life of the Middle Ages. They study geography of Europe and the origins of European tribes. They outline and write a biographical essay and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slavery and the Legal Status of Free Blacks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine the status of free blacks in Illinois and slavery in the U.S. They read and analyze primary source documents, answer and discuss questions, participate in a group discussion, and present the group's findings to the class.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Let Me Sing A Carefree Song Once More:" Poetry of Hidden Children

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students read various poems dealing with hidden children during the Holocaust. Using the texts, they discuss the poems meaning with their classmates. They present their information to the class taking turns on who is speaking. They...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Lines in Timelines

For Teachers K - 4th
Students are introduced to the concept of sequence by creating their own personal timeline. As a class, they put the events of the last week of their lives into the correct order and determine what information should be used for their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE: COLUMBUS IN THE NEW WORLD

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study the famous explorer Christopher Columbus.  In this World History lesson plan, 8th graders analyze and compare primary and secondary sources.  Students discuss as a class the accomplishments of Columbus.   
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changes and the Individual

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners evaluate the social effects of inventions and other developments on the lives of ordinary individuals. They create a profile of an individual who might have lived at that time and whose life would have been affected by those...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Role of the Teacher

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Pupils study the role of the teacher in various cultures and societies through in-class discussions, literature investigations, and personal reflection. Lesson extensions include a "Living Portraits" activity and a "Student becomes the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slavery and the Legal Status of Free Blacks: Rhetorical Analysis of Debates During the 1847 Illinois Constitutional Convention

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders read actual arguments regarding the status of free blacks in Illinois and slavery in the United States more generally.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Elders As Resources

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students engage in a lesson that uses discussion groups for communication. The focus of the lesson is upon the respect for authority that should be given to older adults. Students engage in class discussion about the information that can...
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Lesson Plan
Read Works

Read Works: Genre 4th Grade Unit: Historical Fiction

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] A unit of instruction in which learners use the book Meet Addy: An American Girl by Connie Porter to learn about the characteristics that define historical fiction. Lesson includes direct teaching,...
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Unit Plan
Other

Paul Yee: 'Dead Man's Gold and Other Stories' Teaching Guide [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This teaching guide provided by Paul Yee for his book of short stories, "Tales from Gold Mountain", provides a summary of the book, discussion questions and classroom activities. The book explores the experiences of Chinese immigrants to...
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Unit Plan
Other

Fitzhenry and Whiteside: 'Greener Grass' Teaching Guide [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
"Greener Grass" an historical novel by Canadian author Caroline Pignat, is set in Ireland, follows a family's struggle to survive after a potato blight hits their crop and famine comes. The family has many trials along the way. This...
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Unit Plan
Other

Paul Yee: 'Breakaway' Teaching Guide [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th - 8th
This teaching guide provided by Paul Yee for his novel "Breakaway" provides a summary of the novel, discussion questions and classroom activities. The novel explores issues faced by Chinese Canadian immigrants as they deal with racism...
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Unit Plan
Other

Paul Yee: 'The Bone Collector's Boy' Teaching Guide [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th - 8th
This teaching guide provided by Paul Yee for his novel "The Bone Collector's Boy" provides a summary of the novel, discussion questions and classroom activities. The novel explores some tough issues faced by Chinese Canadian immigrants...
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Unit Plan
Other

Paul Yee: 'Ghost Train' Teaching Guide [Pdf]

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This teaching guide provided by Paul Yee for his book "Ghost Train" provides a summary of the story, discussion questions and classroom activities. The book explores the Chinese-Canadians' perspective on settling in a new country, and...
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Unit Plan
Other

Paul Yee: 'The Curses of Third Uncle' Teaching Guide [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th - 8th
This teaching guide provided by Paul Yee for his book "The Curses of Third Uncle" provides a summary of the story, discussion questions and classroom activities. The book explores the difficulties faced by early Chinese immigrants and...
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Lesson Plan
Orca Book Publishers

Orca Book Publishers: Belle of Batoche Teaching Guide [Pdf]

For Students 4th - 7th
This is a teacher's guide for the historical novel Belle of Batoche, written by Jacqueline Guest, which looks at the friendship between two girls during the 1885 Riel Rebellion. The guide includes a book summary, teaching ideas and the...
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Lesson Plan
Orca Book Publishers

Orca Book Publishers: Hero Teaching Guide [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 6th
Hero, a story written by Martha Attema, is a historical fiction novel set in Holland during World War II. It centers on a young boy's love for a horse that sustains him after he is separated from his family. The horse is later taken away...
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Handout
Other

Scholastic Canada: Dear Canada Series

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
The Dear Canada historical fiction series features well known Canadian authors writing about different times and on a variety of topics. There are short author profiles, sample teaching activities and an interactive timeline of the book...
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Lesson Plan
Orca Book Publishers

Orca Book Publishers: The Name of the Child Teaching Guide [Pdf]

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This teaching guide for The Name of the Child, written by Marilynn Reynolds and illustrated by Don Kilby, provides a synopsis of the story, discussion questions and teaching ideas. It also includes thoughts about the book from both the...