Curated OER
Plows on the Hunting Grounds: The Indian Allotment Act of 1887
Learners discuss the Indian Allotment Act. For this social studies lesson, students research a selected tribe and write a report on their selected tribe.
Teaching Tolerance
Racial Profiling
Racial Profiling. Class members chart what they know and what they want to know about this hot-button topic.
Curated OER
Debating for Land
Students research pertinent information based on historical facts and is supported by quotations from primary sources in order to prepare for a class debate about land ownership in the 19th century.
Curated OER
The Transcontinental Railroad
Students investigate the impact of the Transcontinental Railroad. In this Transcontinental Railroad lesson, students research Internet and print sources regarding the effect of the railroad on Chinese immigrants and American Indians,...
Curated OER
Western Expansion or Eastern Invasion?
Fifth graders read from their textbook a story about the pioneer settlement of the Western Frontier. They review the pioneer standpoint, but also discuss how the Homestead Act of 1862 affected Native Americans. They write another story...
Curated OER
Transcontinental Railroad
Eleventh graders explain the development of the American West following the Civil War. They also explore the Homestead Act of 1862 and the Pacific Railway Act of 1862. They also participate in a simulation about the American West.
Curated OER
JUST A MATTER OF TIME
Students recognize the dynamic changes in themselves and in agriculture that have occurred through the years. They are shown pictures of a baby or students are asked to think of their little brothers or sisters or themselves in...
DocsTeach
Reasons for Westward Expansion
"Go West, young man!" is a familiar refrain in American history. But why did people leave their homes in the East to travel westward and what impact did that movement have on people already living in the American West? By examining...
Penguin Books
A Teacher's Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Willa Cather's My Ántonia
Willa Cather's My Antonia might seem like a hard sell for today's teen readers. Rather than dramatic plot twists, trysts, and terrors, the novel celebrates the pioneer spirit that lead immigrants to a small Nebraska town. The Signet...
Curated OER
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HOMESTEADERS
Middle schoolers analyze the factors that inhibited and fostered African American attempts to improve their lives during Reconstruction, the role of class, race, gender, and religion in western communities, and the challenges diverse...
Curated OER
Force & Acceleration
Students investigate the effects of weights on the motion of a toy car. In this force and acceleration lesson plan, students use different weights, a toy car, a paper clip and string to determine how a car will move as different weights...
Curated OER
Keys' Desert Queen Ranch
Students complete a variety of activities that go along with the study of and possible field trip to Keys' Desert Queen Ranch in Joshua Tree National Park, east of Los Angeles.
Curated OER
Games Children Play
Help your middle schoolers recognize the similarities and differences between the games they play and those played by pioneer children. Using the Internet, they research a game of their choice and discover how it has evolved over time....
Curated OER
The Civil War (1861-1865) Through Maps, Charts, Graphs, & Pictures
True to its titles, this engaging and appealing presentation brings the 1860's into close focus with a number of images and statistics that would delight any Civil War buff. A few graphs allow for pupil input, such as listing the...
Stanford University
Edward Curtis Photographs
A picture is worth a thousand words. The photos of Edward Curtis capture the life and culture of Native American Tribes during the early part of the twentieth century. A presentation first gives background information on Edward Curtis...
Curated OER
Fifth Grade Social Studies
For this social studies worksheet, 5th graders answer multiple choice questions about World War II, the transcontinental railroad, slavery, and more. Students complete 25 questions.
Curated OER
Air...What Gives?
Students investigate the properties of air by capturing it, squeezing it, and feeling its weight. In this forces lesson, students capture bags of air and examine its properties. The weight and pressure of air is emphasized.
Curated OER
Work, Power, and Mechanical Efficiency
In this forces worksheet, students review the equations for work, power, and efficiency and then use these equations to solve 9 word problems.
Curated OER
Comparing Family Photos
Fourth graders bring in a family photo from home. They compare their photo to the Rawding family photo. Students share their conclusions orally. They use Venn Diagrams to organize their thoughts and observations.
Curated OER
19 Chains and 50 Links
Students investigate surveys as it relates to chains and links. In this math instructional activity, students relate math to history and surveys done above, below and on the earths' surface. They review vocabulary pertaining to this...
Curated OER
Don't Fence Me In
Students examine historical information about the development of barbed wire and practice identifying geometric terms. After reading through background information, they participate in several activities that include making calculations...
Curated OER
The Cell Theory
In this cells instructional activity, students review how the cell theory was developed. Students review the structure and function of cell structures and active transport. This instructional activity has 30 fill in the blank questions.
Curated OER
Who Were the Settlers?
Learners examine why people move from one country or area to another. Using photographs, they analyze the culture and lifestyles of people pictured in the image. They research and explain the daily experiences of the settlers to...
Curated OER
The Frontier
Learners, given certain background information, list hardships that Laura Ingalls Wilder and other people that lived during the same time period went through. They interview someone who grew up in a different era than them.