Curated OER
Planning A Railroad Online Lesson
Young scholars plan a route across Donner Summit using topographical maps in order to understand the challenges involved in constructing the railroad in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In this history lesson, students first discover how to...
Curated OER
Social Effects of WWII on SC
Fourth graders compare how the events in the Charleston Harbor affected South Carolinians versus people in other parts of the U.S. In this American history instructional activity, 4th graders watch a video clip, discuss sections of a...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Timelines
Fifth graders investigate the significant people, events, and developments in the early history of the United States. They examine a timeline in their social studies textbook and discuss how a timeline works. In pairs they create a...
Curated OER
Document Based Question: Erie Canal
Fourth graders read the provided documents about the Erie Canal to discover the impact that this transportation systems had on the New York community. In this history lesson, 4th graders first analyze the documents and answer the...
Curated OER
Presidential Bookmarks
Students research a U.S. president of their choice. They create bookmarks that include basic facts about and a photograph of the selected president. Students print and trade their bookmarks with their peers.
Curated OER
How Man Negotiates Away His Natural Freedom
Students recognize that our legal-political system hasdeveloped through a process of moving from philosophical ideals to compromised working models. They apply John Locke's views to the development of U.S. political theory and systems.
Curated OER
The Modernization of Seoul
High schoolers explore the history of Seoul, South Korea. In this Seoul lesson plan, students read and analyze handouts regarding the political and social history of the city of Seoul. High schoolers collaborate in small groups and...
Curated OER
Symbolic Speech
Ninth graders consider the right of freedom of speech as it is outlined in the U.S. Constitution. They receive background information for the US Supreme Court, the Bill of Rights, and free speech. They discuss a series of actual cases...
Curated OER
Creating a Bill of Rights
Creating a Bill of Rights isn't easy! Help your scholars experience what the Founding Fathers did by challenging them to write a Bill of Rights. Groups pretend they are a new democratic country and proceed to create that country's Bill...
Curated OER
The U.S. Constitution: Practical Application of the Amendments
Students create their own HyperStudio cards which include scanned images of at least one member (designated reader) of each group. They add the text of a predetermined amendment. The designated reader then reads the selected amendment.
Curated OER
Frontier Forts
Seventh graders study frontier forts. In this Kansas history lesson, 7th graders research the history and conditions of Fort Leavenworth, Fort Scott, Fort Riley, Fort Larned, and Fort Hays. Students write letters from the...
Curated OER
Mesopotamia
Students map Mesopotamia. In this Geography lesson plan, students are introduced to Ancient Mesopotamia. Students use an atlas to label the defining features and areas of Mesopotamia on a map.
Curated OER
Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraits: Grades 3-5
Students explore the contributions of African Americans of the 20th century. In this African American history lesson, students examine portraits of Muhammad Ali, Romare Bearden, Lorraine Hansberry, Judith Jamison, and Leontyne Price in...
Curated OER
Build a Black History Database/Timeline
Learners research famous people and events in Black History then break the biographies and events down into specific information related to dates in history. They
Curated OER
American Colonists Protest Song
Students explore the role of protest songs. In this early American history lesson, students research the acts passed by the British that angered colonists. Students then listen to protest songs from contemporary American history prior to...
Curated OER
History Detectives
Fifth graders investigate the significant events in America's history. Students listen to a variety of books based on significant historical events in America. Students divide into 6 groups, each of which is responsible for researching...
Curated OER
Native American Culture
Students investigate the lives of the American Indians who made their homes in the Midwest. In this Native American history lesson plan, students research the tribes of the Midwest and create PowerPoint presentations based on their...
Curated OER
History of the Masons
Students are divided into groups and follow directions of their group leaders and complete a worksheet while on site.
Curated OER
Distinguished Discoveries: Florida quarter reverse
Florida's state quarter has an image of a space shuttle and a Spanish Galleon on its reverse side. Pupils will examine the state quarter and think about how the Spanish explorers and Space explorers are the same and different. The class...
Curated OER
Famous Figures in History
Young scholars investigate famous people in U.S. history. In this American history lesson plan, students read about famous people such as Helen Keller and Einstein. Young scholars think of ways they might become famous.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian In Your Classroom: The Music in Poetry
Take poetry off the page and put it into terms of movement, physical space and, finally, music with this series of three lessons from the Smithsonian Institution. This resource introduces students to two poetic forms that originated as...
PBS
Lessons in Leadership, Roosevelt Style
It's easy to criticize those in power until you're sitting at their desk, faced with the same decisions. A history lesson plan prompts secondary learners to research the Roosevelt presidencies through the lens of leadership and...
Curated OER
Urban Concentration and Racial Violence
Students research one of the many urban race riots in U.S. history, from the New York City riots during the Civil War to the "Red Summer of 1919" or the hate-strikes of 1943. They present their findings in the form of a newspaper's front...
Scholastic
Women's Suffrage for Grades 6–8
Learners study the decisions and solutions involved in winning the right to vote. After reading background information on the fight for women's suffrage, including one woman's story, and its eventual success in the United States and...