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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Studies

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Entitled American Studies, this small unit covers various topics related to the study of the United States. Learners warm up by creating a dictionary of democracy, then dive into three different lessons focused on government, famous...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Famous Americans

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate famous Americans. In this American history and research lesson, students choose a famous American to research, collect information from a variety of sources, and create a related PowerPoint presentation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering American Symbols

For Teachers 3rd
Help youngsters get to know their states and capitals, explore their own country, and study American symbolism. They take a "trip" across America collecting symbols, images, and information about each state as they go (through text and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jeopardy: American Landmarks

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Through this Jeopardy format, students answer questions relating to famous American landmarks. This presentation could be used with first and second graders, if they were guided through the experience, and with upper elementary learners...
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Lesson Plan
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MENSA Education & Research Foundation

Utopia/Dystopia: The American Dream

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
America was founded by dreamers, and the American dream still resonates in our country today. Track the American dream from its Puritan beginnings to its optimistic descendants with a instructional activity that focuses on speeches by...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Can Be Whomever I Wish

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Famous people who have overcome obstacles are the focus of this language arts and social studies instructional activity. Pupils are introduced to the concept that they have the ability to overcome obstacles in life. They read selections...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Free, but Not Free: Life of Free Blacks Before the Civil War

For Teachers 9th - 11th Standards
Using the family stories of a famous comedian and singer-songwriter, learners consider what life was like for African Americans who were enslaved and free before the Civil War. To complete a concluding activity, they write about the...
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Lesson Plan
National Park Service

“Famous Footsteps” Teacher’s Guide

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
As part of a study of Ellis Island Immigration Station, class members assume the role of immigration service workers, investigate the dossier of an immigrant, and recommend whether or not their subject should be allowed to enter the US....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seven Famous African-American Masters of American Art

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine seven different African-American artists. In groups, they use the internet to identify their contribution and techniques to the art world and examine the time period in which the artwork was produced. To end the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

US Constitution

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Think about the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence with your budding historians. They analyze the importance of historical documents by examining several famous documents, and then they complete activities that check...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Outstanding Women

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Research the lives of famous women in this social studies lesson. Middle schoolers use various sources to research a famous woman and create a presentation about the accomplishments of the woman. They can find the central idea throughout...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Iron Horse vs. the Buffalo: Indian-Settler Conflict on the Great Plains

For Teachers 10th
The Iron Horse encroached upon the land while conflicts escalated between Native Americans and the settlers. Sophomores study the print, American Progress then discuss how American progress affected Native Americans. They will study the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Revolutionary War

For Teachers 8th - 11th
March your students off to war with this presentation, which provides details to the American Revolution such as important figures (Jefferson, Franklin, Henry), facts about the Declaration of Independence, and definitions of key terms. A...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African American Contributions

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Young scholars recognize contributions made by African Americans to American society. In this African American history lesson, students research contributions made by African Americans and use a graphic organizer to organize their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native Americans and Giving

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the concept of philanthropy. In this Brother Eagle, Sister Sky: The Words of Chief Seattle lesson, students examine the plight of Native Americans and explore Native Americans' quest for the "common good."
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Lesson Plan
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Smithsonian Institution

Fighting For Freedom: The Stono Rebellion and Free Frank McWhorter

For Teachers 8th - 11th Standards
Travel back in time to the Stono Rebellion. Young historians research historical figures who played a role in African Americans' fight to escape slavery. Scholars research material, complete handouts, participate in group discussion, and...
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Interactive
Curated OER

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave by Frederick Douglass

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
In this literature worksheet, students respond to 12 short answer and essay questions about Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave. Students may also link to an online interactive quiz on the novel at the bottom...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Internet Native American Scavenger Hunt

For Students 4th - 5th
In this Native American scavenger hunt activity, students research 10 famous Native Americans using the Internet. First, they read each questions to determine which famous Native American they need to search. Then, students respond to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Jeopardy

For Teachers 5th - 9th
While science Jeopardy games are a dime-a-dozen, this one has some pretty unique categories that are still relevant to a middle school physical science curriculum. The topics include: leading nations, famous Americans (who invented...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Myth of the West: Kit Carson to the Rescue

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
There's nothing like the Wild Wild West! Scholars investigate the American Frontier through the eyes of Kit Carson. To complete the first installment of a three-part series, they use presentations, a short video, and primary and...
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Lesson Plan
NPR

Progressive Era Lesson Plan

For Students 8th - 12th Standards
The women working for equal rights in the early 20th century weren't a part of one large group; rather, they were members of dozens of small groups focused on social reform. Explore the ways groups in the Progressive Era like National...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Archaeology and Prehistoric Native Americans

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the terms paleontology and archaeology and examine how they can help us learn about prehistoric Native Iowans.  In this archaeology lesson students discuss these terms and view a video on Native Americans. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What does it mean to be American?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students create a mural depicting what it means to be an American. In this being American lesson plan, students pull out magazine ads that depict what it means to be an American, then they make a mural out of it, and finally they present...
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PPT
Curated OER

Social Studies: Famous History

For Teachers 2nd
While a rudimentary overview of facts relating to U.S. History, this resource could be used as a starting point for a discussion of this topic. However, there is very little information included on each slide, and one of the terms used...