DocsTeach
The SS Quanza and European War Refugees
World War II not only resulted in major loss of life, but it also displaced thousands of people. An eye-opening activity uses primary documents to explore the refugee crisis during World War II. Scholars compare the event to modern-day...
Museum of the American Revolution
Dunmore's Declaration
To fight or not to fight, that is the question. A thought-provoking activity focuses on the Dunmore Declaration that promised to free enslaved people who chose to fight for the British during the American Revolution. Scholars read the...
Museum of the American Revolution
People of the Revolution
It's nothing new—America has always been a melting pot of cultures. The resource explores the diversity of individuals living in the American colonies during the Revolutionary War. Scholars examine artifacts and primary sources to...
DocsTeach
Exploring America's Diversity: Gertrud Danneberg (Beginner)
Everyone is an immigrant in their own way. Young scholars read historic documents to understand one woman's journey from Germany to the United States. The activity uses a mixture of text, discussion, and written prompts to help...
Smithsonian Institution
Fighting For Freedom: The Stono Rebellion and Free Frank McWhorter
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...
DocsTeach
Ports of Immigration: Angel Island and Ellis Island
Young historians travel back to the past to explore immigration in the United States. Scholars match images of immigrants to Angel and Ellis Island. The activity also includes a worksheet and a short group discussion to understand...
American Museum of Natural History
Are YOU Cut Out for Mars?
A brief, 6-question quiz identifies whether or not a scholar is ready for a mission to Mars.
DocsTeach
Integration of the US Armed Forces
Uncle Sam wants you to integrate the military! The activity uses images and documents to help scholars understand the integration of African Americans into the mainstream military. Academics analyze a series of military photos and...
University of California
Was Slavery Always Racial?
The lesson focuses on slavery in the ancient world and asks academics to decide if it was always about race. Scholars view primary sources, participate in a short discussion, and complete a worksheet to understand how slavery in the...
Anti-Defamation League
Teens, Tech, Connect: How Technology Impacts Teenagers' Friendships
To understand their time spent online, class members chart their use of technology during early morning hours, during school, after school, in the evenings, and on weekends. They then read several reports about how social media...
EngageNY
Conditions for a Unique Triangle—Three Sides and Two Sides and the Included Angle
Building on the previous instructional activity in the 29-part series, the ninth instructional activity asks individuals to construct a triangle given specific criteria. First, they are given three specific side lengths, followed by two...
Curated OER
Rain Forest Journal
In this rain forest journal worksheet students use the decorated paper to keep a daily journal. Students pretend they are on a journey into the rain forest.
Curated OER
Different Ways to Count
Fourth graders investigate various number systems and ways of counting. In this various number systems and ways of counting lesson, 4th graders discuss number systems from around the world. Students practice counting using...
Curated OER
Resilient Poetry
Students read The Seven Resiliencies, a Maya Angelou poem, and complete writing activities to analyze the concept of resiliency. In this poetry lesson, students group in a circle to read the resiliency handout and discuss the text....
Curated OER
Folktale Unit: Paul Bunyan and the Big Blue Ox
Young scholars participate in a shared reading of Steven Kellogg's, Paul Bunyan while learning the associated vocabulary. They write a journal entry expressing which of the folktales they have read is their favorite and why.
Curated OER
It's Just a Phase
Sixth graders are introduced to the correct terminology for the phases of the moon and arrange picture cards in the correct order. They use flashlights and Styrofoam balls to illustrate the phases of the moon. They write science journal...
Curated OER
Hillbilly or Appalachian: Is There A Difference?
Students examine the Appalachian region and its people. They write a journal entry, discuss the definitions of hillbilly and Appalachian, analyze cartoons and jokes, explore various websites, and develop a presentation.
Curated OER
Challenge to Communicate
Students examine the journals from Lewis and Clark and identify how they spoke without using words. They participate in a game in which they use non-verbal communication with each other. They write their own journal entries to complete...
Curated OER
Killing Fields
Students view a television program that explores people's perceptions and expectations in war prior to and after WWI. They discuss the effects of trench warfare and write a journal entry or short oral report reflecting on their...
Curated OER
End of World War II
Ninth graders examine the results of the Yalta Conference on Europe after the war. They develop a PowerPoint presentation that compare the effects of World War I and World War II. They write a journal entry taking the point of view of...
Curated OER
What is Communism?
Eleventh graders explore Communism. They explore Communism's roots in economics and discuss the spread of Communism in the Eastern Hemisphere. They evaluate a Communistic and a Capitalistic society. Students reflect upon the positives...
Nazareth College
Cooperation and Conflict Resolution
Fourth graders participate in a variety of activities designed to promote cooperation and positive conflict resolution. In cooperative groups, they create a comic strip or poster, play cooperative musical chairs, write a journal entry...
Curated OER
Poetry Supermarket
Young scholars choose at least one poem that they like and one poem that they dislike from twenty poems posted around the classroom. They copy the two chosen poems into their Poetry Journal and write a response to the two poems using the...
Curated OER
Habits
Students explore and analyze personal positive and negative habits. They read aloud the handout, "Who am I," and discuss what the term habit means and how to relate it to their personal lives. Each student responds on the term in their...