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Worksheet
Curated OER

USA's 50 Largest Cities

For Students 4th - 8th
In this US Cities activity, students identify and locate USA's fifty largest cities. There are 50 cities listed for the students to locate in the word search.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The History of Your Chicago River

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students examine the history of the Chicago River. In groups, they identify the problems of the watershed and develop possible solutions. As a class, they examine the importance of the river to the Chicago area by reading a story. To...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Meat-Packing Industry in Chicago During the Progressive Era

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine maps showing the hog and corn distribution of the United States. In groups, they research the reasons why Chicago became the natural hub for meat-packing processing in the United States. They examine changes in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Chicago Fire: Did Mrs. O'Leary's Cow Really Cause It?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research the Great Chicago Fire and its myths on how it started. They use their critical thinking skills to determine what really happened. They write an essay supporting their opinion on the fire.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 18: The Great Chicago Fire: City of Wood

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students research the causes of the Great Fire of Chicago and draw conclusion as to the most probable cause and preventative actions that could have minimized the damage.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Chicago Fire Survivors

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars research the Great Chicago Fire and create a reader's theater presentation that describes the experiences of survivors.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Chicago Fire Survivors

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students compare and contrast the experiences of two survivors of the Great Fire of Chicago using a Venn Diagram.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Chicago Fire Survivors

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine documents describing the experiences of survivors of the Great Chicago Fire, and write condolence letters.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chicago On Stage

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners view a film about the genres and disciplines of performing arts. They examine the theatre community in Chicago and the origins of theatre companies. They answer questions and discuss them to end the lesson.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chicago Rhythms, Chicago Roots

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view a video about different types of music. They examine the history of jazz, big band and rock back to the city of Chicago. They discover Chicago's music scene today and compare it to the past.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colors of Gray

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view a film about theatres in Chicago. They discover how performing arts can be enjoyed by all ages and how one becomes involved in performing in theatre. They answer questions and discuss to end the lesson.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Land Use

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students examine ecosystems that covered Illinois 200 years ago, investigate some living and non-living components of ecosystems, identify components of prairie system, create food webs, and observe human effects on environment. Lessons...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Three Chicago Painters: Visual Thinking Skills Activity

For Teachers 1st - 8th
Learners discuss the paintings of three Chicago painters. They are asked to observe their work and comment on it.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chicago's Amazing Growth

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars, in groups, collaboratively explore the rapid growth of Chicago (from 350 to 300,000 in less than 40 years), and how the city changed to accommodate such rapid growth.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Chicago Fire: The O'Leary Hearing

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students dramatized the O'Leary hearing regarding the Chicago fire using the transcript from the original hearings as a script.
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Unit Plan
University of Chicago

University of Chicago Library: Chicago in 1919

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about Chicago in 1919 through music, video, images, and transcripts of newspaper articles of the time.
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Website
Other

Chicago History Museum: Louis Sullivan at 150

For Students 9th - 10th
Visit the Chicago History Museum's retrospective about Louis Sullivan, famous Chicago architect.
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Interactive
Northwestern University

Hidden Truths: The Chicago City Cemetery and Lincoln Park

For Students 9th - 10th
This project details the research, beginning with the original documents, and shows how the Chicago City cemetery became Lincoln Park. It also reveals how the physical remains of earlier Chicagoans became buried within the layers of...
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Handout
Other

Chicago L: The Original L Companies

For Students 9th - 10th
As part of a larger site, this article gives the history of the famous Chicago "L" and its development in the last part of the 19th century. Hyperlinks to photos, many of which are period photos.
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Handout
Other

Skyscraper Museum: Big Buildings

For Students 9th - 10th
A site devoted to exploring big buildings. Big Buildings are more than just tall, they are also wide from left to right and from front to back. Many of the world's most famous buildings are on view at this site, which includes photos and...
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Website
Chicago History Museum

Chicago Historical Society: The Dramas of Haymarket

For Students 9th - 10th
The Chicago Historical Society presents extensive information about the 1886 bombing at Haymarket Square that helped change the course of the labor movement. Read about the bombing, arrests, trial, executions, and other events that...
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Activity
Other

Studs Terkel: Conversations With America

For Students 9th - 10th
Uncover much information here about the incredible life story of Studs Terkel, famous radio personality and prize winning author. Listen to his interviews for some fascinating insights into the diverse culture of American life.
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Website
Northern Illinois University

Illinois During the Guilded Age: The Haymarket Bomb in Historical Context

For Students 9th - 10th
Through essays, primary documents, images, and videos, relive the Haymarket Bomb incident and see what society and politics were like during the Guilded Age.
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Article
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: In Chicago, One Woman Offers a Safety Net

For Students 9th - 10th
Article reports on the work of one woman who is trying to make Chicago a safer place for young people. Includes an audio version of the story.