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Family History
Students appreciate how families are important to the expansion and progress of a country. In this biographies instructional activity, students read a biography and write their biographies including photos. Students create family trees.
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Historical Moments
Here is a lesson designed to be an ongoing task for the entire year. Each day of the week, learners must perform research to answer a simple historical question. This particular lesson covers the month of April, but the template...
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Growth in A City Neighborhood
Middle schoolers take the "role" of city planner. They overlay a map of one area of the city in the past, present, and projected future project. Students discuss reasons for selecting the special features of the area. The lesson plan...
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The Story of Ruby Bridges
Students research Ruby Bridges and discuss differences they have with their classmates while also discussing their equality. In this Ruby Bridges lesson plan, students also write about a character word that describes Ruby, and create an...
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Reconstruction to Civil Rights
Eighth graders complete a unit of lessons on the period of time from Reconstruction to the Civil Rights movement. They analyze and interpret political cartoons and editorials, conduct research on famous civil rights places, and complete...
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Haring Inspired Wall Murals
Students complete a community service project for their school. For this community service lesson, students and volunteers help paint murals on the walls of the school. Students learn about Keith Haring and paint their murals using his...
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WWI and Twenties & Thirties
Students study economics and timelines of events to understand changes in America. In this Twenties and Thirties lesson, students navigate Internet sites to research famous reformers. Students recognize the economic changes through...
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Documents and Symbols and American Freedom
Students complete a unit of lessons on the documents, symbols, and famous people involved in the founding of the U.S. government. They create a personal bill of rights, write a found poem, design a flag, conduct research, and role-play...
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Social Activism In The United States
Learners explore justice issues. In this social activism lesson, students watch "Social Activism in the United States," and then locate newspaper articles from the 1960's and 1970's about events during the era.
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Decisions That Changed Our Lives: A Look At the African American Quest for Freedom and Rights
Students are introduced to the goals of abolitionists throughout history. In groups, they use the internet to discover the purpose of the Underground Railroad and why there were bus boycotts in the 1960s. They compare and contrast the...
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How does it feel? Why is the Civil Rights Movement so Important?
Fifth graders study the Civil War. In this US history lesson, 5th graders simulate what life was like during the Civil War by having two groups with one group given more materials than the other group. Students then draw a portrait of...
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White Anti-Racist Biographies: Early Grades
Students research white anti racists including Laurie Olsen, Myles Horton, and others. In this anti racist lesson plan, students complete an online treasure hunt where they research these people and fill in the blanks to sentences about...
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Determining Author's Point of View: The Sneeches
Determine the author's point of view in a text. Young readers read Dr. Seuss' The Sneeches and identify the author's purpose in the story. They identify persuasive techniques in writing, asking and answering questions to better...
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Tolerance Quilt
Fifth graders read stories about giving and poverty and discuss why it is important to give to others. In this giving lesson plan, 5th graders make quilts to give to those in need.
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Breaking the Unjust Law
Students consider the concept of civil disobedience. In this lesson on changing unjust laws, students use primary sources to understand how Gandhi and King changed the law. Students will then list laws that they feel are unjust and plan...
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Become Math and Science Tutors
Students demonstrate how to be an effective math or science tutor. For this character education lesson, students discuss various resources and worksheets they can use for tutoring sessions. Students are then paired up with a younger...
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Understanding Effectiveness
Students investigate the work of animal welfare advocates. In this advocacy lesson, students examine advocacy strategies and investigate their effectiveness as they analyze King's "I Have a Dream" speech. Students apply the advocacy...
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Rev. Joseph Lowery: What Makes a Civil Rights Leader?
Middle schoolers examine the attributes of civil rights leaders. For this Civil Rights Movement lesson, students design "body biographies" of selected civil rights leaders after they have conducted research and discussed the qualities of...
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Learning to give: freedom songs
Students learn freedom songs and discuss how the famous leaders of the Civil Rights Movement used them to motivate people to overcome adversity during this time. For this freedom songs lesson, students learn the songs and discuss their...
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Famous Peacemakers - Creating a Declaration of Peace
Students create written reports about a famous peacemaker. In this peacemaker lesson plan, students use books and the internet to research someone who is famous for creating peace in the world and write a report on it.
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Soul Force and Its Contributions to Nonviolent Movements and Self Empowerment
Fifth graders explore the concept of Satyagraha. In this nonviolent resistance lesson, 5th graders listen to a lecture about Gandhi's teachings and determine how the soul force contributes to a sense of self empowerment.
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Rosa Parks Dies
Students read a story called Civil Rights Leader Rosa Parks Diesand answer vocabulary and comprehension questions about it. In this current events Rosa Parks lesson plan, students respond to literature by answering questions, sharing...
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Philanthropy and You
Students identify human rights and study the values of historical figures who fought for human rights. In this human rights lesson, students define the term human rights and research examples of human mistreatment in history. Students...
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From Where Does Prejudice Come?
Students explore the concept of discrimination. In this social studies lesson plan, students view pictures and write down the first thing that comes to their mind. Students discuss if stereotyping or prejudice affected their first...