Young historians study the Angel Island Immigration Station with activities examining primary and secondary source materials, maps, and websites. The unit begins with individuals creating a map of Angel Island, labeling sites on the...

Young historians, prompted by questions on worksheets, practice analyzing primary source documents (an editorial cartoon, letters, and excerpts from one of Roosevelt’s fireside chats) related to the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt....

Project-Based Learning Community Projects. Engage students in meaningful projects that impact their community!

The Civil Rights Movement is the focus of a collection created for young scholars, kindergarten through fifth grade. The unit begins with an introductory lesson that sets the stage for discussion, written assignments, interactives,...

This is the second of three units in this fourth grade module, and learners focus on the Haudenosaunee through informational text, note-taking, and drawing conclusions. Consider extending the unit through the text Eagle Song by Joseph...

Fourth grade teachers, you've found your starting line for ELA modules and units! Your class will begin a visual literacy exploration, where they will interpret main ideas from oral traditions and written texts. They interpret the texts...

Fifth graders explore human rights- what are they and why do we have them? As a class, explore the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and incorporate close readings of selected articles. This 11-part unit is very detailed,...

Use these 16 lessons to help fourth graders comprehend informational text as they read about different roles colonial Americans played on settlements. The class specifically studies the "wheelwright" trade and then break into groups to...

April 22nd is Earth Day! Celebrate the Earth with these resources and activities. From math to writing and straight into science, all of the resources in this collection promote Earth loving learners in your class!

Math practice has never been scarier—but only because these sheets are covered in zombies, ghosts, witches, and bats! Due to the concepts, the collection is best suited for upper elementary and beginning middle school students. It...

As part of a study of the history of the Chumash on California's Channel Island chain, class members view the documentary Once Upon a Time, respond to discussion questions, and create a timeline for the different waves of migration....

As part of their study of the history of the Channel Islands, class members watch Dark Water, a documentary about a traditional Chumash ceremony. The documentary launches a series of lessons about this tribal nation that inhabited the...

How do scientists provide evidence to support the theories they put forth? What clues do they put together to create these theories? After watching West of the West's documentary Island Rotation, class...

The Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island documents the story of Juana Maria, who spent 18 years alone on the most remote island of the Channel Islands chain. After watching West of the West's documentary and reading two print resources,...

The excavation of a cache of artifacts, believed to have been buried by Juana Maria, a Nicoleno Native American who lived alone on San Nicolas Island for over 18 years, is the focus of a unit that shows how archaeologists uncover...

The tale of the restoration of California's Channel Islands begins with a video that details the devastation of Santa Cruz Island by introducing species that are not native to the region. Additionally, the video discusses the controversy...

The Last Roundup explores the issues raised by the transitioning of Santa Rosa Island from a privately owned to a National Park. The documentary is short, poignant, and weaves together vintage family photos and videos with interviews...

West of the West's Arlington Springs Man series documents the history of the archeological digs on Santa Rosa Island and the discovery of human and mammoth bones that challenge the once-popular theories of human migration to the...

The eight resources in the inquiry-based media literacy unit “The Lessons of 1704” introduce upper elementary scholars to the factors that contributed to the growth of inter-group hostilities among the French, English, and Native...

Scavenger hunts provide students with an opportunity to develop their internet skills while they learn about famous African Americans. Included are four scavenger hunts, one each for grades 1-4, 5-6, 7-8, and 9-12. Researchers search the...

The year is 2777. Fifth graders, as delegates, are tasked with drafting a new Constitution for the United States. They begin the process by reflecting on the meaning of democracy. They examine the principles of the current Constitution,...

A three-lesson unit teaches fifth and sixth graders about the importance of participation in a democratic society. The first lesson focuses on the purpose of and importance of civic duty. The second lesson looks at the justice system and...

There are upstanders, bystanders, and whistle-blowers when it comes to dealing with dilemmas. The four lessons in this unit module ask young scholars to think about injustice and how to resolve difficult situations. Learners research...

For Native Americans, the connection between themselves and the land on which they live runs deep and is apparent throughout their different cultures. During a series of three lessons, young scholars explore the culture of the Hopi...