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Sgt. Humiston, Where are You?

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students become familiar with the events of the Civil War.  In this identification lesson, students use deductive reasoning to understand how the deceased soldier was identified.  Students view primary documents for information...
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Leif Erikson Day

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Leif Erikson Day lessons breathe life into social studies classroom explorations.
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Molly's Pilgrim and Thanksgiving Activities

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
The tender story of Molly's Pilgrim, coupled with a history mini-lesson, is a great way to discuss the meaning of Thanksgiving.
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Sense of Place: No River Too Wide-Bridges

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders discover the history of their hometown Des Moines River.  In this U.S. Geography lesson students speak with Iowans that tell stories of the settlers and early villages near the Des Moines River.  Students document...
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Technologies of the Civil War

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders discover new and interesting technologies of the Civil War. In this Civil War portfolio of lessons, 5th graders analyze primary resources, develop new vocabulary, investigate websites, and create a time line of new...
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Voyage to Kure Viewing Guide

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students complete a worksheet while viewing a video about the oceans. They locate the oceans on a map and identify positive and negative ways in which humans have impacted them. They discuss any questions at the end of the lesson.
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Mayor Puts City on Diet to Lose a Million Pounds

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners read a story called Mayor Puts City on Diet to Lose a Million Pounds and answer vocabulary and comprehension questions about it. In this current event Lose a Million Pounds lesson plan, students respond to literature by...
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Heading West

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students study the concept of the westward expansion. In this exploration of the western U.S. lesson, students participate in different activities that explain economic hardships, jobs, and land opportunities. Students describe...
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Reasons to Settle in America

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students complete a research project.  In this American History lesson plan, students work in groups to research reasons that people wanted to settle in America.  Students record the information, share what they found and write...
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A Treaty Tail: U.S. - Indian Treaty Councils in the Northwest

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students view a painting as a document to find out about the Indian Treaty Councils.  In this artist's perspective lesson, students study the conflicts as shown in various pictures.  Students answer questions about what they...
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Swing Your Partner! It's A Virtual Square Dance

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the Wessels Living History Farm website and research how to do a square dance. They read a story, listen to an explanation of barn dances, and participate in various square dances.
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Geography of the Study of the Spanish-speaking People of Texas

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Young scholars identify the physical features, demographic characteristics, and history of the four Texas towns featured in Russell Lee's photo essay, "The Spanish-Speaking People of Texas." They conduct Internet research, and create a...
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Dream Houses

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students imagine and create their dream house.  In this comprehension and interpretation lesson, students read The Big Orange Splot, answer comprehension questions about the story and  complete a character traits web. ...
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The School: School Culture Across Louisiana

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students identify and research school customs and folk groups through discussion and interviews. Then they identify and learn that traditional culture exists within other cultural contexts, such as the academic world of school, and in...
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Will Smog be a Problem at the Olympic Games?

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Learners locate China on a world map, then read a news article about pollution in Beijing. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion about smog and a vocabulary activity, then students read the...
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Under the Blood-Red Sun

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore U.S. history by reading an award winning book about World War II. In this Japanese internment camp lesson, 5th graders read the book Under the Blood-Red Sun and discuss the entrapment of Japanese-Americans on our...
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The Impact of Disease on Our Lives

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students write a report about infectious diseases where they demonstrate their understanding of new terminology. In this writing instructional activity, students analyze the effect of disease in their lives and and make scientific...
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The Four Corners Region of the United States Cultures, Ruins and Landmarks

For Teachers K - 8th
Students who live in the inner city are introduced to the four corners region of the United States. In groups, they examine how the region differs compared to where they live and their culture. They develop maps of the area and locate...
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Creating a Watermark

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students discover how to insert a watermark into a Word document.  In this word processing lesson, students follow step-by-step instructions to add either a picture watermark or a text watermark to the background of their...
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Dia de la Raza - What is El Dia de la Raza?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students research and write about Christopher Columbus, his voyages, and his impact on the Native Americans. In this Christopher Columbus lesson, students work at stations where they learn vocabulary, perform Reader's Theatre, work with...
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Dia de la Independencia

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students learn about Mexican Independence Day.  For this Hispanic Heritage lesson, students learn about holidays in Hispanic countries specifically looking at their days of independence.  Students read information about fiestas...
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Follow the Drinking Gourd

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Young scholars listen to the song "Follow the Drinking Gourd" and repeat what they have heard. They discuss the significance of the story and how it relates to Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. They observe a map of areas in...
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Balancing the Scales: Understanding Ratios

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students are introduced to the concept of ratios. In groups, they convert sets of numbers into a ratio. After practicing, they use the ratios and proportions to solve story problems. They also calculate map distances and discover map...
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The Geographic Doctor Seuss

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students define the term region using semantic mapping, listen to the Dr. Seuss story Yertle the Turtle, and discuss the conflict over borders in the story. They draw a map divided into regions.