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African American Scientists
Young scholars study several important African American scientists and explore their lives. They recreate scientists' experiences through journal entries.
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The World of Puppets
Students visit given web-sites to find out what puppets look like in different countries and then make a puppet and write a play for it.
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The Immigrant Experience In America
Students study immigration, Ellis Island, and tenement life from 1890 to 1924. Each student create an identity of an immigrant and write an essay in the first person. Essays describe what they found when they arrived in New York City.
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Rain Forest Adventures
Young scholars discover locations of the world's rain forests. Once they identify the animals, plants, products, and resources located in them, they construct they own rain forest terrariums. By comparing and contrasting the two types...
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Changing Places
Students investigate the Chinese-American immigration experience. In this assimilation instructional activity, students watch "Becoming American: The Chinese Experience" and then participate in classroom activities regarding the topic....
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Through The Looking Glass
Students examine the time period of westward expansion. In groups, they use the internet to research the reasons why people moved west during the 1800s. They write their own narratives playing the role of a member of a pioneer family...
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People and Places
Fifth graders investigate how the geography of the land effected the human experience of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. They research using primary and secondary sources, design a map.
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The Search for Character!
Fifth graders define character words, look for real-life examples of the traits "in action," and write an acrostic poem based on one of these qualities.
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California Missions Project-Using Publisher
Students create a California Missions magazine that includes a Table of Contents, pictures, and websites. In this culture and history lesson, students research missions and write and create a magazine article about it.
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History Trifold in Publisher
Students create a timeline of events happening around the world. In this timeline lesson plan, students use Microsoft Publisher to create a timeline of events happening around the world as they live their lives presently.
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When Disaster Strikes! Rocks, Minerals, Erosion and Weather
Students pretend the area they live in is subject to wind, waves and rain. In groups, they pretend they are a groups of meteorologists or geologists and are to report on the weather and damage that could occur there. Each group develops...
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What does it mean to be American?
Students create a mural depicting what it means to be an American. In this being American lesson plan, students pull out magazine ads that depict what it means to be an American, then they make a mural out of it, and finally they present...
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The Underground Railroad and The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850
Students discover racism and slavery by completing a role playing activity. In this U.S. history lesson, students analyze documents from the Civil War era and describe the Fugitive Slave Law. Students view a video on YouTube about the...
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Stocking Up For The Next Millennium
Look back on the inventions, concepts, cultural items, and literary contributions of the past one hundred years. Young historians will compose a presentation based on the research they do in favor of one thing that should withstand the...
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Rebuilding The World Trade Center Site: A 9/11 Tribute
Students work together to build a memorial for the World Trade Center victims. In groups, they draw designs on what they believe the memorial should look like and write a proposal for the structure. To end the activity, they present...
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Dealing with Tragedy in the Classroom
Students explore the concept of human tragedy. In this September 11 terrorist attacks instructional activity, students write condolence letters, discuss the qualities of heroes, and investigate volunteer opportunities.
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Can Anyone Be a Leader?
Students explore the concept of leadership and identify leaders from the past and present. They brainstorm qualities of effective leaders, research a leader from the past and develop a presentation on their findings and choose a local...
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Creating a Newscast on the Cold War
Young scholars research the events of a specific year of the Cold War. In this Cold War lesson, students investigate the causes of the Cold War and highlight the events of a particular year. Young scholars create a storyboard and...
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The School Travel Agency
Students, in groups, produce a travel brochure outlining the uniqueness of a given state or province. They consider what makes an effective travel brochure, research their state and design, edit and present their brochure to the class.
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Jewelry: Then and Now
Fifth graders identify specific works of art as belonging to particular cultures, times, & places, recognize & apply elements of art, learn techniques for working with each material, critique artwork, & discuss how artwork...
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Native American Legends
Students work together in groups to research a Native American legend. They present the information they gathered in a format they chose. They write their own legend based on their research.
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My Name is Osama - Bullying and Name-Calling
Students read the story of an Iraqi immigrant boy named Osama who faces taunts of terrorist in his U.S. school after the attack of September 11.
They discuss the characters and their struggles in the story. Students respond to...
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Pharaoh Phonetics
Students explore ancient Egypt. In this Egypt lesson plan, students use the Internet to research ancient Egypt and then participate in several activities that help them better understand Egyptian culture.