Curated OER
Character Education: Responsibility
Middle schoolers study Manuel de Zavala and his role in the history of Texas. In this character education lesson, students read about Manuel Lorenzo and underline the responsibilities he took on in his life. Middle schoolers then answer...
Curated OER
The Emancipation Proclamation
Middle schoolers read one of the most important documents in our nation's history: The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. After everyone reads the proclamation, they set out to write a "You Were There" type of report on it. They pretend...
Curated OER
The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Young scholars study westward expansion. In this US history instructional activity, students describe the adventures and hardships faced by the explorers known as Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Young scholars write a report to the...
Curated OER
Mexican and American Views of Texas
Young scholars study the territorial status of Texas in 1830, 1840, and 1846 and interpret an historical timeline. They develop a general statement of Mexican and American views of Texas.
Curated OER
Our Brand of Segregation - West Texas
Students explore the concept of segregation. In this oral history instructional activity, students conduct interviews and research primary sources to learn about segregation practices that affected African Americans. Students present...
Curated OER
History and Analysis of Cryptography
Students are introduced to the code systems and art of cryptography. As a class, they review prior knowledge and brainstorm lists. Using the internet, they research the history of codes and determine how they are structured. They also...
Curated OER
U.S. History: The Great Depression
Seventh graders examine the Great Depression and federal relief programs such as the Civilian Conservation Corps. Focusing on Texas, they assess the effects on poor farmers and discuss what they would do for a living had they lived in...
Curated OER
The Impact of the Great Depression on Texas
Seventh graders examine and discuss photographs taken during the Great Depression and the impact of the Great Depression on the U.S. They write research reports and create a mural depicting the lives of rural and urban families in the...
Curated OER
Aldridge Sawmill - The Story in Numbers
Seventh graders practice math skills while becoming familiar with Texas' "Boom & Bust" economy and the natural history of the east Texas Piney Woods. After researching the Aldridge Sawmill, 7th graders utilize a worksheet imbedded in...
Curated OER
Aldridge Sawmill - The Story in Numbers
Seventh graders view overhead maps of Texas, explore history of Aldrige Sawmill, and practice math skills while becoming familiar with Texas' "Boom & Bust" economy and natural history of east Texas Piney Woods.
Curated OER
Aldridge Sawmill -- The Story in Numbers
Seventh graders view a recent transparency of the average rainfall zones of the state of Texas. Using another transparency, they identify the Piney Woods subregion of the Gulf Coastal Plain and locate national forests and sawmills. ...
Briscoe Center for American History
Applying the SOAPS Method of Analyzing Historical Documents
Young historians use the SOAPS (Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject) method of questioning to determine the historical value of primary source documents. The third in a series of five lessons that model for learners how...
Curated OER
Run/Walk Across America
Walk, jog, or run across America. Maps of individual states, visual progress, competition, and rewards, seem to be great motivational ideas. Make sure that the distances that each class has to walk or run are the same, because getting...
Curated OER
Do You Really Know What Wealth Is?
Students explore what it means to have wealth in Mali and in the United States. In this economics lesson, students read "Music in the Fields." Student groups answer discussion questions. Students reflect on the purpose music serves in...
Curated OER
Two Trustworthy Texans
Seventh graders read about two pioneers from Texas and learn how they became well trusted people. For this trust lesson, 7th graders read essays about two Texas pioneers. They learn vocabulary such as loyalty, honesty, good reputation,...
Curated OER
A Tough Nut to Crack
Children, based on a set of criteria, evaluate the quality of pecans. They research recorded history of pecan trees as well as how their seeds moved across western Missouri into southeastern Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Mexico. In...
Curated OER
Impressionism - Printmaking
Students examine the history of printmaking and the artists who developed these processes. They combine the monotype printmaking process with other media to create mixed-media works, and write a story about their pictures.
Curated OER
The Most Dangerous Woman in America: Mary Harris "Mother" Jones
Learners discover labor issues of the 1800's. In this Pennsylvanian history lesson, students research the case of Mary Harris Jones and discover her work as a labor activist. Learners discuss the case together in class.
Workforce Solutions
A Colony for Lunar Living
Two lessons explore the possibility of living on the moon. First, scholars read various scenarios to identify which careers would best transfer to life in space. Finally, pupils examine a website to locate items made for outer space,...
Curated OER
Living in the Oak Woodlands: Early People of the Jewett Mine Area
Students are introduced to the early peoples living in the Jewett Mine area. After viewing transparencies, they view pictures of the mine today and its main area of production. For each picture, they develop symbols and captions about...
Curated OER
Westward Expansion: The American Indian Experience
Students complete a brief presentation documenting the life of an American Indian. In class, students discuss the pros and cons of placing American Indians on a reservation. After their discussion, students choose a issue in Native...
Curated OER
Africa's Climatic Regions
Students are introduced to the different climates and vegetation of Africa, and compare them to similar climatic regions found in the United States.
Curated OER
I Feel The Need For Speed
Middle schoolers are introduced to the concepts of speed, velocity, acceleration and inertia. In groups, they use the internet to research rollercoasters found in the United States and calculate their acceleration rates. They use the...
Curated OER
Westward Expansion: Chief Joseph's Words Of Surrender
Students explore westward expansion in the United States as it relates to Native Americans and the novel Holes. Students read a passage from Holes and discuss how westward expansion affected the Native Americans. Students compare and...