Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life of a Civil War Soldier

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders write about the physical hardships endured by soldiers of the Civil War. They compare the losses between two communities during the Civil War. They analyze personal letters to understand what a battle was like. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Americans in the Civil War

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the contributions of African American soldiers during the Civil War. In pairs, they complete Civil War timeline worksheets. They use character cards to assume the identities of African Americans and determine whether or...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War Diaries

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine excerpts from a diary of a Confederate soldier and his experiences in a Union prison camp. After receiving character cards, they write diary entries from the perspectives of their Civil War identity. As an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War: Generals at the Battle of Stones River

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners explore U.S. history by creating a computer presentation in class. In this Civil War battle lesson, students read assigned text about the Battle of Stones River and research individual generals from the battles. Learners utilize...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It Wasn't a Bullet

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore U.S. history by researching disease in class. In this Civil War injury lesson, students identify the different causes of death most soldiers faced while fighting in the war. Students role-play and write a diary entry as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Women in the War

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students make decisions about how best to deal with or resolve dilemmas during the Civil War. In this women in war lesson, students word in groups to discuss how a given dilemma could be handled. Groups elect a spokesperson to report to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Recruiting a Few Good Citizens

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Learners write persuasive speeches to recruit soldiers for a Civil War company. For this Civil War U.S. history and writing lesson, students work in groups to create a recruiting poster and write a speech to persuade soldiers to join...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

James Welch's Fools Crow

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners explore the history of Montana's Native Americans by reading James Welch's Fools Crow. Set shortly after the Civil War, the novel focuses on a young Blackfoot Indian and his tribe. Over the course of several weeks, class members...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Whitman and Lincoln

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Learners determine if Lincoln and Whitman ever met and write a dialogue between the two men. In this Whitman and Lincoln lesson, students read Whitman's poem "Beat! Beat! Drums!" and connect it to the events of Lincoln's presidency....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Readers Theater

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students perform a reader's theater based on the Civil War. In this dramatic arts history lesson plan, students review the purpose of reader's theater and are given a script to read. The script can be based on an important Civil War...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Participating in Democracy

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students analyze film clips in class. In this democracy lesson, students identify the differences between civil liberties, democracy and freedom. Students view a video regarding Japanese internment and answer study questions as well as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Was Marc Antony?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the relationship between Marc Antony and Cleopatra.  In this World History lesson, students research Marc Antony, Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, then answer specific questions about how they are all related. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Demonstrating Our Rights

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students view image of Bridgeport Community Protest, discuss event depicted in image, and demonstrate knowledge of protest by organizing and carrying out an actual protest or demonstration.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Battle of Lexington

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students discover the Missouri River and its importance during the Civil War.  In this U.S. history lesson plan, students examine a map of the great Battle of Lexington, and discuss why the Missouri River was a key element to the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westward Expansion and the Frontier

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore U.S. history by researching a historic map. In this westward expansion lesson, students discuss the mystery of the western U.S. in the early 1800's and the impact expansion had on Native Americans and agriculture....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Age of Exploration

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners investigate U.S. history by examining North American timelines. In this American exploration lesson plan, students research the events that led to Columbus finding America and participate in a jeopardy game regarding his...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning from Letters and Other Mail

For Teachers Pre-K - 3rd
Pupils explore the history of our mail system. In this postal lesson plan, students evaluate mail as a means of communication, create a mail system in their classroom where they can send and receive mail. Once the pupils receive their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Images of Secession

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Analyze political cartoons and historical events. Middle schoolers utilize primary resources to increase their comprehension of the topic of secession. They utilize graphic organizers to take notes, compare, and analyze political...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Colony is Born : Lessons 7 - 10 What's My Line?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research their assigned regions, complete regional guide and prepare presentations about the New World colonists. They refer to "Everyday LIfe: Colonial Times" as well as searching marked internet sites.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Colony is Born : Lesson 6 -To Leave or Not to Leave

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders connect reasons for coming to the New World with identity. The create identities and place them in one of three settled regions. They refer to prior study notes in their Colonial Notebooks to establish their identities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bill of Rights in Times of National Crisis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the ability of the government to suspend individual rights in times of national crisis. They formulate a constitutional amendment that clearly states if, when, how and by whom the rights of individuals can be suspended.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing Police Reports

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discover police procedures by filling out crime reports.  In this government instructional activity, students discuss the benefits of historical reports pertaining to criminals and victims.  Students listen to an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

HIT THE TRAIL

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students draw three cattle trails that passed through Indian Territory, using a written description of the trails and will create a diary of trail life. Students research a historical trail as assigned. Students share their information...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Full Military Experience

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders watch electronic field trip entitled Call to Arms, and simulate daily life of eighteenth-century soldier, including marching, camp building, cannon firing, and sharing common meal. Student groups form regiments by signing...