Curated OER
Whose History Is It Anyway? Patterns in History
Read and examine primary source material in order to analyze, synthesize, and debate information about the Great Depression. Critical analysts research various source materials related to the Great Depression. They work in teams to...
Curated OER
The New York City Draft Riots: A Role Play
This is a fun, thought-provoking instructional activity. Learners use census data from 1855, primary source documents, their historical knowledge, and information regarding the New York City Draft Riots of 1863 to construct and engage in...
Curated OER
Woody Guthrie: Life and Art
Woody Guthrie will capture the imagination of even your most reluctant learners. Using his work, your class will develop their skills in non-fiction reading comprehension, interpreting primary source material, and use of multiple forms...
Curated OER
Letters from the Japanese American Internment
Young scholars delve into primary research. For this Japanese Internment lesson plan, students make deductions about life in an internment camp by reading and comparing letters written to Clara Breed. Along the way, they consider the...
Curated OER
Arkansas Photographs as Research Tools
Middle and high schoolers look at historical photos and written materials, and they develop questions which they use to interview an elder in their community. Learners are divided into groups and given sets of historical family photos...
Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association
A Research Project: A Discussion of the Recreating and Populating of a Colonial Village
Primary source research, secondary source readings, and discussion provide the understanding necessary for students to create a colonial persona, and simulate a situation appropriate for this person, time, and place. While the lesson...
Curated OER
Coming to America
Fifth graders listen to the song America by Neil Diamond, view pictures of Ellis Island, and role play as processing officers who evaluate, classify and recommend which immigrants can stay in America.
Curated OER
Bring No Poor Articles with You
Students compare their travel needs to homesteaders from the late 1800's in this multi-instructional activity unit. Students analyze a historic document, explain modes of transportation of the homesteaders, and articulate the personal...
Curated OER
Getting Here from There
Students role-play early 20th century immigrants on their way to Indiana. They consider the methods of travel available to them and write a letter to a friend outlining their travel plans and adventures during the trip.
Curated OER
A Day at the Market
Students describe role of market place in 18th-century Virginia, explain how trade and economy were part of young person's educational process,
take part in the classroom marketplace, and compare shopping in colonial times and as part...
Curated OER
Exploring Cultural Rituals
Students analyze images and music of common rituals in America with those of other countries. They use worksheets to compare and contrast the events.
Curated OER
Lugo Era
Fifth graders learn about the Lugo Era and how they lived by creating some materials that were used during that time. In this Lugo Era lesson, 5th graders use crafts to create items used during that era. They also learn songs and dances...
Curated OER
The Order of Good Cheer: Living it Up At "Club Champlain"
Seventh graders participate in a role play activity to study the development of the fur trade in North America and leaders like Champlain.
Curated OER
Water Conservation
First graders participate in a simulation in which they discover the community has been using too much water. In groups, they research the various ways the water is being used and create a home survey. They show the water usage of the...