Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who is Fit to Enter? The Immigrant Experience at Ellis Island

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the purpose of Ellis Island. For this immigration lesson, students explore the operation of Ellis Island as they participate in a simulation that requires them to organize and handle immigrants coming into the...
Interactive
Curated OER

Fact and Opinion Pre-Test

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this fact/opinion activity, students complete 10 multiple choice questions. Students may click on a link to view correct answers. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Women: Struggle and Triumph

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students perform research using primary resources in order to create a knowledge base for the place of women in society. The sources are synthesized by students to reveal the true story of the extraordinary women of America.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning Landscapes

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders analyze a landscape depicting Yosemite during the time of the Wild West. They compare their perceptions of the West from film and television to this representation. They observe the use of scale and color to depict size and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Beauty: Looking Sharp

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students create covers for their "nature journals" using watercolor techniques and the artistic ideas of color, depth, and focal point. This activity can be used in the Science or Art classroom and meets national standards for both.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Hunt the Fact Monster Hunt #21

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this internet research worksheet, students answer ten unrelated questions by using the Fact Monster search engine. A sample question asks: "Achilles, one of the strongest heroes in Greek mythology, met his death when he was wounded in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stand Up And Sing

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine pieces of sheet music and identify context, purpose, and perspective with regard to the political, social, and economic conditions existing at that time. They create a cover illustrating a topic of the Progressive Era.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pioneer Perspectives-Diverse Opinions on Westward Migration

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Young scholars examine the Westward Migration and expansion of the United States from the perspective of a family migrating westward. They analyze pictures, and in small groups write and present a script based on a photograph,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Hatfield and McCoy Feud

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research the Hatfield-McCoy feud. In this research lesson, 4th graders study the families, photographs, and  timelines. Students create their own trivia game about the feud.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Immigration in America

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars use primary sources to study immigration. In this immigration lesson, students analyze photographs, posters, letters, and documents from Ellis Island. Young scholars complete analysis worksheets as they evaluate the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sing Out Loud: The Slave Spirituals Historical and Cultural Implications during Reconstruction

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students identify, summarize and present facts about cultural, educational and political inequalities of Reconstruction, explain hidden codes of slave spirituals and their importance in slaves' communication, and create poetry based on...
Lesson Plan
Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area

Life as a Pioneer

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine historical documents and research why early pioneers settled on the Iowa prairie. They review maps, describe the impact of railroading, describe life in pioneer times, and identify the effects of drought, prairie fire,...
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Harvest the Wind

For Teachers 5th - 7th Standards
Wind is a natural resource available around the world. Help your pupils appreciate the power and importance of wind by researching wind farms, making pinwheels, and designing windmills. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Acid Stomach

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students develop an understanding of how aspirin works and how understanding it's interaction with other chemicals in the body aided doctors in medical research. They complete a lab that compares the reaction of regular aspirin and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dolores Huerta

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Learners examine the life of Dolores Huerta and her contributions to the development of labor unions. They read the book "Cesar Chavez: Triumph of Spirit," and in groups create a quiz, complete a Venn diagram, listen to a guest...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Urban Growth in America

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine urban growth in America. In this urbanization lesson, students watch segments of the Discovery video "Urban Growth in America." Young scholars conduct further research pertaining to the industrial revolution, New...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pioneer America: Journey West

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders experience pioneer life on the Oregon trail. In this pioneer lesson, 4th graders research the reasons for moving west and what life was like on the trail. They create a map, complete an oral presentation, and write about...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Xenophobia

For Students 8th - 12th
In this historical events worksheet, students analyze an anti-immigration political cartoon and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing the Wind

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students make a windmill.  In this wind lesson, students learn background information about the windmill, complete an activity where they create a windmill, discuss using wind as a natural resource and brainstorm other inventions...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Susan B. Anthony: Rebel for the Cause

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the suffragist, Susan B. Anthony, documents her life and era with photographs, illustrations, and interviews. It demonstates how this feminist leader simultaneously influenced events and was shaped by external forces.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Japanese Folktales for Children

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students study Japanese folkart traditions and culture through storytelling, class discussions, and a creative project. The project involves students creating drawings of a pre-selected folktale and putting them together in a class book.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pushing the Boundaries: The Pioneer Spirit

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders recognize how social reform occurred at the turn of the century. Through a debate, 11th graders determine advantages and drawbacks of traveling west using original sources and descriptions of the attitudes, beliefs, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nineteenth Century Family Portraits

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students compare two nineteenth century family portraits using historical data, statistics, and historical context. Students analyze their own family pictures adjusting the criteria to the current decade. Lastly students study the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Arkansas and the Civil Rights Movement

For Students 4th - 6th
For this Arkansas reading comprehension worksheet, students read a 2-page selection regarding the state and the Civil Rights Movement and they answer 10 true or false questions pertaining to the selection.