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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Senior Historians

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders interview seniors to see what Boise, Idaho was like in the past. In this Idaho instructional activity, 3rd graders come up with interview questions and they meet with a senior "historian." They write about what they learned...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Becoming A Local Historian

For Teachers K - 4th
Students practice the art of being a historian. They compare primary and secondary resources to conduct a critical thinking assignment. Students compare the map of the Baton Rouge area to a modern one in order to make inferences about...
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Activity
PBS

Before We Travel, We Research

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Context is key when it comes to historical research. Prior to field research, class members learn as much as they can about the site they are going to visit. Groups investigate and prepare presentations about the history of the site, the...
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Lesson Plan
Historical Thinking Matters

Social Security: 5 Day Lesson

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Did the New Deal fundamentally shift the role of the American government in the economy? Your class members will examine the interpretations of various historians in answering this question, and use a variety of primary and secondary...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Freed the Slaves During the Civil War?

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Pose the question to your historians: who really freed the slaves? They critically assess various arguments, using primary sources as evidence. In small groups, scholars jigsaw 5 primary source documents (linked), and fill out an...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Writing History: From Students to Scholars

For Teachers 9th - 12th
An Online NewsHour article about scholarly ethics launches this study of plagiarism. Since historians are supposed to bring original ideas and perspectives to their publications, they must give credit to the ideas of others. After a...
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Lesson Plan
Briscoe Center for American History

Applying the SOAPS Method of Analyzing Historical Documents

For Teachers 4th - 7th Standards
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...
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Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Themes vs. Timelines

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Teaching history through a thematic curriculum fosters a higher level of engagement and critical thinking in young historians.
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Lesson Plan
Briscoe Center for American History

Mary Maverick and Texas History - Part 1

For Teachers 4th - 7th Standards
What's the difference between a diary and a memoir? Young historians explore the ramifications of this question as they learn how to use primary source materials to gain an understanding of life on the Texas frontier.
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Lesson Plan
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Historical Thinking Matters

Spanish-American War: 3 Day Lesson

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Why did the United States choose to invade Cuba in 1898? As part of a 3-day lesson, your young historians will first develop working hypotheses to answer this question, then work with a variety of historical primary source documents that...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Do We Learn About the Past?

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners examine archaeological discoveries. In this learning about the past lesson, students view a "Magic School Bus" video, discuss the role of an archeologist, and complete a graphic organizer. Learners discuss a variety of artifacts...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Sima Qian: Records of the Grand Historian

For Students 7th - 9th
Print this resource and activate prior knowledge about Ancient China. This page includes a quote from Sima Qian and two critical thinking questions related to the dynastic system in China.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson: Uncovering a Mystery: Making a Hypothesis

For Teachers 1st - 6th
The class is presented with an image of a hand-carved leg. They act as art historians and hypothesize as to the purpose, nature, and creators of this amazing wooden leg. They compose journal entries from the point of view of an art...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clara Barton's House: Home of the American Red Cross

For Teachers 6th - 8th
A fabulous lesson on the life of Clara Barton awaits your class. They describe how Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross, and the role it played in organizing help for those in need. Additionally, young historians explain how...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Articles of Confederation Game

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? Your historians will find out firsthand through this simulation activity, during which they will use money (consider using extra credit) to demonstrate the inherent flaws. It's simple: each...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"No News Like Ancient News"

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Want to know more about Ancient history? Young historians will read a minimum of two web sites to complete the chart "Residents of Olympus". They choose one Greek god or goddess to research. This could be a small group activity or...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

The Body Talks

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Young historians examine the gestures of human subjects represented in Mannerist, Baroque and Renaissance paintings. After they play charades and attempt to match dialogue with body language, learners create a drawing that includes...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hit The Trail

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Young historians research one of the most colorful periods in US History: the cattle drives of the 1800's. They research the three most popular trails, and complete mapping and writing assignments about each one. The instructional...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Life of Harriet Tubman

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
A well-designed lesson teaches about the history of Harriet Tubman, the Underground Railroad, and the issues of civil liberties. Young historians watch a video, access Internet resources, and engage in cooperative activities which should...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Arkansas State Flag

For Teachers K - 3rd
Young historians take a look at the history of the Arkansas state flag. Pupils color, cut, and paste together their own versions of the flag. They learn about the meaning of the flag's colors, and what the various symbols on the flag...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Go for the Gold!

For Teachers 5th - 12th
The options are vast with this Ancient Greece and Olympics research project! Using Scholastic online resources, historians have interactive and educational supports to guide them through researching and writing about the 2004 Olympics in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lights! Cameras! Action!: Creating a Drama About the Lyme Art Colony

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Discuss the lives of artists in the Lyme Art Colony in the 1900s with this resource. Young historians write and perform a short scene depicting individuals who lived in the Griswold boardinghouse, used by the colony artists. They use the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching Justice: Schooling and the Four Waves of U.S. Immigration

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
U.S. immigration is the focus of a unit on social justice. Over the course of a school year, young historians read a variety of texts to learn about four waves of immigration that have occurred over time in the U.S. An emphasis on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ben Franklin Timeline

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Celebrate inventions such as lightning rods, bifocals, and stoves with a Ben Franklin Day. Young historians conduct research and write a paragraph about an accomplishment of Benjamin Franklin including an illustration or collage that...

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