Curated OER
Bats Migrate South
Pupils examine the life of bats in Illinois. Using the internet, they research the history of the bat in Illinois and describe the way they find prey by using echolocation. They report their findings to the class and answer any...
Curated OER
Social Studies: The Lewis and Clark Trail Today
Students locate present-day towns along the Lewis and Clark Trail and compare them to towns in 1800, 1900, and 2,000. Working in groups, they conduct Intenet research to locate the wons along the trail and research their history and...
Curated OER
Zhou Dynasty
Students research the contributions of the Zho Dynasty. They identify the Mandate of Heaven, and the growth of the economy under the Zhou. They research the history of the discovery of silk and its role as an export. Finally, they...
Curated OER
Mary Ann Patten: Clipper Ship Heroine
In two groups, learners research the history and current building of clipper ships. In this inquiry activity, students present information and compare and contrast the technological revolution with the development of clipper ships....
Curated OER
Africans in Mexico
Students read case studies to examine the role of Africans in Mexico. Using maps, they research the areas that are discussed in the text and map out movement maps of Africans to and from Africa. They research the history of the Mexico...
Curated OER
A Nation of Nations Lesson Plan: Charting African Ethnicities in America
Pupils read a portion of the narrative, The Transatlantic Slave Trade, to explain the ethnic origins of enslaved Africans brought to the US. They create charts and bar graphs comparing ethnicities in the lowlands and tidewater regions.
Curated OER
Natural History of Costa Rica
Pupils use outline maps to become acquainted with Costa Rica. They see how it was formed and how its origin has created very diverse environments. Students then use atlases and compare their physical maps with maps of climate and the...
Curated OER
America 2000: Federal Round Table Discussion
Eighth graders examine the United States Constitution and identify the beliefs and values Americans follow today. In groups, they compare and contrast state's rights and federal rights and the issues affecting them. They debate the...
Curated OER
Exploring the Roots of Modern Dance in America
Students develop an understanding of how African culture impacted modern dance in the United States.
Curated OER
A Colony is Born : Lesson 5 - Dear Mem
Discover colonies! Young historians will listen to a primary source journal entry read aloud with a backdrop of wave sounds. They discuss the entry, add historical facts to a chart and personal insights to another. Then they listen to...
Syracuse University
Harlem Renaissance
The music and literature of the Harlem Renaissance defined American culture, including its poetry. Using a poem from the period, individuals explore its musical qualities and how it is reflective of the period. Then, they use what they...
TPS Journal
Sourcing a Document: The First Thanksgiving
How reliable is a painting of the first Thanksgiving if it was created 300 years after the fact? Learners assess the validity of a primary source image to determine what it can actually reveal about this event.
University of Pennsylvania
Using Political Postcards to Teach a Revolution of Political Thought
Discuss how political postcards affected everyday people's thoughts and beliefs. Pupils continue a unit on the Dreyfus Affair as they engage in class discussion, watch a video, view a PowerPoint presentation, and fill out worksheets to...
University of Pennsylvania
From the Dreyfus Affair to the World Today
Historical events do not occur in a vacuum. Such is the case of the Dreyfus Affair, where the connection between Captain Alfred Dreyfus, Emile Zola, and Hannah Arendt is fused by the events of the early 20th century. The informative...
Curated OER
Renaissance Occupations - The New Middle Class
Learners share their knowledge of the Renaissance Period. In this creative activity, pupils create fliers detailing services offered during this era. They focus on a particular occupation and detail how this job has changed from then...
Smithsonian Institution
We Have a Story to Tell: Native Peoples of the Chesapeake Region
How did colonial settlement and the establishment of the United States affect Native Americans in the Chesapeake region? Your young historians will analyze contemporary and historical maps, read informational texts, and work in groups to...
Weebly
Liberty Theme Park Project
Invite your young historians to demonstrate how the American Revolution truly was one crazy ride after another as they design a theme park! This unique and engaging project prompts learners to consider major events leading up to and...
Curated OER
Paul Revere and Point of View
Pupils analyze the engraving of Paul Revere to make a judgment about the time period of the Boston Massacre. The objective is that one creates an account of the event from the perspective of a British soldier.
Curated OER
Three Visions for African Americans
Students consider the plight of African Americans in post-Reconstruction America. In this African American history instructional activity, students discover the visions of African American leaders Booker T. Washington, W. E. B. Du Bois,...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
How the First State Constitutions Helped Build the U.S. Constitution
Did you know that the United States Constitution was adopted after many state constitutions were already in place? Young scholars examine facts about the influence of states through an informative and interesting resource. Groups then...
Curated OER
Ship of Gold
Students research the events that were taking place in the U.S. during the time period when the SS Central America sank, and explore the adventurous, innovative, and individualistic traits that often define the American spirit.
Curated OER
I'll Trade a Ponce de Leon for a Columbus...
Third graders research the discovery of the Americas by various explorers. They create a multiedia presentation about an explorer of their choice including their motivations, obstacles, and successes. Their explorer information will be...
Curated OER
Immigration in Massachusetts, 1880-1920
Students, in groups, research immigration in America at the turn of the century. They put together a series of original written essays, letters, newspaper columns, etc. that show what it was like to live as an American citizen and as an...
Curated OER
Great Explorers
Students research an explorer and present a multimedia presentation on the explorer. In this United States explorers lesson, students watch a video about Lewis and Clark. Students use Google Earth to study their journey and keep a KWL...