Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spy on a Spider

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners view slides or live specimens to name and describe the distinguishing features of groups of arthropods, especially spiders and insects. They complete worksheets, observe webs and then search for and record where spiders can be...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Facts, Feats and Folklore: Spiders

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students review and discuss a variety of sayings, folklore and superstitions about spiders. They discuss this information and choose either an interesting fact or appealing foklore tradition to illustrate.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From the Land, Of the Land: An Interdisciplinary Lesson on Indigenous People

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research the concept of indigenous people then write a diamante poem about them. They research online and use an online poem tool to create their poem.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Island Research

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students collaborate to gather information about the geography, history, economy, climate, culture, and other aspects of life on the island of Eleuthera.
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs: Cet: Africans in America: The Raid on Harper's Ferry

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS' four-part series, "Africans in America," highlights the antislavery movement, including a focus on John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry. Content includes a description of the event, as well as the after-effects including the news of...
Website
PBS

Pbs: Africans in America the Haitian Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
This site, which tells of L'Ouverture's role in the revolution, is part of a larger PBS documentary on Africans in America. Included are a teacher's guide and a narrative of the topic. Also, make sure to use the links at the bottom of...
Unit Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: African Immigration: Africans in America: Life in a Slave Society

For Students 9th - 10th
An excellent overview of the African American experience in America beginning with West Africa during the slave trade, through emancipation and reconstruction, to "New beginnings."
Article
PBS

Africans in America: Revolution: Colonel Tye, 1753 1780

For Students 9th - 10th
Read this exciting account of Colonel Tye, a guerrilla leader of both blacks and whites who spread fear throughout New Jersey while fighting for the British in the Revolutionary War. From PBS.
Activity
PBS

Pbs Africans in America: The Boston Massacre

For Students 9th - 10th
From its series entitled "Africans in America," PBS offers a comprehensive overview of the Boston Massacre from the viewpoint of the poor, the oppressed, and enslaved or free Africans. The article highlights how these individuals were...
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs: Cet: Africans in America: The Middle Passage

For Students 9th - 10th
This website contains pictures and descriptions of the Middle Passage voyage. Click on Teacher's Guide for teacher resources.
Article
PBS

Pbs: Africans in America: Benjamin Banneker

For Students 9th - 10th
This website describes the life of Benjamin Banneker, a free and educated black man from Baltimore, Maryland. It describes his many accomplishments.
Article
PBS

Africans in America: Revolution: Boston King, C.1760

For Students 9th - 10th
An account of Boston King, an escaped slave who went behind British lines to obtain the freedom the British promised. Find out how he became free and how he spent the rest of his life. From PBS.
Primary
PBS

Africans in America: Venture Smith's Narrative on Buying His Freedom

For Students 9th - 10th
Here is the original text from Venture Smith's narrative on how he purchased his own freedom and his families, and his life afterwards.
Website
PBS

Pbs: God in America

For Students 9th - 10th
Site has much to offer on the topic of the 400-year history of religion and public life in America. At this point in time the full videos are available to watch for free. Topics include: American Scripture, God in the White House, Sacred...
Article
PBS

Africans in America: Olaudah Equiano

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from PBS' Africans in America series provides a biography of Olaudah Equiano, one of the many Africans forced to travel the Middle Passage. Links to related entries.
Article
PBS

Africans in America: Revolution: Agrippa Hull, 1759 1838

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief look at Agrippa Hull, a free black who served as an orderly to officers in the Continental Army. From PBS.
Article
PBS

Africans in America: Lucy Terry Prince: Freed Slave and Poet

For Students 9th - 10th
This website describes the life of Lucy Terry Prince, first female African American poet. She obtained her freedom by marrying a wealthy free black man who purchased her freedom.
Primary
PBS

Africans in America: Revolution: Significance of Dunmore's Proclamation

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief interview with Betty Wood, professor of history, on the significance of Dunmore's Proclamation to Loyalist plantation owners, Patriot plantation owners, and, in particular, the slaves themselves. From PBS.
Primary
PBS

Pbs: Cet: Africans in America: Lincoln's "House Divided" Speech

For Students 9th - 10th
Short history and text of Abraham Lincoln's "House Divided" speech given in 1858. Click on the link to see the text of the speech. Click on Teacher's Guide for teaching resources.
Article
PBS

Africans in America: John Brown's Black Raiders

For Students 9th - 10th
This page provides information on the black men who took part in John Brown's Raid. Includes quotes of associates referring to the men.
Article
PBS

Africans in America: Bacon's Rebellion

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides an overall view of the causes and effects of Bacon's Rebellion, the 1676 Virginia uprising which left Jamestown in flames.
Article
PBS

Africans in America: Phillis Wheatley

For Students 9th - 10th
This website briefly describes the life of Phillis Wheatley, poetess and freed slave.
Primary
PBS

Pbs Africans in America: Forten Letter to Cuffe

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about James Forten's opposition to Paul Cuffe's American Colonization Society, which sought to recruit African-Americans to emigrate to Africa in the early 19th century. In addition, this site provides a link to the text of Forten's...
Lesson Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Democracy in America: Civil Rights: Demanding Equality

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This unit embraces those individuals who have brought change to the United States in both social and political equality through a Video on Demand, activities, and other enlightening resources.