Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Grand Adventure of Lewis and Clark

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students take a closer look at the Lewis and Clark expedition. In this Louisiana Purchase lesson, students discover tools used by the men as they explored the land. Students also read excerpts from The Incredible Journey and America...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hate Crimes Legislation

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students investigate hate crime legislation. For this hate crime lesson, students examine the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act Students explore the fine between hate crime legislation and First Amendment...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Indentured Servitude and Immigration

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed
Students examine indentured servitude. In this Teaching Tolerance lesson, students compare indentured servitude of colonial America to the undocumented immigration of today. Students write reflections regarding how they feel about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Foundations of American Government: Teacher’s Guide

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the foundations of America. In this early American history lesson, students watch Discovery video segments regarding the Boston Massacre, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Legislating neutrality

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explore the Merchants of death thesis.  In this American History lesson plan, 11th graders explain the Neutrality Laws.  Students assess the overall effectiveness of US neutrality policy. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Roles of the President

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore presidential duties. In this executive branch lesson, students examine myths regarding the role of the President of the United States and discuss them. Students view a PowerPoint presentation that feature the President's...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sing the Blues

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore examples of this musical form, then write their own lyrics for a blues song.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Leadership and Impact of Booker T. Washington

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders explore the life and leadership of Booker T. Washington. In this Booker T. Washington instructional activity, 12th graders examine images of Washington, listen to audio of his voice, and his most famous speech. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microbes & History: Microbial influence on the spread of Civilization

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Pupils explore how to extract plant fibers from the flax plant Linum usitatissimum in the process of making linen fibers. Doing so spark interest in the importance of microbial action on the spread of human culture and civilization.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Guide Through the Culture of the Blues

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the history of blues music and discover how it relates to the music of today. As a class, they listen to the drum songs of Africa and compare it to the use of drums in pop music today. Using the internet, they research...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wolves: DNA Pawprinting

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore and research the most widely distributed terrestrial carnivore, the wolf. They critique the true mystery of this animal and then form an opinion about this creature. The restriction-site analysis of mitochondrial DNA is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pitch, Yaw & Roll

For Teachers K - 12th
Students practice the concepts of pitch, yaw and roll. They practice pitch, yaw, roll in a make-believe airplane simulator. Students explore about air, forces, and movement of flight. They read for themselves about air; lift, dragweight,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Studies: Manifest Destiny or Bust

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the westward movement between 1800 and 1861 in the United States. They write narratives from the standpoint of those cultures that were repressed during this period, such as Native Americans, slaves, or Mexicans. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

McCarthysim

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explore and analyze the impact of the Cold War at home and how the fear of communism and nuclear war affected American life throughout the Cold War. They study what role Senator Joseph McCarthy played on American fears...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Surveying: 19 Chains and 50 Links

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Through an interdisciplinary lesson, emerging engineers explore the history of surveying systems. After discussing various systems, they perform surveys on printable pages. Using their geometric skills, they physically stake out plots...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering the Journal of Augustus Pelletier

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore journals. In this Discovering the Journal of Augustus Pelletier lesson, students read the historical fiction book and conduct research activities to validate events in the plot that reflect the Lewis and Clark...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rewards of Caring

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore the concept of democracy. In this character education lesson, students discover enlightened self-interest and discuss a quote from Alexis de Tocqueville.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Road to the American Revolution

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the causes of the American Revolution. In this American Revolution instructional activity, 5th graders examine the people, places, and events that led to the outbreak of war in the colonies.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Gettysburg Address

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the implications of the Gettysburg Address. In this Civil War lesson, students read a handout regarding Gettysburg Address, analyze an excerpt of the speech, and complete the provided worksheet activities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Personal Stories and Primary Sources: Conversations with Elders

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students learn from their elders. In this oral and social histories lesson, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of the America in which their grandparents grew up. Students conduct interviews with elders in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Develop a Bird Feeder Watch List

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners explore biology by identifying animals on their school ground. In this bird species activity, students create and utilize a simple bird feeder to attract birds near their classroom at which point they observe the color, size and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cemetery Mapping Lesson

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore historical records. In this cemetery mapping lesson, 8th graders analyze local community data as they examine gravestones and read epitaphs. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Zora Hurston Teacher's Guide

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students explore American culture by reading classic literature in class. In this African-American history lesson, students read the story Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree while identifying the work and contributions of the real life...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Breaking News: International Coalition Attacks Libya (March 20th, 2011)

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore current events by completing a list of worksheet activities. In this Libyan history instructional activity, students read a news article discussing the problems with Gaddafi in Libya and the effect it is having in the...