Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spirituals

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students review factors that contributed to the development of the spiritual, which reflects the influence of African religious and Christian traditions, and slavery. Students collect spirituals/songs of their heritage from family...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jackie Steals Home

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers read articles relating to Jackie Robinson's breaking of the racial barrier in professional baseball. This leads to a deeper exploration of racism in the United States. They use a variety of worksheets imbedded in this plan...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

George Washington & Civic Virtue: The Necessary Elements of the Republic

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the character of George Washington. In this George Washington instructional activity, students read "Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior,"  Washington's First Inaugural Address, and his Farewell Address....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Committing to Nonviolence: A Lesson from Viva La Causa

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the social change movements of the American 20th century. In this nonviolence lesson, students research the work of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Caesar Chavez. Students compare and contrast the social...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Post-War Suburbanization: Causes and Interpretations

For Teachers 9th - 12th
In this teaching American history worksheet, students examine a primary source document regarding post-World War II suburbanization. Students discuss their impressions of the document.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating and Evaluating Ethnic Advertising

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the concept of ethnic advertising. In this African American history lesson, students watch segments of videos about the history of ethnic advertising. High schoolers respond to questions that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Post- Modernism

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students participate in a lesson that investigates post-modernism in American literature. They conduct the lesson with the help of reading "America" by Ginsberg to create context. Then students define the genre and the culture that has...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pennsylvania Boxing: Living the American Dream

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners reflect on fictional and real boxers from Pennsylvania.  In this history lesson, high schoolers read, reflect and discuss the historical period following World War II and observe the boxers that were famous from...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

ON BECOMING A NONVIOLENT WARRIOR

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students examine the concept of non-violent social change. In this lesson on social change, students research and role play to demonstrate ways in which this might be accomplished while making connections to various events in history.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constructing Things

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students analyze the history and art in the Constructivism movement. In this art analysis lesson, students analyze and consider the material types in the art form. Students complete image based discussion. Students work in groups using...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What’s in a Name? Understanding Malcolm X

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the life of Malcolm X. In this autobiography lesson plan, students read The Autobiography of Malcolm X, investigate and evaluate the time period of his life, and write an essay based on their reflections pertaining to his...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A New Birth of Freedom: Black Soldiers in the Union Army

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars use primary documents to analyze the events surrounding black soldiers joining the Union Army. In this content area reading lesson, students view multiple primary documents, analyzing and answering questions about them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

VH1's When Disco Ruled the World

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners choose a minority culture or an event and research the musical influences of that culture or event on American popular music. They discuss how minority cultures and events in American society influenced the Disco era.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating a Neighborhood Timeline

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research information about their neighborhoods. Uncovering facts about geology and Native Americans, they examine how the neighborhood has evolved over time. They work together to create a timeline of specific events.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WWII Homefront Roundtable

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars play a role in a roundtable discussion after researching how the war impacted their character. Students play roles such as: African-American, American Indian, Japanese-American, German-American, Italian-American, Jewish...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Anticipatory Set for Japanese Internment

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students simulate Japanese relocation to internment camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. They select items to pack that are personally, sentimentally, and financially important to them. They create a Venn diagram comparing and...
Lesson Plan
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Freedom Voices: Abolition and Suffrage in the United States

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Pupils explore abolition and suffrage in the United States.
Lesson Plan
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Criminal or Hero

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the origins of slavery.  In this US History instructional activity, 5th graders create a map of the United States that shows where slavery existed.  Students examine the life of a Northern slave through...
Lesson Plan
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U.S. History: The Second Great Migration

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the migration of rural African Americans to northern cities following World War !!. After predicting the effects of cultural and economic factors, they write essays explaining the impact of migration on communities and...
Lesson Plan
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Say It Loud!: A Celebration Of Black Music In America - Lesson 5

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners identify many genres of Black music. They listen to examples of black artists playing songs of social concious, then identify issues that are addressed by today's Black artists.
Lesson Plan
PBS

The Sixties: Dylan Plugs in and Sells Out

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Before Woodstock, there was Newport. Get plugged in to the social changes of the 1960s with a lesson that looks at Bob Dylan's performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival as a symbol of the radical changes that marked the era.
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Curated OER

Mystery Strategy for Elementary Students

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Learners of all ages solve historical mysteries. Elementary learners research historical topics by organizing information presented by their instructor, formulating hypotheses, and considering solutions to mysteries presented about...
Lesson Plan
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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.
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Curated OER

Religious Influence On US History

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explore the influence of religion on U.S. History. Using an internet database website, they research the religious affiliation of governors, Presidents and Vice-Presidents. Students write a paragraph explaining how...