Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Voyage to Freedom - What Does It Mean?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate the Underground Railroad by creating a quilt.  In this U.S. History instructional activity, 5th graders discuss the history of slavery through a class "word splash" and by reading an Underground Railroad...
Lesson Plan
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Master Spy

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explain that a code is a system of symbols, letters, words, or signals that are used instead of ordinary words and numbers to send messages or to store information. They practice deciphering a variety of secret codes used in...
Lesson Plan
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Supreme Court Shake-Up

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students examine the role of the Supreme Court through an interactive program. They analyze the history of the Court and its members. They finally explore how the Supreme Court works.
Lesson Plan
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Claiming Common Ground? The Civil War and the Preservation of Claiming Common Ground? The Civil War and the Preservation of George Washington's Mount Vernon

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore how people viewed George Washington in the 19th Century.  In this U.S. History lesson, students create a timeline of events during the Civil War, including government and court decisions.  Following...
Lesson Plan
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Pre WWII Germany - Inflation

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders differentiate between inflation and hyperinflation. They explain the economic conditions in Germany before WWII and the roles of government in a market economy. They analyze the importance of keeping inflation under...
Lesson Plan
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California: Land and People

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research information about some of California indigenous tribes to find out as much as possible about the first people found in the four regions of California. They research the history of a selected tribe and their...
Lesson Plan
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The Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students reflect on the Declaration of Independence.  In this U.S. History lesson, students read the Declaration of Independence then complete an activity and worksheet on the topic.
Lesson Plan
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Free India: Resisting British Rule in India

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explore the impact of nonviolence during Gandhi's Free India movement.  In this World History lesson, students complete several activities including research, class discussions and a multimedia project, all centered around...
Lesson Plan
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A More Perfect Union: Women's Suffrage and the Constitution

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students reflect on the pros and cons of Women's Suffrage and it was viewed during the late 1800's.  In this history lesson plan, students will analyze documents on women's suffrage so that they can compare and contrast the rights...
Lesson Plan
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Building Suburbia: Highways and Housing in Postwar America

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students determine how suburbs changed America. For this post World War II lesson, students complete research projects that require them to examine the growth of suburbs in the 1950's and 1960's. Students reveal how government policies,...
Lesson Plan
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1948 - Berlin Airlift

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars examine a document from the Berlin Airlift in order to research his important event in World History.
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If These Walls Could Talk

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students compare Neoclassical objects from the Getty collection to American civic architecture of the time. They discuss the moral and political ideas of the Enlightenment and articulate how these art forms influenced democratic thought...
Lesson Plan
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Show Me the Money

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the history of paper currency in the United States and consider anti-counterfeit strategies that are used by making their own paper.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Understanding the Salem Witch Trials

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students describe some of the important elements of life in Puritan New England. They create a timeline of the events of the Salem Witch Trials. They work in groups to explore the concept of multiple interpretations of history.
Lesson Plan
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Art and Propaganda

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the types of propaganda used throughout World War II. In groups, they view examples of different posters and artwork used to identify the human emotions the government was trying to appeal through. They develop their...
Lesson Plan
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FDR's Fireside Chats: The Power of Words

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine Franklin D. Roosevelt's Fireside Chats. In this presidential history instructional activity, students listen to the radio broadcasts of select FDR Fireside Chats. Young scholars analyze the effectiveness of his...
Lesson Plan
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Alexis de Tocqueville’s America

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students analyze de Tocqueville's America. In this democratic history lesson, students use primary sources to determine what de Tocqueville found to be so unique in the America. Students analyze artifacts, maps and documents through...
Lesson Plan
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Jim Thorpe's Bright Path

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students read about the life of Jim Thorpe and answer focus lessons about the book.  In this Jim Thorpe lesson, students celebrate the American Indian culture and learn of the hardships Jim Thorpe overcame.  Students find...
Lesson Plan
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Changes in the New Nation

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Young scholars explore how technology has slowly changed the world, starting in the 18th Century.  In this United States History lesson, students work in teams to complete numerous activities that compare and contrast life before...
Lesson Plan
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Establishing the Presidency

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students consider how George Washington influenced the presidency. In this presidential history worksheet, students discuss the precedents Washington set and analyze a letter that Washington sent to James Madison. 
Lesson Plan
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In Remembrance of George Washington

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the contributions of George Washington. In this early American history lesson, students analyze the provided eulogy for George Washington written by Henry Lee and then write their eulogies for the first president.
Lesson Plan
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Labor Unions and Strikes

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Teens explore economics by listening to a labor history lecture and an excerpt from Looking Backward, by Edward Bellamy. A detailed outline is provided for the lecture, along with follow up and assessment questions. In groups, they...
Lesson Plan
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Television Goes Digital

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the difference between analog and digital televisions. They examine how the technology works and the impact of television through history. They also compare older television sets to ones found today.
Lesson Plan
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Thank You Notes

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the history of presidential proclamations and develop their own Thanksgiving Proclamations, highlighting current issues and sentiments.