Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How did Geography Affect the Economy of the Colonies

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the impact of geography on a region. In this geography lesson, 8th graders study the themes of geography. Students write an open response to a question.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Colonial Life in the Late 1700s: Distant Cousins

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars explore daily life and its influences in the late 1700s for two families in different colonies- Delaware and Massachusetts by becoming historical detectives. After gathering information from artifacts to make inferences...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kiskiack: Changing Architectural Landscape

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners compare and contrast the changing Native and English colonial architectural landscape of the 17th and 18th centuries. Students research and evaluate how economic technology, and the environment reflected cultural changes in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Immigration Past and Present

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars simulate a Commission hearing in which the class attempt to arrive at an immigration policy; individual essays by each student; and, if time permits, individual or group projects based on some aspect of America's...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Salem's Maritime History: A History of our New Nation

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the impact of Salem's maritime trade on America. Using primary source documents, they identify the use of expanding the number of products available and how it affected the economy. They write an essay discussing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Good Brother, Bad Brother

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are exposed to the writings of John Wilkes Booth. They discover that fanaticism is not just a modern phenomenon. They examine four periods in American history when treason was at issue.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Low-country Rice Planting and Cooking

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders compare the use of rice in the 1700s to the modern use of rice. For this lesson examining the importance of rice in US history, 8th graders learn about the role of rice in the early 1700s and compare the use of rice in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early America

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders, in groups, study the differences between the 13 Original Colonies, then explore the relationship between the Revolutionary War and the Civil War.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tobacco Road

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners use court records to learn that tobacco was used a source of currency in early Delaware history. Students choose something in their culture to use as currency instead of money.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Abenaki Indians: A Jigsaw Activity

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students work together to research the Abenaki Indians. They discover how the Native Americans lives where changed after contact with the Europeans. They compare and contrast the Indians and the Europeans and present their information to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Historical poetry is lyrical in form and rich with content. After examining the differences between the Northern and Southern states before and during the U.S. Civil War, learners complete a Venn diagram and create an illustration of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Have No Money, Would You Take Wampum

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students engage in a discussion about their experiences with goods, services, and money.  In this bartering activity, students read The Wampum Bird story and brainstorm their personal experiences with economics.   
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Globalization's Effects on Indonesian Women

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders investiage the status of women in contemporary Indonesian society and the business strategies of companies located there. They create a Web page that explains the effects of globalization on Indonesian women and shows...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Forest to Farm and Back Again

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students review and discuss a given set of questions regarding ecosystems. They analyze essays, maps and historical documents on timber harvesting and regeneration and then complete worksheets.
Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Colonial Economy

For Students 9th - 10th
Whatever early colonial prosperity there was resulted from trapping and trading in furs. In addition, the fishing industry was a primary source of wealth in Massachusetts. But throughout the colonies, people relied primarily on small...
Article
Henry J. Sage

Sage American History: Virginia: The London Company

For Students 9th - 10th
Article on the development and practices of the London Company, including discussion on the economy and resources in 17th Century colonial America.
Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Colonization

For Students 9th - 10th
For a variety of reasons, those who came to settle the early colonies sought a new homeland. Puritans, for example, established several settlements in Massachusetts. These English colonists were a pious, self-disciplined people who...
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: The Colonial Period

For Students 9th - 10th
The early settlers to the New World began to map strategy for their own system of government. This site details that strategy and what kinds of events spawned the idea of representative government.
Website
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: American Independence

For Students 9th - 10th
Part of Fordham University's Internet Modern History Sourcebook, this site gives historical background and extensive web resources on American Independence.
Unit Plan
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Freedom: A History of the u.s. Independence Webisode 1

For Students 9th - 10th
Webisode 1-Independence. The history of the United States is presented in a series of webisodes, within each are a number of segments.Included are links to lesson plans, teacher guides, resources, activities, and tools.
Activity
National Geographic

National Geographic: Society: A History of Trade in New York City

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
A lesson based on the New York City seal that explores the trading relationship between the Dutch and Native Americans in New Amsterdam.
Activity
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Colonial Williamsburg: Occupations and Trades of the 18th Century

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive list of the types and descriptions of occupations available in the 18th century. From the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Agriculture Rules the South

For Students 9th - 10th
The essay describes the devlopment of the Southern colonies as agricultural centers and the cultural aspects associated with rural, agricultural life.
Website
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: Coffee Fazenda of Brazil 1911

For Students 9th - 10th
The Modern History Sourcebook provides this great look at what life would be like on a coffee plantation during the early 20th century. It describes the houses, life on the plantation, colonists, and harvests.