Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Music, Slavery, and the Civil War

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Pupils explore the role of the spiritual played during the period of slavery and the Civil War. They listen to and analyze various forms of spirituals They gain an awareness of how music reflects cultures and social issues.
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

Mile in My Moccasins

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars explore the concept of philanthropy as it is related to the Native American culture. They research the history of different symbols used to find specific examples of philanthropy in Native American culture.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History & Diversity

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars list the qualities needed to build strong family relationships. They gain an appreciation for the sacrifices of their ancestors who came to America and gain insights into the many fine qualities of minority families.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Health and the Community

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students illustrate cause and effect of pollution to human health through the analysis of an image from the American Industrial Era. They investigate how industry affected rest of the community or city.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Journey of Sacagawea

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars examine the life of Sacagawea, the exceptional woman chosen to appear on the Golden Dollar, and write journal entries based on their research.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Maps of Indian Territory, the Dawes Act, and Will Rogers' Enrollment Case File

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students, in groups, analyze one map at a time, first the 1885 map, then the 1891 map. After they have completed the analysis sheets, they compare the two maps and answer questions imbedded in the plan.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

India: Where Remarkable Differences Are Ordinary

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students research India and Indian culture. In this Indian research lesson plan, students research and report on the lives of Indian children. The report will be in the form of a mock interview between a journalist and an Indian child....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Way

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students culminate a humanities project by improvising music to accompany a video of a particular era in US history.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Designing Another Juilliard

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students investigate the vision and history of the Juilliard School. They develop a personal mission statement, watch a video, conduct Internet research, and create a PowerPoint presentation about a fictional school that also promotes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Does This Song Really Say?

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students investigate communication by analyzing lyrics from a song. In this music arts instructional activity, students discuss slavery, the Underground Railroad and African American traditions while listening to a song called "This...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trouble for the United States in the Middle East: The Reagan-Bush Years

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine U.S. foreign affairs with the Middle East during the Reagan and Bush presidencies. In this Middle East lesson, students watch video segments, examine maps, and listen to music regarding the relationship between the U.S....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Facial Tattoos or Face Painting

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students use a grid-like method to create a life-size self-portrait from a 3X5 black and white photo. They explore the different customs and rituals surrounding face painting from ancient through modern civilizations. Students create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

PAINTING COLORFUL STORIES INFLUENCED BY JACOB LAWRENCE

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Learners research the background of Jacob Lawrence and study the music, poetry, and spirit of the Harlem Community that was present during Jacob Lawrence's formative and subsequent art productions. They create a piece of artwork...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Poetry of Woody Guthrie

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students develop oral fluency through reading and singing. They sing "This Land is Your Land" and discuss what the pictures and words mean in the song. They connect the song and poem and previous learning and write a journal.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thanksgiving Holiday

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore American culture by participating in arts and crafts activities. In this Thanksgiving lesson, 1st graders listen to music based upon the Thanksgiving tradition and examine images of the first Thanksgiving. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Monster's World

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Study African American inventor Jan Ernst Matzeliger and create imaginary monsters using texture.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Use of Fieldwork

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students transcribe, analyze, and archive fieldwork and create a team project drawn from fieldwork. They brainstorm a list of reasons why preservation of collected materials is important and explore the online archives of the American...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Border Goes to Hollywood

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students view a movie or tv show, or listen to music to analyze the ways border life is depicted in arts and entertainment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fiesta

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Young scholars demonstrate an understanding of what a fiesta is by participating in various activities and conducting research.
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Women on the Wall: A Vietnam Memorial

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students investigate the role of women during the Vietnam War. They conduct Internet research, and create a Chronicle of Women in Vietnam project that could take the form of a journal, PowerPoint presentation, or scrapbook that includes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Revolutionary Money

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Examine paper money from the American revolution! Historians study the paper bills and discuss the history of money. How has money changed over the times? Activities are included. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jazz in America

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students learn vocabulary associated with the Swing Era. They also listen to music from the time period.
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Watching Crystals Grow

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Amazing science can sometimes happen right before your eyes! The class gets cozy as they watch crystals grow. They use Epsom salts, rocks, and food coloring to create crystals. They'll observe the entire process, documenting every step...