Curated OER
Rocky Train Trek
Students research about America's westward movement and the effect of railroads on indigenous peoples, U.S. society, the environment, and the economy. They plan, map, and document an imaginary train journey across North America in the...
Curated OER
Worksheet 3/7 A Gaggle of Collective Nouns
Encourage your class to identify the correct usage of collective nouns in sentences with this activity. Given three choices, with the collective nouns circled in each possible choice, class members choose the sentence in which the...
Curated OER
Plains Indians
Students design a realistic replica of a Crow or Kiowa circular shield. They examine the material culture of the Plains Indians and the role of shields for the Crow and Kiowa. They study animal symbolism as used by North America's...
Curated OER
Urbanization As Seen Through Late 19c - Early 20c Architecture
Incorporating the cultures, architecture, and ethnic populations of several American cities (namely Chicago and New York), this presentation displays vivid photographs of buildings and people in 19th - 20th century urban America. The...
Core Knowledge Foundation
Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations
A 10-lesson unit explores the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations. Over the course of two weeks, scholars read nonfiction excerpts, discuss their findings, and complete activities. An assessment equipped with multiple choice and matching...
Annenberg Foundation
Exploring Borderlands
What motivated Europeans to explore the New World, and what effects did their exploration have on Native American populations? The second installment of a 16-part American Passages series prompts pupils to watch a video and read several...
Curated OER
Fort Clatsop: The Corps of Discovery's Winter at Fort Clatsop
Students investigate the Lewis and Clark expedition and how it helped to shape American expansion during its early history. Students reflect upon the period of history and its implications for America.
Curated OER
Ship of Gold
Learners research the events that were taking place in the U.S. during the time period when the SS Central America sank, and explore the adventurous, innovative, and individualistic traits that often define the American spirit.
Curated OER
The Name Game
Students identify acts of philanthropy in different works of literature. They idenify and illustrate examples in colonial America. They also read "Miss Rumphius" on how they can make the world a more beautiful place.
Curated OER
Baga Drum
Students examine a Baga Drum in order to explore the history of the Baga people of West Africa. In this art history lesson plan, students recognize figures used in Baga Drum design that represent aspects of Baga culture. They also design...
Curated OER
Life on the American Homefront
Seventh graders examine the conditions of the homefront during World War II. Using propaganda, they discuss its role and how it affected people who viewed it. They identify the role citizens played during the war and create their own...
Curated OER
The Great Depression: Lesson 1
Students recognize how the causes of the Great Depression affected people and their jobs. For this Great Depression lesson, students understand that most of the time news only came from newspapers. Students write a letter as though...
Curated OER
American Indians Heritage Series: The Inuit's
Students become aware that people lived in America before Columbus came. For this Inuit culture lesson, students discuss lives of the Inuits. Students listen to Mama Do You Love Me, A Promise is a Promise and The Polar Bear Son:...
Curated OER
The Other Americans
Students explain the concept of culture and identify the components of a culture. They describe the characteristics of selected immigrant groups and the conditions they faced upon arrival in the United States. Students analyze the...
Curated OER
Researching North American Tribes: The Cree
Students research the Cree tribe of North America. In this Native American lesson plan, students will research on-line, then compare and contrast the differences between the Cree tribe and other Native American tribes. Students will...
Curated OER
Indigenous Cultures Change Over Time
Fourth graders research and take notes while viewing a video on the Navajo Indians. In this Indigenous people instructional activity, 4th graders use the notes they've taken to compare and contrast the Navaho tribe to other Indigenous...
Curated OER
The American Dream
Students discuss the American dream and explain what the American Dream consists of. In this American Dream lesson, students listen to music about America for the reasons people love America. Students create a list of wants and...
Curated OER
Frieze Design in Indigenous Art
Students describe Frieze designs using the work of indigenous people. In this math instructional activity, students create 7 frieze designs using different patterns. They create one row of repeated art and repeat...
Curated OER
Americans
Young scholars examine what it means to be "American" in the eyes of people from other cultures. They explain how people from other cultures may view Americans as a group as being different from themselves and explain why understanding...
Curated OER
You and the U.S. Constitution
Fourth graders write new rules of their school. In this rules and U.S. Constitution lesson, 4th graders discuss why we celebrate the fourth of July and examine the U.S. Constitution. Students discuss the differences between people now...
Curated OER
Mathematics Word Problems About the 1800s
In this history and math worksheet, students solve 20 problems pertaining to life in America in the 1800s. Students read four paragraphs and solve the five problems using that information. Basic math operations are used.
Curated OER
Bison Gone: Appreciating Natural Resources
Students examine the effects of the loss of the bison after the Europeans arrived in North America. They conduct a demonstration using beans to demonstrate the difference between the number of bison before and after the arrival of the...
Curated OER
Corn Cob Toys
Students make toys from corn cobs. They study the many uses for corn, both historically and today. They write a description of the toy/object he or she has made and provide instructions for making it. They write and perform plays,...
Curated OER
Colonial Life in Virginia
Fourth graders compare and contrast life in England with plantation life in America. They study the dependencies or mini-industries that could be found on plantations.