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Gilbert Stuart and Presdidential Portraits

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students read passages about the context of paintings for artist Gilbert Stuart. In this art history lesson, students study paintings by artist Gilbert Stuart and learn about the context of his art. Students then complete a presidential...
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Fugitive Slaves and the Underground Railroad

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders consider the impact of the Underground Railroad. In this slavery activity, 11th graders examine primary documents as they conduct independent research to explore the role of the Underground Railroad during the fight for...
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African Americans in the Maritime Trades

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore Civil Rights by analyzing U.S. history. In this African American workforce lesson, students discuss the history of African Americans in Baltimore and the need for steady work that formed. Students define vocabulary terms...
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Explanation Expedition

For Teachers 5th
In this clever research lesson, student groups research certain cultural aspects of a foreign country, and fill out a worksheet with notes. In this note taking lesson, 5th graders write about the environment, entertainment, art, and...
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Halloween Paper Bag Mask

For Teachers K - 6th
Students create Halloween paper bag masks using paper bags, scissors, pens, crayons, paints, glue, glitter, tissue paper, and various other art materials. This lesson plan is ideal for late-October and can be done in as little as 30...
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The Harlem Renaissance

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students locate Harlem on a city map of New York City. As a class, they are given information and take notes on the Harlem Renaissance. They are read two poems by different authors and write a paragraph about what they believe it means....
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How Music Motivates

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners form conclusions regarding the motivational effects of music on the mind during the Civil Rights era. In this Civil Rights movement activity, students describe how music motivates, describe the motivational role in freedom songs...
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Creating a Self Portrait painting With Decorative Frame

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders view a large image of a painting and discuss the history and its role in past and current culture in Mexico. Student list the symbols portrayed in the work and explain their significance. Students use elements of art to...
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The Aleut Evacuation: An Overlooked Injustice

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students read and complete activities about the Aleut tribe and Russian impact on the people. In this Aleut and Russian history lesson, students read a passage about the history between the Russians and the Aleut tribe. Students write a...
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Bound for Britain

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars discover the great immigration to the United Kingdom by examining historic photographs.  In this world history lesson, students research the migration of West Indians to England in the early 1950's.  Young...
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Dear Mrs. Parks Teacher's Guide

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students read and respond to the book, Dear Mrs. Parks. In this African-American literature instructional activity, students read the text and examine several vocabulary words from the text. Students answer 11 discussion questions and...
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Walking With a Line

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Learners create various design drawings using parallel, oblique, and divergent lines and the medium of black paper and colored gel pens.
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Race, Language and Separation

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders discuss the idea of separation in today's society. In groups, they examine the laws used in the past with a focus on "separate, but equal". They review the Brown v. Board of Education case and determine if it caused or...
Lesson Plan
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Foundations

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the history of literature in America by looking at the types of genres first read in the United States. They look at the foundations of how the original colonists had the intention of transmitting religious and moral...
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Ben Franklin's 300th Birthday Bash

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Pupils read a story about Benjamin Franklin's 300th birthday and answer vocabulary and comprehension questions about it. In this Benjamin Franklin birthday lesson plan, students explore Mr. Franklin's role as an author, editor,...
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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Young scholars view examples of Depression era images and relate them to chapters from Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. In this Maya Angelou lesson, students discuss chapters 8 and 9 from the text and define setting. Young...
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Moving In Character

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders compare and contrast the motivations and reactions of literary characters from different historical eras confronting similar situations and conflicts. For this history lesson, 8th graders read excerpts from the books,...
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Rosa Parks Dies

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students read a story called Civil Rights Leader Rosa Parks Diesand answer vocabulary and comprehension questions about it. In this current events Rosa Parks lesson plan, students respond to literature by answering questions, sharing...
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Gettysburg: The Civil War's Costliest Battle

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Learners research the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg. In this Gettysburg instructional activity, students analyze journals and letters written by the Gettysburg soldiers. Learners define Civil War soldier vocabulary words....
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Children of Long Ago

For Teachers Pre-K - 4th
Young scholars complete pre reading, writing, during reading, and interdisciplinary activities for the book Children of Long Ago. In this reading lesson plan, students complete journal entries, answer short answer questions, have...
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And You Don't Stop - 30 Years of Hip-Hop, Episode 2, Lesson 1

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers discuss Public Enemy's lyrics and compare and contrast them with songs popular during the Civil Rights Movement. They write their own rap song that expresses feelings of oppression or freedom from oppression.
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On Being Different

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars synthesize ideas about societal norms in the late 1880s and current day. They demonstrate understanding of Thomas Eakins art and life events through verbal discussion. They compile and present ideas in written form.
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Visual Arts

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study the stained glass produced for the Gothic cathedrals, needlework, castles, and tapestry of the Middle Ages.
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Impact on Your Essence

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students are introduced to the use of symbolism and how it can change one's view of a piece of art. Using a piece of art, they view it as if they were the artist and create a symbol that accompanies it. They discuss the impact of two-...