Curated OER
Mapping Central Park
Learners use the mapping skills to explore New York's Central Park. They examine a map of Central Park to discover its features. After discussing the characteristics of the park, students design their own dream park and draw it to scale.
Curated OER
Doing Our Share Lesson 1: Michigan History of Philanthropy
Students research the history of philanthropy in Michigan by looking at images and pictures while discussing the definition of philanthropy. They design a picture of the first time they saw a philanthropic act and write three sentences...
Curated OER
African-American Folktales
Students are introduced to the characteristics of folktales and their purpose. As a class, they listen to a folktale, answer questions about the characters and share which part they enjoyed the best. In groups, they compare and...
Curated OER
Simple Cycles
Young scholars use Inspiration to map cyclical events. They recognize links between separate events and structural patterns. They explore the Internet Connection section to browse additional resources on teaching about cycles used in...
Curated OER
Prairie Voices: German Immigrants Move to Iowa
Students create historically accurate travel journals. In this Iowa history lesson plan, students research the German immigration experience as they write travel journals that feature a German family's move into an Iowa county.
Curated OER
Experimenting with Peanuts
Students investigate peanuts. In this science instructional activity, students explore the properties of the peanut and shell. Students burn a peanut to observe the peanut oil. Students taste test different types of peanut butter.
National First Ladies' Library
Get Ready, Get Set, We're Moving!
Students use the internet and other sources to research the culture and history of the Philippines. In groups, they discover why William Taft moved to the Philippines. Students participate in a scenario where they make preparations to...
Curated OER
Doubles: Japan and America's Intercultural Children
Students experience issues of intercultural children born as a result of the Occupation of Japan by American soldiers. They reflect on how these experiences and issues might be relevant to our own lives. Task cars are available to print...
Curated OER
Camera of My Family Video
Students examine the Noren Family's view of life in Nazi Germany. In this discussion lesson students answer twelve questions asked by the teacher.
Curated OER
Setting And Plot
Students engage in study of plot and setting with the reading of many familiar texts. They identify the plot and setting with the help of a worksheet. The teacher works with the class for scaffolding and helps them to recognize the...
Curated OER
Missouri's Early Slave Laws: Missouri's Early Slave Laws:
Young scholars analyze and discuss various documents relating to slavery in Missouri in the 1830's and 1840's. They learn why some records are deemed to be of permanent, historical value to the state.
Curated OER
Great Gullah Story Telling Packet
Sixth graders examine the Creole language known as Gullah which is a form of speech comprised of a number of unrelated languages. They determine how slaves used this to communicate so that slave masters would not be able to understand...
Curated OER
Household Names
Students explore the accomplishments of famous New Yorkers in the 19th century. In small groups, students read biographies and match them with a corresponding primary source document. The group that is most accurate in matching the...
Curated OER
Coney Island
Students compare the Coney Island of today to the Coney Island of 100 years ago. While discussing the features of Coney Island, students brainstorm their associations of the area. Through observing several pictures of Coney Island,...
Curated OER
America's First Pictures
Fifth graders visit the Smithsonian website to search online for early photo archives about life in the mid-nineteenth century.
Curated OER
Dr. Samuel Mudd
Fifth graders examine the circumstances surrounding Dr. Samuel Mudd's conviction on the charges of conspiracy and harboring an assassin, including the speculation that his conviction may not have been legal.
Curated OER
Let's Make History -- Together
Students examine different pieces of art from different artists. They are to read "About the Art" before viewing. They create their own plasticine tile showing people in action from history.
Curated OER
Conservation: California Quarter Reverse
Students examine the California quarter reverse and discuss conservation measures. They discover the concept of conservation by a snack-eating experimen and relate it to John Muir's conservation interests. After evaluating the design...
Curated OER
Creatures from Planet X: Spiders
Students are given a description of some fascinating animals from "Planet X". They follow the descriptions given to illustrate one of these animals paying careful attention to introduced vocabulary such as 'appendages', 'receptors', and...
Curated OER
Songs of Unrest - Lesson 4
Pupils identify popular songs from 1968 and make connections with the year's current events. They pretend that they are producing a new CD. The CD includes four songs that comment on today's social issues. They write the liner notes.
Curated OER
What Personal Journals Tell Us
Students read primary source journals from the Nebraska Western Trails Project. They work in groups to analyze the journal entries and complete a worksheet. Students then write an individual essay on the experience and consider what kind...
Curated OER
Opening Doors to Social Studies with Children's Literature
Fifth graders read a story about immigration, listen to songs about America and explore the history of their ancestors. They discuss how immigration creates a multicultural country. Pupils create a collage of the people in America. ...
Curated OER
Red Dirt Groundbreakers
Discover Oklahoma's first farmers. Read about 14 different agriculture workers and their contribution to Oklahoma's farming. After reading, have your class complete several activities such as researching an agriculturist, writing a...
Curated OER
Online Collaborative Social Studies Lesson Plan
Students create newspapers and post them online for others to see.