Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Video Boxes

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students create a video box about a Central American country. In this world history lesson, student research Central America and pick a country they want to investigate. They work in groups to create a video box that shows images about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Prisoner in One's Own Home

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Examine the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. After reading an article from the New York Times and exploring the author's word choice, young readers find the central idea in the text and work on researching...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Americans and the Military of World War II

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders view a news reel of African Americans in World War II. In this World War II lesson plan, 5th graders discuss the newspaper clippings they get to view and hypothesize about why the African Americans use military news clips....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Country 'Tis of Thee with American Symbols

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students study the various patriotic symbols which represent America. They choose one, research its history, and write a report about it. They make a drawing of the symbol and use the drawing in a PowerPoint presentation for the rest of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Design a Latin American Restaurant

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students investigate the culture of a Latin American country to design a new restaurant. In this Latin American lesson, students identify social classes, geographical locations, cultural practices, and monetary systems of a Latin...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hemispheric Harmony

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners express their opinion on issues related to Central America. After reading an article, they discuss the relations between the Presidents of Mexico and the United States. Using the internet, they research a part of the party...
Lesson Plan
National History Day

Reporting on World War I

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Throughout history, newspapers have reported the events of the day as they unfolded. Using primary and secondary sources from World War I, scholars uncover how the American people learned of the events of the War to End All Wars. History...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Department of Archives and History

Yellow Journalism

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
What role did yellow journalism play in bringing the United States into war with Spain? As part of their study of the Spanish-American War, class groups examine newspapers of the times and other texts and then produce their own...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Showdown on the Frontier

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Especially critical following a series of shootings in schools, theaters, and religious buildings, it's safe to say that we need to evaluate the current laws on gun control. Eighth graders read a New York Times article in order to better...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why were the colonists upset about the Stamp Act?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders read documents to address why colonists were upset about the Stamp Act. In this sourcing and contextualization lesson, 5th graders read a variety of documents from the American Revolution and predict the author's...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Freedom to Fight

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the African American troop experiences in the Civil War. In this American history lesson plan, students examine primary and secondary sources regarding the experiences and contributions of African American soldiers who...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Latin American Film

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students critique, discuss, and identify characters in a film about Latin America. For this Latin America lesson plan, students watch the film and discuss the film and everyday life.
Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

Chronicling America: Uncovering a World at War

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
As part of a study of World War I, class members read newspaper articles from the time that urge American involvement, non-involvement, or neutrality. Using the provided worksheet, groups analyze the articles noting the central argument...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Persona in Autobiography

For Teachers 10th - 12th Standards
A talkative old man? A naïve believer in Human Perfectibility? A Sage? Who is this guy, anyway? The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin launches a study of the way Franklin uses structure, style, and purpose, as well as different...
Lesson Plan
Pulitzer Center

China's Rising Labor Movement

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Young historians will explore the complex causes and effects of industrialization in China by perusing the numerous articles included in this webpage. Throughout the resource, there are many writing and discussion prompts to help direct...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Researching Equality and Justice

For Teachers 8th
Choosing from a list, researchers investigate topics that range from the women in the American Civil Rights movement to the quest for equal rights in Iraq and Afghanistan. Although the plan is not detailed, a link to a PBS site that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Latin American Colonial Diary

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the class systems of New Spain. In small groups, they create a five-day diary about the family life, food, occupation, and government involvement of an assigned personality from the time of Colonial Latin America.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

The Preamble to the Constitution: A Close Reading Lesson

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union..." These familiar lines begin the Preamble to the Constitution, but do learners know what they mean? A close reading exercise takes a look at the language of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Changing Union

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders analyze a document and make assessment and historical prediction based on the text. In this establishment of American government lesson, 4th graders analyze a poem and discuss the climate of the Union in the early 1800's....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Place for the Birds

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students reflect on bird migrations and develop a project to collect data on bird species from across North America to further investigate the ranges and migrations of common birds. They create a field guide of North American birds.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trading Off

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has impacted the people and economies of North America and Mexico.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Latino Literature: Poetry

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Under construction, this lesson focuses on Canto Familia, a collection of poetry about Gary Soto's experiences growing up in California's Imperial Valley. Representative of the experiences of many Latinos, the poems also address themes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dragon's Gate

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students read Dragon's Gate as a shared literature book. This lesson plan provides excellent extension activities students can engage in while they are reading, and after they have finished the book.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thinking About Diversity: One Student's View

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students are asked how would you describe your yourself (Racial/Ethnic). Students read Little Boxes, where it is discussed that the author describes that backgrounds of her parents. They continue to read where they still need to come...