Curated OER
Common Good in Colonial America
Students research the historical foundation of philanthropic organizations. In this values and history activity, students brainstorm paid and unpaid jobs available today, and work in groups to research the types of charitable...
Curated OER
Destination America:
History comes alive for students as they develop an immigrant persona and "become" immigrants who make the journey from Europe to the United States. Once on American soil, they experience the immigration process as they participate in a...
Curated OER
All Across America
Learners share experiences of places they have visited or would like to visit. They create travel guides for trips to take in the United States based on themes from their studies, incorporating both historical and current data about...
Teaching Tolerance
Changing Demographics: What Can We Do to Promote Respect?
America has always been seen as a melting pot to the world. Scholars research the concept of blending cultures in the United States and how it is changing over time. The final lesson of a four-part series analyzes the changing...
Curated OER
Latin America and the Caribbean in the Classroom: The Economy and Trade
Learners use the internet to gather information on daily exchange rates. They calculate the exchange rates between two countries by role playing they are going on vacation to these destinations.
Curated OER
Travel to Mesoamerica
Students research books, watch movies, and look on the internet to find information on ancient America, Mexico, and Central America. In this Mesoamerica lesson plan, students participate in a social studies unit on North America of the...
Curated OER
Baltimore as a Port of Entry
Fourth graders explore the Port of Baltimore. In this European immigration to America lesson, 4th graders investigate the port as port of entry between 1830 and 1850. Students examine primary documents from selected Web sites and discuss...
Curated OER
America Grows - Trailblazers Pave the Way
Young scholars study the time period after the Revolutionary War when people were striving to move away from the coastal areas and look for pathways to the west. Westerward expansion is a central theme and students use a variety of...
iCivics
Mini-Lesson: Gerrymandering
Who determines the structure of voting districts? The concept of gerrymandering brings to light the ongoing issue of how those running for office gain votes. Hands-on activities enable scholars to analyze the re-drawing of voting...
Curated OER
Immigration to America
Students examine reasons for immigration to the United States in the 19th century. They role play as immigrants asked to write accounts of their immigrant experiences.
Museum of Tolerance
Where Do Our Families Come From?
After a grand conversation about immigration to the United States, scholars interview a family member to learn about their journey to America. They then take their new-found knowledge and apply their findings to tracking their family...
Global Oneness Project
The Power to Persevere
Joris Debeij's film, Making It in America, takes a look at Alma Velasco, a Salvadoran immigrant who was granted political asylum in the United States. The lesson gives a face to immigrants and their struggles to embrace the American Dream.
National Wildlife Federation
Massive Migrations
Turn your students into flocks of migratory birds for this fun lesson on animal migration. Prior to the activity, the teacher creates four different migration routes in the classroom or any available open space, labeling nesting...
Curated OER
Having Fun: Leisure and Entertainment at the Turn of the Twentieth Century
Students explore how the innovations in culture and technology influenced the development of a leisure industry in America at the turn of the twentieth century.
PBS
Myth of the West: The Battle of the Washita
Go West, young man! Scholars use PBS video clips, slide shows, and interactive materials to create a picture of Manifest Destiny in the American West. Using a variety of primary and secondary sources, young historians learn about the...
California Academy of Science
Plants: Hanging Tough
Learning about the rainforest can be more fun than you think. The class discusses vocabulary-in-context as they cut cardboard boxes, destined to become part of a rainforest model. Small groups of children color, cut, and construct...
Curated OER
Amerigo Vespucci: March 9, 1945
In this writing prompt worksheet, students learn the date March 9, 1945 as the day Amerigo Vespucci was born. Students then write about the following prompt: 'What part of the world would you like to sail to and explore? Why did you...
Curated OER
North America Knowledge
Second graders move around a large map of the North America drawn on the playground. They follow the directions called out by the teacher. They may also develop their own tasks for other students to follow.
Curated OER
Charting the Discovery of the Americas
Young scholars create chart using Microsoft Word depicting how trade led to the exploration of different regions of the world.
Curated OER
On the Road Again
Students trace the migration route of a gray whale. They color and label a map of North America, and using photocopy pictures of a gray whale, they move the whale along the migration route over a ten week period.
Curated OER
The Name Game
Pupils 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
Destination of Slaves in 1800
In this slave trade worksheet, learners use the provided Atlantic Slave Trade statistics to create a pie chart and a bar graph. Students also respond to 4 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Teen America Travels New England
Students simulate the role of a travel agent to understand how to read and use road maps. They plan a bus trip through New England for a group of travelers that includes, bus travel, meals and attractions. They plan the distance that...
Curated OER
Cross Country Adventure
Students practice measurement and geography in this instructional activity. They build a Lego vehicle using an RCX. They predict how many seconds it will take their vehicle to reach a specific state on the United States of America map...