Third graders read the story, "Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt" and discuss slavery. After answering questions about the story, 3rd graders sing "Follow the Drinkin' Gourd" and explore the clues in each verse that allowed the slaves to...

Students examine the various roles Washington Irving had in his lifetime. Examining the situation in Europe and the United States, they are encouraged to relate Irving's experiences to different events. They examine themselves in many...

Students define propaganda and list the various propaganda techniques used to influence people. They identify propaganda methods used by the American Government to encourage Americans to support the war effort

High schoolers analyze information from core map and other sources and construct routes from New York and Boston to Cincinnati as they might have existed in 1835.

Students choose books to preserve for future generations.  Students are given a scenario in which they are allowed to save only five books for future generations.  Students write a persuasive letter in which they try to...

Students read about and discuss the reasons European countries were interested in the Ohio Valley. They complete a puzzle to review vocabulary and watch a video on the Illinois Prairie and the I & M Canal. They rewrite the historical...

Students use scientific observation and inference to examine the Hazen Brigade Monument. In this observation activity, students review the reasons for building monuments in society. Students then recall monuments they have seen and...

Fourth graders explore the reasons for the Industrial Revolution and its effects on France.

Students discuss reasons why African Americans may have wanted to emigrate from the United States followig the Civil War. They complete a Venn diagram noting the differences between proposals by Marcus Garvey and Henry McNeal Turner.

Ninth graders, in groups, determine reasons for African-American migration to the west

Students create historically accurate travel journals. In this Iowa history lesson, students research the German immigration experience as they write travel journals that feature a German family's move into an Iowa county.

Students use the strategy turn and talk to discuss inferences they have while reading the book The Fear Place. In this inferences lesson plan, students answer discussion questions and read independently as well.

Students explore environments and how organisms adapt to the environment. In this science lesson, students read a story and discuss how animals have adapted to changes in their environment.

Fifth graders, in groups, study the differences between the 13 Original Colonies, then explore the relationship between the Revolutionary War and the Civil War.

Fifth graders listen to a discussion on the Minutemen and Bunker Hill and learn about Paul Revere's ride. In this Minutemen lesson plan, 5th graders take a quiz on the information and play a Yankee Doodle game.

Second graders write a short story based on train track safety and make a train-shaped class book.

Students learn about Mound Cities and how they both started and stopped. In this Mound instructional activity students explore how Mound Cities did not succeed and why. Students dig deeper then the instructional activity as they discuss...

Fourth graders write cinquain poems showing an understanding that people cannot outrun trains. They examine safety messages concerning tunnels, bridges and trains.

Students examine why fugitive slaves migrated to cities and towns rather than rural areas. In this lesson, students consider the social, economic, and political benefits provided by cities and towns in comparison to rural areas.

For this lesson unit, students examine how Texans altered the environment in order to construct railroads, and the impact of those changes, both positive and negative. They then complete a project where they develop a plan for a railroad...

Jump aboard to examine the importance of railroads during the Civil War. Delve into primary source documents that show how the newly developed rail system played a strategic role in many battles and also examine the role of slave labor...

Presented by the University of Alberta, this resource contains information on the founding and development of The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. The site also provides primary source resources in the the form of photographs, excerpts,...

The early railways depended on coal to fire their locomotives. Vast deposits of coal were located along the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies. One of the richest mining areas on the main line of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway,...

From the state of Texas, this page discusses notable Texans who were instrumental in the development of the state, along with links to their biographies.