National First Ladies' Library
Workers, Take a Holiday! the Beginning of Labor Day
When your upper elementary class returns in the fall, have them identify and define the beginnings of the labor movement and Labor Day in the United States. They thoughtfully reflect on changes that have occurred in the way we think...
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Europe in the Middle Ages
Learners focus on the development of European civilization during the Middle Ages in Europe through this series of lessons. They develop an awareness for time and place, explain the complex nature of cultures, and real and mythical...
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Investigating the Climate System - Clouds
Here is a fabulous lesson on the Earth's radiant energy system. This amazing, 31-page document is chock-full of great activities, worksheets, lab sheets, quizzes, rubrics, and assessments. Learners model and explain cloud formation,...
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Indian Corn Pictures
Students examine Indian corn. In this autumn art lesson, students observe Indian corn, noting the different shades of color. Students sketch and color or paint an ear of Indian corn, adding actual corn kernels to outline their picture.
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Animals in Japan
Students compare and contrast common animals children love and have as pets in Japan and America in this early elementary lesson. The culminating project is an original work of art by each student depicting an animal of their choice.
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Primary and Secondary Sources
Learners understand what primary and secondary sources are. In this primary and secondary sources lesson, students take a list of sources and break down to primary and secondary sources.
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"Ancora Imparo" (Still I Am Learning)
Students study the Italian Renaissance, its impact, and origin. In this Italian Renaissance lesson, students study the Renaissance via the ancient civilizations and political geography of various countries. Students study the art prior...
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Byzantine Civilization: The Missing Link
Students connect their study of the Roman Empire to their study of the Byzantine Civilization. In this ancient history lesson, students study the time period between the fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of the Byzantine.
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Origami Paper Cranes
Young scholars complete cross-curricular activities to study the culture and humanity in Japan. Students read the book Sadako and the 1000 Paper Cranes and complete social studies and art lessons related to the book as well as develop an...
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Radio Broadcasting Before Television
Students compare the radio to other forms of mass communication. In this Radio Broadcasting Before Television lesson, students learn the different types of radio shows in the 1920s and 30s. Students write and perform radio scripts...
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How Plants Help Us Breathe
Third graders discuss how humans breathe and how plants help us to stay alive. In groups, they identify and label the different parts of plants and describe their functions. They compare and contrast the ways plants and animals breathe...
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Thanksgiving Mural
Learners create a mural of the history of Thanksgiving. In this holiday lesson, students recall the history of Thanksgiving and create a mural of the holiday using large paper and crayons.
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Sole People
Pupils create "sole people" using tempera paint, drawing paper, and shoe prints in this multi-level art lesson. The lesson can be combined with a brief history of the African-American inventor Jan Ernst Matzeliger, who created the "shoe...
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Celebrating Heroes That Surround Us
Students investigate the concept of a hero. They write in journals to find definitions and create hero symbols. Also students conduct research to create a banner of quotations made by famous heroes who fall under the definition generated...
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Mapping India
Young scholars participate in an activity in which they place placards listing geographic features, landmarks, etc. in the correct place on a large fabric map of a given country. They also examine artifacts, photos, sounds/music, etc....
Library of Congress
Stars, Stripes and Symbols of America: Comparing Our Flag, Past and Present
Your young historians will compare and contrast the details of the American flag today with an an image of the nation's flag from the post-Civil War era, and identify the flag's importance as a national symbol through analysis worksheets...
Middle Tennessee State University
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? A Comparison in American Culture
As part of their study of the Progressive Era, class groups examine a 20th century version of "The Three Little Pigs" through a New Era lens and identify how ideals such as the value of hard work, creativity, and problem solving, etc.,...
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Utah History & Geography
Fourth graders practice large digit addition. Students become familiar with column addition. Students develop knowledge of counties and county seats.
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Understanding Primary and Secondary Sources
Students identify legends in Tennessee and U.S. history, and differentiate between primary and secondary sources. They list examples of primary and secondary sources, participate in a field trip to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and...
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Utah History & Geography
Fourth graders calculate and determine the distances between counties in Utah. Using a map of Utah, they determine the distance between three county seats, the total distance round trip, and label a map with the distances.
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Finding Our Place in the Community
Third graders search TDC database for images of our hemisphere, continent, ocean, country, state, and city. They identify their place in the hemisphere, continent, ocean, country, state, and city.