National Endowment for the Humanities
“Read All About It”: Primary Source Reading in “Chronicling America”
Can investigative journalism become too sensationalistic and accusatory, or is it vital for the survival of a democracy? Middle schoolers analyze primary source documents from early 20th-century newspapers as well as Theodore Roosevelt's...
Curated OER
Turning the Tide on Trash: Marine Debris Curriculum
Six different lessons comprise this unit on marine debris. Science, language arts, social studies, and art projects make this an ideal interdisciplinary unit. The result will be well-informed future citizens who can help make a...
Curated OER
First Meeting of the Indians and the Europeans
Your class hears a Native American Indian point of view of Europeans' arrival in Louisiana. They assess how cultural perspectives (especially an insider's view) and native language can shape a story. Each pupil identifies the...
Curated OER
Afghanistan: Country Report with Questions
Building fluency in reading informational text is part of the common core. Get learners reading information about past and current issues related to the country of Afghanistan. They read the seven paragraph passage, then answer four...
Anchorage School District
Hints for Writing a Conclusion
Writing the conclusion of an essay can often seem like a superfluous or daunting task. Support your young writers in understanding the various types and purposes of a conclusion paragraph, such as summarizing key points of a paper or...
Curated OER
How Laws Are Made
Learners create a graphic organizer to illustrate the steps elected representatives must take to make a new law. Included: Student work sheet and role-play ideas. Students use their graphic organizers to write a paragraph briefly...
Curated OER
The Gettysburg Address
For this social studies worksheet, students read the Gettysburg Address. Students substitute words or phrases that have the same meanings as 10 underlined phrases from the Address.
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Living News: Classroom Materials
Students explore controversial current events. In this Bill of Rights instructional activity, students research selected issues and examine the issues from different perspectives. Students script and record news stories that feature...
Curated OER
Promote Nonviolence
Take a look at the topic of violence as seen in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Discuss together the values that Atticus holds and brainstorm ways to combat violence in a similar manner to what he portrays in the novel. Get your...
Curated OER
Persuasive Journal Prompts
Need a journal topic? Whether you use these prompts as part of a persuasive writing unit, or reproduce the download as a one-page handout for your class members, the suggested topics make a great addition to your curriculum library. In...
Curated OER
How green is your school?
Students read about Sidwell Friends School and the Green School concept. They develop coverage for their student media. Students interview administrators, janitors, teachers and students. They present findings to the class.
Curated OER
ESL Holiday Lessons: Memorial Day
Improve language skills by having your class read an article about Memorial Day. After reading, they respond to 6 matching questions, 29 fill-in-the-blank questions, 30 multiple-choice questions, 12 word-scramble questions, 30...
Curated OER
Who Gets the Job?
Students explore the process for presedential Cabinet appointments. They determine common characteristics found in members of the Cabinet.
Curated OER
Advising the President: A Simulated Cabinet Meeting
Students, as Cabinet members, "advise" the President on one current pressing problem or concern facing their department or post. They prepare an Action Plan with possible alternative courses of action that meets budget constraints.
Curated OER
White Collar Crime
Students discuss difference between crimes of deceit versus crimes of violence, define white-collar crime, and examine far reach of white collar crime laws. Students then analyze what differences exist between rationales for punishing...
Curated OER
What price Freedom! Civil War and Reconstruction
Fifth graders become familiar with the events of Reconstruction and the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. In this reconstruction lesson, 5th graders work in pairs where each student creates a building with blocks and draws it. Their...
Curated OER
The Poor People's Campaign
Students research and analyze the campaign that was conceived by Dr. Martin Luther King, The Poor People's Campaign. The concepts of poverty and cultural diversity along with the Civil Rights Movement is also covered in detail within...
Curated OER
Health - Lesson Plan on Prescription Drug Prices
Learners examine the issue of prescription drug prices in the United States. They discover how globalization impacts the available remedies to lower the costs to American consumers. They participate in a mock U.S. Senate Commerce Committee
Curated OER
Territory and Statehood of Iowa
Fifth graders recognize the steps to create a territory, a district and a state. In this Iowa lesson plan, 5th graders discuss the three capitals and their importance. Students recognize the key people in the development of Iowa....
Curated OER
The Hunter Using Children's Literature to Teach the Geography of Africa
Learners are able to answer basic questions about the region and the use of natural resources, sketch a mental map of the story's setting, and find their way through the thematic maze/map.
Curated OER
Planting Seeds of Philanthropy
Students explore the importance of maintaining a democracy through philanthropic actions. In this character education lesson, students discover what the Japanese internment camps were, and why they were an infringement on personal...
Curated OER
Patriotism and Foreign Policy
Twelfth graders create a museum of Patriotism and Foreign Policy. They participate in discussions and work in committee's to determine which objects shall be displayed in the museum. They present visual and performing arts along with...
Curated OER
Emergency Preparedness
Students are introduced to governmental and humanitarian responses to disasters. They research organizations such as FEMA and the Red Cross. They examine their local National Guard unit as well.
Curated OER
Stamps and Cemeteries as Storytellers
Students discern the difference between commemorative and regular issue stamps while drawing conclusions about the time period. In this Stamps as Storytellers lesson, students design stamps using symbolism and historical data. In...