Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Harlem Renaissance

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students, after researching/analyzing the movement "Harlem Renaissance" and Africa as well as reading literature from that time period, create lists of the major characteristics of the movement and its important writers. They bridge the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life in a Coal Patch

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Young scholars study life in a coal patch town. In this American History instructional activity, students read material about life for coal miners and their families. They answer questions, create a poster, and complete a creative...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

United States Pride

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders learn the responsibility of citizenship and learn facts about a state they choose to research.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jacob Lawrence's Freedom Trail

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students read excerpts of autobiographies from Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman. After listening to excerpts of an oral reading of Frederick Douglass' book, they discuss the ways African Americans were treated on plantations. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ben Franklin the Good Citizen

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate Benjamin Franklin's contributions to society. In this history lesson, students read about Franklin's philanthropic behavior and play a bucket brigade game to re-enact how fires were put out during colonial times.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exile: Cuba and the United States

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers gain an understanding of U.S./Cuban Relations. In this world history lesson plan, students examine the events of the Cuban revolution and their effect on U.S.-Cuban relations and U.S. foreign policy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Most Dangerous Woman in America: Mary Harris "Mother" Jones

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners discover labor issues of the 1800's.  In this Pennsylvanian history instructional activity, students research the case of Mary Harris Jones and discover her work as a labor activist.  Learners discuss the case together...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You Wouldn't Understand...It's a Slang Thang

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study a decade in history through its slang. They analyze a slang dictionary from the 1920's and read a primary source letter making use of the slang. They decipher the language and compare and contrast 1920's language...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Slavery and the American Founding: The "Inconsistency Not to Be Excused"

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
High schoolers examine slavery in the revolutionary and colonial eras of the United States. In this slavery lesson, students investigate the presence of slavery in early America, the language of the Constitution, and the intent of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover how manifest destiny and westward expansion are related. Using the Internet, they research the beginnings of the movement of manifest destiny and how it influenced people moving westward. They discuss the expectations...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Pop Icons

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students analyze art and decide if the images are an attempt to celebrate or criticize American Popular Culture of the fifties and sixties and discuss how successful "Pop Art" mirrored society. Students also discuss the difference...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ancestor Project"

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students research their family heritage and bring in photocopies of items representing their families. They create an attractive, artistic collage using these images.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Confucius

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the person of Confucius and his impact upon the Chinese culture. They conduct research using a variety of resources. They use the outline provided in the lesson plan to participate in class discussion. Key ideas are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Historical Fashions - Interdisciplinary Experience, Art & Social Studies

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders research styles, construction, fabrics, colors, and cost of Colonial era clothing. They create a life-sized model of themselves wearing Colonial period clothing and write a report about the clothes they designed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Amelia Earhart

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners list characteristics of a brave and daring person and describe contributions that Amelia Earhart made to aviation. They describe how Amelia Earhart contributed to the advancement of women.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What was Behind the Golden Door?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students adopt the persona of an immigrant child to explore the reasons underlying why families left their homelands. They empathize with the emotional plight of immigrants through creative composition.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

20th-Century Astronomy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine and explain how the distance to nearby stars can be measured by the parallax method, discuss the role of women in the history of American astronomy, form their own opinions of the importance of Harlow Shapley and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World War II: Causes and Consequences

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders examine Hitler's occupation of Europe and the Allies' efforts to fight it.  In this World War II lesson, 10th graders examine how World War II changed American society, especially for women.  Students analyze a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What do they want? Critical Perspectives on the 1960's in the United States

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners determine that history is a field of study that can help them understand themselves and the people around them. By reading sources by and about people with many of the same interests and concerns that they have and learning to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WWII Website

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders research a topic related to World War II. They explore the causes and legacy of WWII, the European Theater of Operations, the Pacific Theater of Operations, Diversity in WWII, Women in WWII, and the Homefront. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"A Costly Prosperity", South Carolina during World War II

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders study the history of South Carolina during World War II.  In this American History lesson, 11th graders analyze the economic growth of this state through primary sources.  Students interpret many different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Digging for Knowledge

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students explore coal mining in Great Britain. In this mining lesson, students visit selected museums and learning centers online and in person to study mining processes, the history of mining, and mining disasters.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ancient Civilizations: China

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students read about the daily life, history, dynasties, and ancient celebration of ancient China.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Films Legends

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students watch and discuss films. In this video viewing lesson plan, students watch a film related to a  different topic every Friday. Students watch these films in order to encourage discussion and Internet research. Suggested film...