Lesson Plan
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Midnight Ride of Paul Revere: Fact, Fiction, and Artistic License

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. In this visual arts instructional activity, students study the historical significance of the event as they examine the Grant Wood painting and primary sources regarding the event.
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Ancient History Cyber-Journalists

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the ancient past. In this ancient civilizations lesson, students research ancient events and write newspaper articles about the events. Students work in teams of 4 to produce group newspapers that feature their findings....
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Harlem Renaissance and Toni Morrison's Jazz

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the historical time of the Harlem Renaissance, including key events and figures. They read literature that weaves fiction and history and survey some of the references to the Harlem Renaissance in the novel, Jazz, by Toni...
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Views of 9/11

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine through research ways people around the world viewed events of September 11, 2001, analyze how United States foreign policies have caused conflict with other regions and countries, research and read first person...
Lesson Plan
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Westward Expansion : Mapping

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders travel along exploring the expeditions of John F. Fremont. In this Westward expansion lesson, 5th graders gain understanding of the events that shaped the west through the use of maps. Students use mapping skills to...
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Voices of the American Revolution - Primary Documents

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers use primary documents to examine the attitudes and positions of several factions leading up to the American Revolutionary War. They read documents, debate differing perspectives and write an essay exploring the reasons for...
Lesson Planet Article
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The Gift of Alex Haley’s "Roots"

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Historical novels, such as "Roots" by Alex Haley, can make the past come alive.
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Johnny Tremain/Boston Tea Party

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders understand chronological order of events. In this Boston Tea Party lesson, 5th graders compare the events surrounding the Boston Tea Party to current times. Students learn vocabulary and customs of the revolutionary times....
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The Treaty Trail: U.S. - Clothing That Talks: Meaning and Material Culture

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Learners investigate the cultures of Native Americans and Euro-Americans through their clothing.  In this photograph analysis lesson, students observe historic photographs and analyze the style of clothes people wore and how it...
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Five Artists of the Mexican Revolution

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars discover details about Mexican Revolution era artists. In this Mexican Revolution lesson, students research the events and people of the time period. Young scholars then research the artists of the time and create their...
Unit Plan
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Speeches on the Not-So-Big Screen

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine American speeches. In this interdisciplinary lesson, students explore the emotional context of historical periods as they analyze "The Gettysburg Address" and "I Will Fight No More Forever" speeches.
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The Reformation

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify key events of the Reformation. They recognize the impact of religion during the Middle Ages.
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Confucius Say... China Old

For Teachers 2nd
Students locate China on the map. In this Chinese geography, history and culture lesson, students read literature about China. Students participate in paper making, silk making and lantern making activities.
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Literature: Isabel Allende

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students watch and respond to a Bill Moyers Now video on the Chilean author, Isabel Allende. They brainstorm a list of recent events that might inspire writers and choose one to write about in poetic, diary, or short story form.
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Louisiana's Indian Tribes At the Time of the Louisiana Purchase

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars research primary readings concerning first hand accounts of the Indian tribes living in and around Louisiana's River systems. They complete a brief character sketch of each tribe characterized in the digital readings....
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Whose "Truth" Is Out There?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars read article It's a Fact: Faith and Theory Collide Over Evolution, and examine different ways people arrive at what 'the truth' is, focusing on the evolution vs creationism debate that has been a hot topic throughout the...
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Lake Tahoe Then and Now

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars investigate the differences in Lake Tahoe from the past to the present. In this geography lesson plan, students read the book Washoe Seasons of Life and identify the descriptions of the land and lake. Young scholars create...
Lesson Plan
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The Kennedy Years

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders read text and view films about the Kennedy administration. In this preseidential administration lesson, 8th graders interview someone who lived during Sputnik, write summaries of lectures, and create posters demonstrating...
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Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students read the novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry to determine how the Great Depression affected teens. They compare the problems faced during the Great Depression to those teens face today.
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Learning Empathy Through Art

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students create poems based on the Haiku form and research about WWII. Class discussion and classroom readings of student work finish this lesson. Emphasis is placed on Standards in the Arts.
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Railroad Idioms Art Lesson Plan

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders research railroad idioms.  In this idiom lesson, 6th graders read through a glossary of different railroad idioms and their meanings. They illustrate a chosen idiom.
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The Constitutional Convention: Four Founding Fathers You May Never Have Met

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students read biographies of their assigned Founding Father. They present an oral argument that their assignee deserves to be better known by making connections between regional politics and postions defined by character.
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1765 to the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners research philanthropists of the American Revolution. In this philanthropy lesson plan, students watch the video Johnny Tremain and analyze the characters and determine their motives. Learners read the Declaration of...
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A Good Story

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the contributions of philanthropists. In this philanthropy instructional activity, students watch "The Gift of All: A Community of Givers." Students then read biographies of philanthropists and create PowerPoint...