Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A History of the War of 1812 and The Star-Spangled Banner

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students examine the causes and outcomes of the War of 1812, and determine the chronology of the Star-Spangled Banner. In this War of 1812 lesson plan, students learn vocabulary and read a narrative about the War of 1812 before...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"One Giant Leap for Mankind"

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the significance of the Apollo 11 lunar landing by interviewing an adult for memories of the mission. They incorporate their interviews into news articles as 'journalists' in July 1969 to document this historic 'step for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Colonial Life in the Late 1700s: Distant Cousins

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore daily life and its influences in the late 1700s for two families in different colonies- Delaware and Massachusetts by becoming historical detectives. After gathering information from artifacts to make inferences about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History Talks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students engage in a lesson that deals with a historical figure from the area of Mississippi. Then questions are asked of them using a game show format that is followed with additional ones used for brainstorming for more ideas of inquiry.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dear Mrs. Roosevelt

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students develop an understanding of how the Great Depression impacted people. For this writing, analyzing and cooperative groups lesson, students inquire about the Great Depression. Students identify problems children faced during...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Virtual Realities of War

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students outline the major events, mat??riel, and setting of a war or conflict. They develop a computer game narrative that draws on these historically accurate details.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Give Me Liberty

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the lives and societal contributions of Patrick Henry and Sojourner Truth. They complete a series of lessons that compare and contrast the biographies, historical context and work of these two revolutionaries.
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Hidden George Washington: Word Search with a Twist

For Students 6th - 8th
Learners identify significant people, places, events and milestones in George Washington's personal and professional life. They complete crossword using facts about George Washington.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Revolutionary War

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover that one to explore about the past is to read historical novels. They see that in every war there are many viewpoints to consider. Students are introduced to the young adult historical novel My Brother Sam Is Dead. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slavery and Abolition: Three Unforgettable Names

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students research the people and events involved in the abolitionist movement prior to the U.S. Civil War. They read about and discuss the roles of Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman, and John Brown. Students complete a word splash, Venn...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bushy Run: A Decisive Battle of Pontiac's Rebellion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study the battle at Bushy Run. In this Pontiac's Rebellion lesson, students examine an 1765 map of the Bushy Run battle as well as letters and a modern topographic map of the area in order to simulate the event and research how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is a Memorial

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore how we remember and honor people in special ways. In this memorial instructional activity, students read poems and discuss their emotions. Students view pictures taken at memorial services and discuss what...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Civil War Comes to Kansas: The Battle of Mine Creek

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explore the impact of Price's Raid and the Battle of Mine Creek. In this American Civil War lesson, 7th graders examine a list of events based on the war in Kansas and then put them in chronological order. Students also...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Documents about the Boston Massacre and the Biases of Their Creators

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare and contrast writings about pre-American Revolution events. In this political agenda lesson, students conduct research to determine how bias and perspective have made their way into historical documents. Students examine...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Canada's Constitutional Documents

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students analyze one major constitutional document and the events surrounding it. They examine primary sources (historical documents) and draw conclusions from evidence. Students write an essay and may prepare a presentation of their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders describe the changes in King George III's policy toward the American colonies by sequencing key events between the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. They explain the colonial reactions to command decisions...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Immigrant Contributions

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students read a passage about immigrants making contributions to the state of Kansas and write the main ideas and details of what they read. In this immigrant contributions lesson plan, students fill out a graphic organizer of immigrant...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create a Hero Trophy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research and read about the lives of some famous American heroes. They examine the qualities that make or made these people heroes and how the time period they lived in influenced their images as heroes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Getting Fired Up

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore first-person accounts of volcanic eruptions throughout time and use second-hand information about volcanoes. They use both types of accounts to write news articles covering the events of a historic volcanic eruption as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Through Many Lenses: How are Countries Depicted By the Media

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students read various sources about a country to understand viewpoints about that country.  In this country lesson, students recognize that different sources portray different organizations differently.  Students compare how...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

James Welch's Fools Crow

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners explore the history of Montana's Native Americans by reading James Welch's Fools Crow. Set shortly after the Civil War, the novel focuses on a young Blackfoot Indian and his tribe. Over the course of several weeks, class members...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life in Letters

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the relationship between an author's life and their work. Students research the historical and personal events surrounding a Nobel Prize winning author and how they are reflected in the author's writing. They create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Role Playing in North America: Mid 1600s-Mid 1700s

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders apply their knowledge of North American history from the mid 1600's through the mid 1700's to a role-playing scenario. In small groups they plan, write, and perform a dramatic skit of a group that was affected by events in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Post-Civil War American History

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine significant events in Post-Civil War America. In this Post-Civil War lesson, 5th graders investigate the important events after the war in 19th century America. They read primary source documents about six topics...