National First Ladies' Library
E.T. Phones Home: The History of the Telephone
Students create illustrated timelines of the telephone's history. In groups, they research 25-year sections beginning in 1876. Once each group has completed their portion of the timeline, they are all assembled to create one banner.
Curated OER
Women’s History
Students examine the "Cult of Domesticity." In this women's history lesson, students visit the specified Web sites to engage in research related to the characteristics that were thought to represent true womanhood as well as information...
Curated OER
Why Celebrate Black History Month
Second graders study about the culture, heritage, family, church, and politics of the African-American and why we honor their accomplishments. Then they make class presentations. This is a very meaningful lesson on an important part of...
Curated OER
Oral Histories
Learners investigate the theme of what it means to be American in a pluralistic society. They conduct oral histories with a family member and create a presentation of the interview. Students develop a better comprehension of their own...
Curated OER
An Enthusiastic Age: A History of Minoan Pottery
Students explore and gather relevant facts from a website about Minoan pottery. They present their information to the rest of the group in different ways: PowerPoint, handouts, timeline.
Curated OER
The Hidden History of Egypt
Middle schoolers explore daily life in ancient Egypt. In this ancient civilizations lesson, students research Internet and print sources regarding aspects of daily life in ancient Egypt. Middle schoolers compose fictitious journals based...
Curated OER
The Hidden History of the Roman Empire
Students compare entertainment in ancient Rome to entertainment today. In this ancient Rome lesson, students research the details regarding the entertainment that occurred in the Colosseum and the Circus Maximus in Rome. Students compare...
Curated OER
Who Am I? My Coat of Arms
Fifth graders put their coat of arms on a HyperStudio card. They explain in three paragraphs why they selected the pictures.
Curated OER
Adventures of Lewis and Clark Lewis and Clark Journal
Eighth graders experience the Lewis and Clark expedition. In this Corps of Discovery activity, 8th graders research details regarding the expedition in order to complete a classroom project that requires them to create journals that...
Curated OER
Foundations of American Government: Teacher’s Guide
Students explore the foundations of America. In this early American history lesson, students watch Discovery video segments regarding the Boston Massacre, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights....
Curated OER
U.S. History: Our Constitutional Amendments
Eighth graders conduct Internet research about Constitutional Amendments and present oral reports on their findings. Their reports also include visual representations depicting their chosen amendment's focal point. Students discuss the...
Curated OER
The Bill of Rights
Students examine the intent Bill of Rights. In this American government instructional activity, students watch segments of the Discovery video "The Bill of Rights." Students discuss and debate the 4 Supreme Court cases...
Curated OER
A Legacy of War -- The Gold Rush and the Foreign Miner's Tax
Students examine the results of the Mexican War from both countries. They analyze the impact of a war for the losing side. They also compare the politics of the time of the Mexican war with those of today.
Curated OER
Indiana Historical Site Brochures
Fourth graders research information about one historic site in Indiana. They then use the Publisher program on the computer to create an informational brochure. Finally, they share their brochure with the class.
Curated OER
Introduction to the Internet
Students conduct a brief overview of the Internet in four main sections: Background of the Internet, E-mail, Web Browsing, and Web Searching. The latter three sections of this unit cover the mechanics as well as the underlying concepts...
Curated OER
Papier-mache Greek Vessels
Sixth graders create three-dimensional black and red figured Greek Vessels out of papier-mache, while researching and discussing Greek history, and myths of powerful gods and goddesses.
Curated OER
Indian Women in Texas History
Fourth graders study Indian women in Texas. In this US history lesson, 4th graders discuss what each Indian woman's contribution was by completing a timeline and table. Students examine the Caddo Women's pottery tradition...
Curated OER
Looking at Lewis and Clark
Fifth graders review information on Lewis and Clark by using a variety of resources. With partners, they travel between stations researching different information based on the expedition. They check each others work and share it with the...
Thirteen Ed Online
What is Conceptual Art?
Research, art history, and web page creation! Sounds too good to be true. With tons of links and resources, the lesson plan provides you with everything needed to engage the class in an amazing art and research activity. They create...
Curated OER
Decoding the First Alphabets: Not as Simple as A, B, C
Explore early writing systems and their significance in understanding the development of past civilizations. In groups, learners research early writing systems and then present their findings to the rest of the class. They teach their...
University of Chicago
Using Artifacts for Clues About Identity
Learn about the ancient Near East through a close examination of ancient artifacts. Lead your class into analysis by first observing an artifact as a class. Pupils can then work in pairs to analyze the other artifacts and compile a list...
Santa Ana Unified School District
Getting to the Core: Globalization
How have advances in technology and communication changed our world? That is the questions that world history students contemplate as they examine a series of primary and secondary source materials
Digital Public Library of America
Ida B. Wells and Anti-Lynching Activism
A packet of 13 primary sources provides young historians with insight into the anti-lynching activism of civil rights Ida B. Wells. Included are images of Wells, her letters, a political cartoon, newspaper lynching announcements, and a...
Civil War Trust
Civil War Slang
Introduce a lesson on Civil War slang to your class of fresh fish. After looking at pictures from the Civil War and examining the list of slang terms, young historians write a letter to a family member as if they are a Union soldier or a...