Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keep Your Eye On the Prize

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers learn about citizens who were actively involved in the civil rights movement, and the strategies they used to overcome the Jim Crow laws that were so prevalent in the 1960s. They investigate the voting amendments of the US...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Preamble to the Constitution: How Do You Make a More Perfect Union?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students analyze the Preamble of the Constitution and identify the historical context that led to its wording. They, in groups, interpret phrases from the Preamble, examine relevant court cases and create illustrations for their portion...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Read All About It! California History of the 30s and 40s

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Explore the Great Depression! Discover the challenges people experienced during the time period. Learners investigate photographs from the Dust Bowl and WWII era and create a story line about the photographs, writing a newspaper article...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bill of Rights is a-Rockin

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Young scholars explore the U.S. Constitution through music. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students discuss a hypothetical case regarding lyrics by Madonna and the historical Massachusetts Blue Laws. Young scholars use the Bill of Rights...
Worksheet
Curated OER

U.S. States - The Midwest States

For Students 2nd - 3rd
In this geography and math worksheet, students complete the simple addition equations and match the sums to the colors. Students then color the Midwest States by the color code.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. Trade Deficit

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students see how to define trade surplus and trade deficit, become acquainted with important U.S. trading partners and concerns of different interest groups.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding The Preamble

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Young scholars explore the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution. In this government activity, students write a preamble to encourage cooperation in their classroom as they study the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plotting Slave Population Density in Connecticut in the 1700's

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders explore slavery in the U.S. by researching the web. In this U.S. history lesson, 10th graders identify the geography of Connecticut and the overall involvement the state had in the slavery process. Students view data of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Would the United States Do?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
In this U.S. history scenario worksheet, students use their critical thinking skills to explain how the U.S. would respond in a scenario that involves the Soviet Union sending support to Communist rebels in Nicaragua.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Agriculture Cares for the World

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore world geography by analyzing agriculture. In this dietary habits lesson, students discuss the role parents play in their children's diet and where the food comes from. Students write agricultural research paragraphs and...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Power Pellets! Nuclear Energy in the United States

For Students 5th - 8th Standards
Nuclear power provides about 20 percent of the energy generated in the United States. The seventh activity in the series of 12 tackles nuclear power. After sharing what they know about nuclear energy, scholars complete a...
Handout
Scholastic

Marijuana: Breaking Down the Buzz

For Students 4th - 12th Standards
There are a lot of myths surrounding marijuana. Read a passage that clarifies the dangers of teens smoking marijuana, its harmful effects on the development of the brain, and the possible correlation of cigarette smoking to marijuana...
Lesson Plan
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National Park Service

Civil War to Civil Rights: From Pea Ridge to Central High

For Teachers 4th - 12th Standards
Explore how the Civil War impacted the Civil Rights Movement. Class members complete a series of projects for a unit that uses a layered curriculum approach to learning. 
Unit Plan
NASA

States of Matter

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Water, one of the basic needs of humans, is found in all three states of matter on Earth; no other planet—that we know of—possesses this quality. Here is a unit that allows learners to explore through experimentation what it...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

A Wrinkle in Time: The Board Game

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Tackle some big questions about A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle with a board game project. As learners brainstorm for and complete their board games, they consider what helps and hinders Meg on her journey and why she succeeds in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Abolitionists and Their Impact on Sectionalism

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the impact of Abolitionist leaders on sectionalism. In small groups, they conduct research on a famous abolitionist, and develop and write a newspaper cover page based on their assigned abolitionist.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coming to America

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Through this set of three lessons about Ellis Island, class members will learn about why immigrants came to the United States, find out about the difficulties that went along with coming to America, become familiar with the immigration...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

State of the "States"

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider indicators that mark a country's progress, examine how last year's State of the Union address has affected U.S. foreign policy, research issues deemed important in that speech, and create report cards assessing the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 1: Map Data and the Census

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students learn about the history of the census. In this U. S. Census lesson plan, students develop an understanding about how the United States Constitution grants and distributes power and discover how the spatial organization of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Norman Rockwell, Freedom of Speech: Know It When You See It

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the U.S. Constitution. In this First Amendment lesson, students examine Norman Rockwell's "Freedom of Speech" and analyze the five freedoms listed in the amendment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Constitutional Convention: What the Founding Fathers Said

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students critique the Creation of the U.S. Constitution. They list some ideas proposed and debated during the Constitutional Convention. Discussion of the important issues requiring compromise are examined.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Battle Over Reconstruction: The Aftermath of War

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore public sentiment regarding Reconstruction. In this Reconstruction lesson, students analyze primary sources for evidence of the political, social and economic stability of the U.S. following the Civil War. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Does Congress Work That Way?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discover the powers of Congress. In this legislative branch lesson, students examine the legislative process as they analyze Article I of the U.S. Constitution. Students consider the powers of Congress as they define the role of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life During the Civil War for Women and Civilians

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students follow an overview of the American Civil War from a film, the text and/or teacher direct instruction. They create a timeline with a large map of the U.S. in the 1860's available for student reference as they do the spider activity.