Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Memorial Day--The Gettysburg Address

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study the reasons why Memorial Day is celebrated in the United States. They examine how and why those who died for their country are honored. They memorize the Gettysburg Address and how it is used to celebrate Memorial Day.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Federal Holidays

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders complete various activities pertaining to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Veteran's Day. They conduct research and complete writing and art activities on the...
Lesson Plan
National Park Service

Remembering Pearl Harbor: The USS Arizona Memorial

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Young historians use primary source materials to investigate the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and the sinking of the USS Arizona. After reading background articles and studying maps and images of the attack, class members consider whether...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Veterans Day Newspaper

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the reasons for and origins of the Veterans Day holiday. They define key vocabulary terms, read and discuss the article "The Origins of Veterans Day," conduct research and complete a worksheet, and create a class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Veterans Day

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research the origin of Veterans Day and its purpose in the life of Americans today. Students begin the instructional activity by looking up key vocabulary. The teacher uses a media presentation to create interest. The...
Lesson Plan
US Holocaust Museum

Time Capsule in a Milk Can

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Imagine dumping out a milk can and finding letters from one of the darkest moments in history! Scholars use Holocaust Reading Passages and research to discover how people recorded and hid history during the events of World War II. They...
Lesson Plan
US Holocaust Museum

Educational Modules Based on Audio Podcasts

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Imagine hearing someone claim an event like the Holocaust never happened. Pupils use audio podcasts and reading passages to dive into the lives of those impacted by the Holocaust of World War II. Using the information they gather, class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World War II: Concentration Camps and Refugees

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners explore the experiences of the people in the concentration camps at liberation during World War II. Students read an article on the Liberation of Belsen Concentration Camp and D-Day and report to the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders describe ways in which people in the United States remember and honor the dead. They identify the similarities and differences between El Dia de los Muertos, Memorial Day, and Halloween.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Presidents' Day

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students investigate George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and other American Presidents. They complete a Webquest, take a virtual tour of Mount Vernon, answer discussion questions, and evaluate newspaper articles about the current president.
Lesson Plan
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The New York Times

Looking for Answers: Making Sense of the Boston Marathon Bombing

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How should America respond to acts of domestic terrorism? What motivates or prompts a terrorist attack? After reading an opinion piece on the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, your learners will critically analyze factors that could have...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cataloguing the Past

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students reflect on the Holocaust. In this Holocaust Memorial Day lesson, students visit selected Web sites to research the Holocaust and the establishment of a day of reflection regarding it. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Saint-Gaudens, the Shaw Memorial, Art Historians, and the Critics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read documentary evidence and commentary regarding Saint-Gauden's sculpture Shaw Memorial. They read statements and letters, and answer analysis questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Veteran's Day or Memorial Day Poetry Lesson

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine poems dealing with Veteran's Day or Memorial Day. They discuss America's involvement in wars and if anyone in their family has served in the military. They write their own poems and share them with the class.
Lesson Plan
PBS

The March on Washington and Its Impact

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
High schoolers read Martin Luther King, Jr's speech that he gave in Washington. They identify the social conditions that led to the civil rights movement. They discuss the significance of the March on Washington.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Making of a Holiday: MLK, Jr. Day

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students explore the life of Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement. They discuss the events surrounding his death and the significance of the federal holiday honoring Dr. King. As a class, they read about Dr. King's work for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The 50 States and its Holidays

For Teachers Pre-K - Higher Ed
Though the format of this ELL activity is confusing (the standards listed are for plate tectonics, yet the objectives are for American geography and holidays), a teacher could glean some ideas from the main idea. Here, pupils complete a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Government and Community Resources

For Teachers Higher Ed
Adult learners, with the assistance of flash/picture cards, explore a variety of United States holidays and social customs: Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and more. In addition, they draw pictures illustrating...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

President's Day for Special Education/Early Elementary

For Teachers K - 1st
Students investigate how both Abraham Lincoln and George Washington displayed the trait of honesty. They listen to read alouds of class books and poems that address both the lives of these men and the trait of honesty. They use a graphic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Abigail Adams: Integrating Social Studies and Language Arts

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders increase reading strategies while learning about Abigail Adams and her role in history. In this Abigail Adams lesson, 3rd graders read about the American Revolution and Abigail Adams using all the balanced literacy...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Battle of Midway

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the Battle of Midway during World War II through an interactive website. They analyze photographs and read the descriptions. They discuss the implications of the Battle at Midway to both sides of the war.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Salute to American Symbols

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Learners research American symbols. In this American History lesson, students listen to the story The Wall and discuss the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. They also listen to One Nation and research an American Symbol to create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cultural Representation of Skeletons and Bones

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study cultures and beliefs about the final life cycle.  In this culture lesson students complete several activities on the origins of Halloween.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clowning Around: Drawing

For Teachers K - 1st
Kids create a clown out of shapes. They work to show emotions while practicing their drawing skills. Pupils use circles, triangles, squares, oil pastels, and their imagination to draw, color, and decorate a sad or happy clown. Tip: Have...