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Could the Civil War Been Avoided Through Compromise?
Students determine whether the American Civil War could have been avoided. In this Civil War lesson, students examine primary and secondary sources to prepare to participate in a classroom debate that requires them to compromise to avoid...
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Political Legends and Map Symbols
Students identify the legend and map symbols. In this map skills lesson, students use a world map to find various locations using a map key.
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The Huichol Community of Mexico: Communicating with Symbols
Students study the Huichol Indians. In this Huichol lesson, students red The Journey of Tunuri and the Blue Deer, design a visual story using symbols, and make a painting using large paper shapes. A class mural project is also included.
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"De Colores"
First graders learn color words in Spanish through the use of a song. In this Spanish music lesson, 1st graders sing the song "De Colores" to help them learn their color words in Spanish.
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Individual Resistance & Social Change
Young scholars examine the Brown v. Board of Education case. In this segregation lesson, students study the details of the case and compare it the Mendez v. Westminster case.
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Operation Mexfly
Young scholars research information about pesticides. Students discuss the history of the Mexican fruit fly. They experiment to discover malathion concentration levels in organisms. Young scholars explore the effect of toxins at the...
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Border Teatro
Students analyze elements unique to the Chicano art form of the teatro (theater) and examine history connected to the form, namely the farm workers' movement of the 1960's.
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The Adventure Begins: "Boys I Believe I Have Found a Gold Mine!"
Pupils view and discuss historical documents regarding Native Americans and Californians prior to the gold rush in the 1940's. They complete a variety of activities designed to show what they have learned from these sources and class...
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Days of '49: "I've Been Toiling Hard for the Last Two And a Half Years"
Students trace the stages of gold mining in California. They discuss the life of a gold miner and how the discovery of gold influenced towns and cities in California during the 1949 Gold Rush.
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Westward Expansion and the War with Mexico
Learners evaluate primary sources to develop their own opinions about Westward Expansion. For this Manifest Destiny lesson, students examine and respond to questions about Gast's painting titled American Progress Learners research how...
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The Chicano Movement in California - Culture, Causes, and Community
High schoolers explore the culture and community of the Chicano movement in California using prints that emerged from the Chicano movement. The historical, binational, and bicultural components are examined in this three lessons unit.
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Textured Pottery using Self-Hardening Clay and Multicultural Design
Students create textured pottery. In this multicultural arts lesson plan, students follow step-by-step directions to create textured pottery with a multicultural design out of self-hardening clay.
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Foods and Languages of the World
Students review Mexico's location and language and learn to pronouns 10 new Spanish food words. Students listen as the book, Corn is Maize is read, touching and passing around an ear of Indian corn. Students discuss the contribution of...
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Democracy
Eleventh graders examine the denial of rights to individuals in the United States. For this American Government lesson, 11th graders study President Roosevelt's Day of Infamy speech. Students create a presentation on the...
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Westward Ho
Students examine primary sources regarding Western migration. In this Manifest Destiny lesson, students determine why the pioneers moved west and what the trip was like as they examine sources and write journals based on their findings.
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Creating an Embossed Bird Design
Students research the role silver plays in the artwork of Mexico. They describe symbols used in Mexican artwork and create their own designs of birds in an embossed style.
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Creating a Self Portrait painting With Decorative Frame
Sixth graders view a large image of a painting and discuss the history and its role in past and current culture in Mexico. Student list the symbols portrayed in the work and explain their significance. Students use elements of art to...
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Las Misiones de California
Fourth graders work in partners to complete a series of activities. After reading the introduction, Students select a role of either a "Padre" or "Indigena." As partners, they need time on the computer for research as well as time to...
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Changing Landscape at the Fort Vancouver Reserve
Students investigate the international background and consequences of The Louisiana Purchase, The War of 1812, and The Monroe Doctrine. The lesson helps to improve critical thinking skills about American History.
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New York on the Pacific Coast
Learners explore the interaction and consequences of contact among different ethnic groups. Students examine a timeline and the important historical
events in American History. They discuss immigration and migration.
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Cinco De Mayo
Students investigate the historical background of the holiday of Cinco de Mayo. They complete a word search, explore various websites, and create a pinata that is papered with facts about the holiday.
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Mexico: A Look At Its Culture and Geography
Students canvass the Mexican geography, culture, dress, language, crafts, and traditions in this unit of eight lessons. The Mexican Independance Day is compared to our own and the contributions of the Mayan, Azetec, and Spanish are...
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The Power of Storytelling
Students are creating their own stories to understand life. The use of history is used to help one to create one's own story. The skill of writing is emphasized as a tool to learn history.
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Conjunto Music from South Texas
Students listen to conjunto music and identify the instrumentation. After discussing the the history of South Texas, they examine lyrics of several songs and interpret them. As extensions, students can learn to partner dance to the...