Students research different statistics to do with the Mississippi River. They answer questions about finding data and collect it by conducting research. The research is used to construct a data table. Then students use the table to...

Learners discover how rivers inspire creative expression.  In this Mark Twain instructional activity, students list songs about rivers and discuss common characteristics. They locate the Mississippi River on a map and write a script...

Students write an imaginative story using a specific point of view. Students imagine what life along the Mississippi River is like and pretend they are there. Students may use the scenario provided, or create their own for their story.

Students role-play as pioneers in Illinois river towns. They research and choose a home town and participate in the development of the town. They present their simulation in either a written report or visual presentation.

Students investigate water ways by conducting an experiment with classmates.  In this natural resources lesson, students define a watershed and identify where large ones are located within the United States.  Students utilize...

Students research the ways slavery shaped social and economic life in the South after 1800, the different economic, cultural, and social characteristics of slavery after 1800, and how the Atlantic slave trade finally ended.

Students place the Ohio river in its historical and geographical context. They listen to the radio stories, and are asked what postive and negative influences does the Ohio River have on nearby communities>

Students examine the event of the Great Flood of 1993. Using the internet, they research the economic, social and ecological changes that impacted the area. They conduct a town meeting in which they debate the positives and negatives of...

Ninth graders examine the goals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and identify the present day cities, towns, rivers, and regions that are on the route of the expedition. They complete an online WebQuest, recreating the route of the...

Students, working in groups, share notes and maps collected during a study of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. They draw large composite maps of the western United States on butcher paper including land formations, bodies of water, and...

Students take a closer look at archetypes. In this characterization lesson, students examine the setting and the characters of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer as they read and analyze the novel. Students consider how Twain mythically...

Upper elementary and middle schoolers examine the Great Flood of 1927 in the state of Arkansas. They each prepare an oral report about this flood and the huge impact it had on the economics of that time. Additionally, learners research...

Students explore lives of African-Americans in Iowa. Students will examine biographies and discuss perspectives of African-Americans. They will then create posters illustrating elements of those lives finally, putting on a five act play...

Students discover the role of a watershed. In this geography instructional activity, students are shown a diagram of a watershed and discuss the definition of a watershed. Students demonstrate the role of a watershed by using an umbrella...

Students discuss what a watershed is, complete online activities showing them how to take care of a watershed, and create a model of a watershed that they experiment with to see what happens when it is disrupted by civilization.

Young scholars examine the impact of the Great Flood of 1927 on the people and land of Arkansas. They define key terms, watch a video, listen to a historical song, and write a paragraph about the flood's effect upon the state of Arkansas.

Second graders become familiar with the geography of Arkansas and analyze why it is a good place for certain crops to grow.  In this rice instructional activity, 2nd graders list reasons Arkansas is a good place to grow rice....

  Students discuss what a watershed is, and locate watersheds on a map.  In this watershed lesson, students use the information they have been introduced to and create a color coded watershed map of their own.     

Students bring in vegetables that the Native Americans ate. In this vegetable activity, students create a graph that shows how many students brought in each vegetable. They measure their vegetable to find the length, circumference, and...

Students create historically accurate travel journals. In this Iowa history instructional activity, students research the German immigration experience as they write travel journals that feature a German family's move into an Iowa county.

Students investigate the removal of the Creek Indians from Georgia. Students read the story of the Creek removal from Georgia, locate sites mentioned on a map, and create a related timeline. Students share their thoughts on the Creek...

Middle schoolers study place names for different area in the US and determine why they were named in such a way. They examine maps to look at the religious names, "new" beginning names, and copy cat names. They complete a word search to...

Students attempt to describe and use longitude and latitude. They will identify different countries, their neighbors, and borders around the world. Included in the lesson the students identify natural features that control the borders of...

Eleventh graders understand that world events brought important changes that impacted Deerfield. Students use information gained from this and other periods to develop a continuum showing the growth of the Deerfield community.