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Kansas Prairie Homes
Students read about settlers in Kansas and the adaptations they made in order to build different kinds of houses. In this Kansas settlers lesson plan, students participate in choral reading and retell information they learn.
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Bible Lesson: Wagons West
Students debate whether manifest destiny is right or wrong. In this manifest destiny lesson, students discuss the westward movement and the role of manifest destiny as they focus on the Native Americans. Students view the...
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Squanto's Science Lesson
Students explore Squanto's contribution to the settlers. They plant seeds and follow instructions for water and fertilization. Students keep a record of the growth of the seeds. They write a paragraph that tells what they learned from...
Teacher Vision
The Wampanoag Indians: A Thanksgiving Lesson
Spark some lively conversation about American holiday traditions and debunk accepted notions about the first Thanksgiving at the same time. After reviewing the mainstream version of the Thanksgiving story with your class, offer some...
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Town Growth and Immigration
Fourth graders describe how Michigan has changed and stayed the same over time. They explain reasons why people settled/settle in Michigan, then explain the role of geography on the settlement of Michigan.
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Our First Families
Students complete a variety of activities in which the Washington Post Newspaper is used to reinforce concepts pertaining to the history of the Washington, D.C. area.
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Jamestown
Fifth graders research the Jamestown settlement and examine life in the colonies from 1607-1610. They explore websites, develop a timeline, select two settlers to research, and write three letters written from the point of view of their...
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Traditional Tribal Homelands of Washington's Plateau Nations
Students investigate the Plateau tribes. In this Native American lesson, students use a political map of Washington state to identify the location of the Plateau tribes. Students brainstorm the needs and wants of the tribes and use an...
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The Lure of The West
Here is a fabulous series of lesson plans on four of the most celebrated artists of the Old Western period in American history. Learners study the works of Charles King, George Catlin, Albert Bierstadt, and Thomas Moran. The pack is...
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The Colonization of the United States
Bring the Age of Exploration into the 21st century with this ancestry activity! Learners get a chance to explore the complex genealogy of the Spanish settlers through watching two video clips (approximately five minutes each) featuring...
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American Indians, European Settlers, and Colonial Arkansas
Students identify the interdependence among various ethnic groups in early Arkansas history. They illustrate timelines and visit historic sites. They make maps of the site and give class presentations.
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Kill the Indian, Save the Man!
Students investigate primary sources from Carlisle Indian School including letters and photographs. In this investigative lesson students answer questions about their research.
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Packing For A Trip to the Colonies
In this Colonial America worksheet, students complete a chart with information about what was native to the colonies and what was brought in by the settlers. Students make notes about: animals, farming techniques, food crops and other...
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Comparison of Political Life
Students research and compare and contrast the political leadership of three cultures.
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Early Indian Inhabitants of Deerfield
Eleventh graders explain that there is evidence of New England's being inhabited by Indians as far back as 10,000 years ago.
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The French in Texas
Fourth graders use Internet to examine early French exploration and settlement in Texas, and write journal entries from point of view of 17th Century French settler, French or Spanish explorer, or Native American whose land was taken.
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Plows on the Hunting Grounds: The Indian Allotment Act of 1887
Students discuss the Indian Allotment Act. In this social studies lesson, students research a selected tribe and write a report on their selected tribe.
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The Homestead Act
Eighth graders analyze the Native American's viewpoint of the Homestead Act. Using one Native American group who lived in Nebraska, they write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper discussing the Homestead Act and how it affected...
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Jamestown's Economy
Students identify items made in Jamestown and draw conclusions about their economy. In this Jamestown economy activity, students use the internet to complete a worksheet which required them to look at photographs of goods made in and...
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Puritans vs. Seperatist
Eighth graders create a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the Puritans and Separatists. They about The Mayflower Compact and write a short summary about the document. After creating a foldable, 8th graders list ways the native...
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Myth and Truth: The First Thanksgiving
Encourage learners to think critically about common myths regarding the Wampanoag Indians in Colonial America. They discover that behind every myth are many possible explanations—and that learning more about American history helps them...
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Thanksgiving: Multiple Perspectives
Students examine different perspectives about Thanksgiving that include those of the European Settlers and the Native Americans. They read and discuss an article about Plymouth being "America's Hometown." They develop a landmark for...
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The Adventure Begins: "Boys I Believe I Have Found a Gold Mine!"
Students 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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Sense Of Place
Students study ecology, listen to speakers and research conservation topics. In this investigative lesson students discuss wilderness resources, learn about Native Americans and participate in activities that help them to better...