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Mexican Food
Fifth graders, following a lecture on the history of Mexican food, recognize and order Mexican cuisine, at a restaurant.
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French and Indian War
Fourth graders engage in activities that familiarize them with the causes of the French and Indian War. They discuss the problem that started the war, the countries involved, and the effects to come about as a result of the French and...
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Lost on Superstition Mountain
Learners review the concept of responsbility and relate it to the own lives. Using the internet, they research the search for gold on Superstition Mountain in Arizona and locate it on a map. They also examine the culture of Mexico and...
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Mexican and American Views of Texas
Pupils study the territorial status of Texas in 1830, 1840, and 1846 and interpret an historical timeline. They develop a general statement of Mexican and American views of Texas.
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Ask an Expert-Grade 5-8
Students conduct oral histories about water in their community. They interview community members, create a class oral history journal, and record their findings on a school website, in the school or public library, or in another...
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Mapping the Border
Learners create maps of the borderland region. They decorate their maps with colors, pictures, icons, scenes, words that reflect their understanding of the character and history of the borderland.
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Fire and Fire Suppression
Learners explore forest fires and forest service's new stategies. They study a case of natural burn and the impact of lowering the intensity of a larger forest fire.
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Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion
Pupils discover how manifest destiny and westward expansion are related. Using the Internet, they research the beginnings of the movement of manifest destiny and how it influenced people moving westward. They discuss the expectations and...
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Translating Traditions
Students analyze art reflective of traditions and cultural heritage. In this art analysis lesson, students complete image based discussion.
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Old Mayan Mural
Students read a story called Scientists Discover Oldest Mayan Mural and answer vocabulary and comprehension questions about it. In this current events Mayan mural lesson plan, students respond to literature by answering questions,...
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Scenes of Reverence: The Virgin of Guadalupe
Students learn the history of Christianity in New Spain. They learn the story and significance of the Virgin of Guadalupe. They compare and contrast images of the Virgin and religious art to European counterparts.
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Perceptions of War
Tenth graders share perspectives on war with Iraq with students from various countries, and write position papers expressing specific stance on issues.
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Engineering: Simple Machines
Fourth graders participate in activities to examine how simple machines help build things. They identify the six types of simple machines. They discover how simple machines where use historically to build pyramids and how they are still...
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Pop Around the World
Young scholars study the origin of popcorn. They locate countries where it is grown on a world map. They color the world map and glue kernels of popcorn onto the countries from which popcorn originated. They write the names of common...
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Gran Quivira: A Blending of Cultures in a Pueblo Indian Village
Students examine the changing life ways of the inhabitants of a Pueblo Indian village from the 7th century to the arrival of the Spanish in the early 17th century. They explain the influence of Spanish missionaries on the lives the...
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Testing the Caverns
Students build model caverns using paper mache or clay and bury them in a tray of sand. They test the models by dropping balls onto them to simulate an asteroid hitting the earth. They evaluate the effectiveness of a structure against...
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The Dust Bowl and the Ogallala Aquifer
Students research the characteristics of the Great Plains as an agricultural area. They examine farming techniques from the past and how those farming techniques are used today. They investigate the present uses of the Ogallala Aquifer.
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How the Great Depression Affected California and C¿¿sar E. Ch¿¿vez
Fourth graders examine the effect of the Great Depression on California. After reading a summary, they discover how the depression and Dust Bowl led to the immigration of great numbers of farm workers into California. They also...
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Atomic Bomb-Truman Press Release-August 6, 1945
Learners read a copy of Truman's press release regarding the atomic bomb. They answer a series of factual questions regarding the press release. They discuss the press release and then follow up with answering more in depth questions...
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Border Forum
Students read, analyze, and synthesize news reports on a current border issues. They prepare an oral presentation and written support documents which must clearly and accurately explain an issue to an audience which may be unfamiliar...
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Bilinguilism and Spanglish: A Way of Speaking, a Way of Thinking
Students compare the differences between bilingualism and registers of discourse. They investigate how economic, historical and interpersonal relationships affect language and relationships.
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Simple Thermodynamics of Transportation
Students watch videos about various modes of transportation, they examine the energy transformations that occur in each, and they be introduced to the laws of thermodynamics.
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The Final Countdown
Students examine the United States electoral college system as it applies to the 2004 presidential election. They investigate the impact of the twelve battleground states in the 2004 election and develop informative pamphlets on the...
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Going to the Promised Land
Students analyze primary resources and map in order to draw conclusions regarding the migrant-worker experience during the Great Depression. They explain and explain the impact of economic and ecological events on individuals.