Curated OER
The Burning of Chambersburg
Students research primary documents to identify when Confederate troops burned the city of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. They describe how the city was damaged and create a fictionalized newspaper account of the city's burning.
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Why Does Delaware Have Such A StrangeShape?
Learners examine the events and history surrounding the boundaries of Delaware. They participate in a class discussion and analyze a map, then create a floor map using masking tape. Students also participate in a play about the...
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Cupid’s Ambassador: The Cultural Impact of Chocolate
Students review a trip they made to the Hershey Museum. In this history of chocolate lesson, students determine the impact chocolate has made on cultures and create visual projects that feature their findings.
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Events Leading to the War of 1812
In this US History learning exercise, students read a selection of the War of 1812 and fill in the blanks for 10 sentences using a word bank.
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Forest Sustainability
High schoolers study major forests and their history. They see what sustainable forestry and silviculture is and discuss the topics on the attached worksheet.
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Philadelphia and the Constitutional Convention "Heat Up"
Students explore the Constitutional Convention of 1787. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students role play the parts of delegates in a simulation of the convention.
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Pennsylvania Boxing: Living the American Dream
Learners reflect on fictional and real boxers from Pennsylvania. In this history instructional activity, students read, reflect and discuss the historical period following World War II and observe the boxers that were famous from...
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Do Facts Speak For Themselves?
Eighth graders study how the forces of migration affected towns. Through various group projects, 8th graders demonstrate an understanding of major events, and the historical development of Pennsylvania and the United States. Students...
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Body / Kinesthetic & Visual / Spatial
Tenth graders produce a multimedia project using HyperStudio. This project is similiar to an "information kiosk", with engaging media to "tell a story" about the Battle of Gettysburg. They have knowledge about the Civil War events that...
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Civil War: A Terrible Swift Sword
Students explore the Civil War. In this American History lesson plan, students use guiding questions and primary resources to better comprehend the events of the Civil War. This lesson plan actually includes 3 complete lessons that...
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Lincoln Home National Historic Site: A Place of Growth and Memory
Eighth graders study the history of Lincoln's home. In this American History lesson, 8th graders examine artifacts from his home to learn about his beliefs. Students participate in a webquest on Lincoln's home.
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How Far to Freedom?
Students research the life of William Parker to learn about the Underground Railroad. In this US history lesson, students research William Parker and the Underground Railroad. Students research the Christiana Resistance and map routes of...
Smithsonian Institution
Students’ Response to 9/11—A Documentary Report
Young historians research the devastating attacks of 9/11 and use that information to script their own documentaries. The follow-up activity includes recording the documentary and conducting classmate interviews,
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English Cognates in Various Indo-European Languages
Studying the history, influences, and cognates of the English language, this presentation provides students in linguistics and language classes with several charts of information on cognates from languages around the world. The slideshow...
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Religious Tolerance in Pennsylvania
High schoolers analyze Quakers including their beliefs. In this religious tolerance lesson students predict the future effects of the colonies.
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"The Scientist and The Prince: Two Interesting Early Pennsylvania Immigrants
Young scholars examine immigrants including why people immigrated to America and their places of origin. In this immigrants instructional activity students analyze the importance of immigrants and the obstacles that they encounter.
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One Room School House Reading Lesson
Learners explore schools during the Colonial period. In this American history lesson plan, students participate in a simulation of school days in Colonial America. Learners visit a museum and use the schoolhouse as a setting for their...
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The Outrage of Ordinary Men: Pennsylvania's Role in the Great Railroad Strike of 1877
Learners study the events that surround the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. In this historical lesson students work in groups to analyze documents, determine the facts and present a summary of their findings to the class.
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Mary Cassatt: Impressionist Connection
Young scholars read information about Mary Cassatt and study examples of her Impressionist art. In this art history lesson, students read about the life and art of Mary Cassatt. Young scholars then study her art 'Little Girl in a Blue...
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The Most Dangerous Woman in America: Mary Harris "Mother" Jones
Students discover labor issues of the 1800's. In this Pennsylvanian history lesson, students research the case of Mary Harris Jones and discover her work as a labor activist. Students discuss the case together in class.
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Religious Communities: 19TH CENTURY HARMONISTS
Students examine the Second Great Awakening and the religious revivals that swept through the United States during the early decades of the nineteenth century. They compare various communities to the Harmonists of Old Economy.
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Oil: Impact of a Resource
Middle schoolers discover the history and method of oil production. In this natural resource lesson plan, students investigate early oil production. Middle schoolers discuss the challenges of turning natural resources into safe products.
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Football at Carlisle Indian School: A Tool for Assimilation?
Middle schoolers become familiar with procedures for helping Indians assimilate in the 1800's. In this history lesson plan students explore how football helped Indians to assimilate in a positive way. Middle schoolers recognize the...
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What is Prejudice?
Students tell who Rosa Parks was and what she did to become famous and what state she did it in, and who Martin Luther King Jr. was, why he was important in history, and how we was connected with Rosa Parks.