Curated OER
Westward Ho: The Difficulties of Emigrants Moving West
Young scholars research the journey west of 19th century emigrants. In this pioneer lesson, students read the letters and diaries of a fictitious family traveling on the Oregon Trail. They mark their route on a US map, create a chart...
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Take Me to the River
Students learn about a different way of life. In this river and dams lesson, students discuss the Hoover Dam. Students then view pictures of the Hoover Dam, discuss the impact of dams, and compare life before and after...
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Controlling the Flow of the Colorado River: A Study of Dams
Students research and map the Colorado River and its dams and predict the effects of a dam on an area. They suggest reasons a dam would be built and compare the Colorado River system with other major river systems within the US and...
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Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
Students analyze the story Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain geographically, and explain the term climate and discuss its relevance in the story as well as to their own lives.
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Natural Disasters
Ninth graders write a description of a natural disaster. They list as many natural disasters as they can think of. The class discusses any natural disasters individuals have witnessed first hand. They watch a brief clip of a film that...
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The Changing Face Of America
Pupils explain historical and contemporary patterns of immigration to the United States. They observe immigrant markers in the cultural landscape and identify trends in population change in the local state and community.
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Archaeological Study
Students analyze the difference between archaeology and anthropology while studying the evolution of different products. In this archaeology and anthropology instructional activity, students trace the progression of a certain tool or...
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Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Tsunamis
Students work in groups to research a tsunami, earthquake, or volcano. They use the internet to find information, and create a presentation. Each presentation should include a definition of their phenomenon, an illustration, three or...
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Creating Artwork to Explain Environmental Change
Learners review artwork that relates to the environment and communicates a value. They view and analyze art by Andy Warhol, Eric Carle and Albert Bierstadt and then create original pieces with an environmental theme.
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And the Rains Came Down: A South American Rainforest
Learners examine the characteristics of a South American tropical rainforest. They analyze maps, develop graphs, listen to the book, The Great Kapok Tree, and create a rainforest mural.
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The Lorax and Forest Park
Pupils read The Lorax by Dr. Seuss and identify situations where there is a risk to the community. During a class discussion, students predict types of liter they will find in a park. Pupils take a field trip to the park to collect...
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The Conestoga Wagon
Learners research the Conestoga wagon. In this early transportation lesson, students use primary documents to research how the invention of the Conestoga wagon improved transportation.
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Digging, Smelting and Forging: But Why in Pennsylvania
Students examine the history of the iron industry in Pennsylvania. In this iron industry lesson plan, students learn about Israel Acrilius and his role in the iron industry. Students identify natural resources used in forging iron....
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Petroglyphs and Pictographs
Fourth graders make necklaces out of petroglyphs that they stamp into clay. In this petroglyphs lesson plan, 4th graders draw designs and explain where they come from as well.
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Where Should We Land?
Learners discuss the difference between major landforms as a class. In groups, they rate the landforms based on the needs of the community that wish to settle there. They also discuss the push and pull factors of the colonists that made...
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About the U.S.A.
Students research the United States and discover its different climate zones, geographical features, animal life, and various cultures. Students complete a research chart using books, encyclopedias and the internet and present their...
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Betrayal of Penn's Promise - The Walking Purchase
Pupils role-play the 1737 Walking Purchase. In this Pennsylvania history lesson, students role-play the 1737 Walking Purchase and analyze its effects. Pupils also consider how it would affect their community today.
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Whales
Second graders identify the role of whaling in ancient Hawaii and the role of whales in Hawaii today, identify the migration route of whales and identify the whales that migrate to our Hawaiian waters.
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From the Flintstones to the Jetsons
Eighth graders compare and contrast transportation and agricultural methods in the United States from Colonization to Reconstruction. They, in groups, create and present Ohio Memory Scrapbooks to rest of class.
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Special Report: Flood of the Great River
Students work together in groups and role play the role of television crews. Using the internet, they research specific events of the Mississippi River flooding and report their findings to the class from different angles. They are to...
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The Fall and Rise of the White-tailed Deer Population: Conservation Success Story?
Students analyze the problems that have come along with the conservation movement and the fall and rise of the white tailed deer population. In this conservation lesson plan, students see how important the deer were to the Native...
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If the World Was a Village...Examining Ethnocentrism
Seventh graders examine their own perceptions of world's people, compare those perceptions to real demographic data, provide definition and understanding of term "ethnocentrism," and examine their own ethnocentrism based on comparison of...
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Urbanization and Native Hawaiian Plants
Fourth graders research plants native to the Hawaiian Islands. Using the plants, they identify its purpose in the watershed and ways to help protect them from extinction. They survey a area of land and discover ways in which to bring...
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Jacksonian Democracy
Students determine how technological advancements have formed history. In this Jacksonian democracy lesson, students research innovations of the era and then compare them to the technological innovations of today. Students also debate...