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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rainforest (Elementary, Social Studies)

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Explore the rainforest with your class. Learners study the meaning of the word endangered, choose an animal to study, gather data, and discuss why the animal is in danger of extinction. This is a motivating way to have your class discuss...
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Worksheet
2
2
Humanities Texas

Primary Source Worksheet: John T. McCutcheon, “A Wise Economist Asks a Question”

For Students 8th - 11th
No joke! Kids learn how to read political cartoons using McCutcheon's drawing as a starting point and then progressing to other images found online.
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Lesson Plan
Heritage Foundation

The Amendment Process and the Bill of Rights

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Did you know that lawmakers have proposed more than 5,000 bills to amend the US Constitution in Congress? Your class learns intriguing facts about the process of choosing amendments. A variety of activities including before and after...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Environmental Issues: Air and Water Pollution

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Thinking about designing a project for your social studies or environmental science classes? Use an overview of a project that prompts class groups to research an environmental issue.
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Lesson Plan
National Woman's History Museum

Defying British Rule: Women's Contributions to The American Revolution

For Teachers 4th - 5th Standards
Primary and secondary sources are the focus of a lesson plan that showcases the important role women played during the American Revolution. Pairs review sources and discuss their findings. A close-reading of an informational text leads...
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Activity
Thoughtful Learning

Seeing Emotions in Body Language

For Students K - 5th
Scholars test their skills of reading body language with a collaborative learning experience that focuses on showing and identifying emotions. Pairs take turns acting out an emotion, one uses body language while the other guesses what...
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Unit Plan
Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo History Museum: Curriculum Guide

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Learn about the California Gold Rush from an institution that has been in place since the early days of the American West: Wells Fargo History Museum. From domain-specific vocabulary review to group research projects, an expansive packet...
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Lesson Plan
Lakeshorelearning

Read and Write about It

For Students 3rd - 5th Standards
Reading informational text is a skill that transcends subjects and grade levels. Practice reading about different topics in various formats with a language arts activity that includes opportunities for writing and research as well.
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Activity
Environmental Education in Wisconsin

Biome Travel Guide

For Teachers 5th - 12th
In a perfect marriage of social studies and science, groups work together to research and create a travel guide presentation to share with the class. Not only do kids learn about the climate and geography of a biome, but also the...
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Unit Plan
1
1
Madison Public Schools

Journalism

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Whether you are teaching a newspaper unit in language arts, covering the First Amendment and censorship in social studies, or focusing on writing ethics in journalism, a unit based on the foundations of journalism would be an excellent...
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Activity
MacArthur Memorial

In Their Shoes: WWI Through the Eyes of Early Participants

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Several social activities provide showcase the perspective of many prominent figures in World War I history. Students read an assigned case study about a memorable person and complete several activities to further understand this...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Grow a Musical Instrument

For Teachers K - 6th
Music, culture, social studies, and plant growth all in one! Kids explore the various type of traditional African instruments that are made out of gourds. They then grow their own gourds and use them to create a wide variety of African...
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Worksheet
3
3
Humanities Texas

Primary Source Worksheet: Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address

For Students 8th - 11th
Young historians will learn not to fear primary source materials (or fear itself, for that matter) thanks to this resource that uses Franklin D. Roosevelt's March 4, 1933 Inaugural Address to model how to conduct a close reading of such...
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Handout
Walt Disney Company

Disaster Preparedness Activity Book

For Students K - 5th Standards
Join the American Red Cross as well as Mickey and friends as they help to prepare young scholars for natural disasters. After reading brief informational passages about earthquakes, floods, fires, storms, tornadoes, and hurricanes,...
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

Little House on the Prairie

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Hop into a covered wagon and follow Laura Ingalls Wilder through the Midwest. A series of lessons based on Little House on the Prairie encourages young pioneers to see the world through Laura's eyes as they map her journey, discuss the...
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Lesson Plan
Manchester University

Veteran’s Day

For Teachers 1st - 5th Standards
Before honoring courageous veterans, get to know more about who they are and why November 11th is a special day. Scholars obtain such information through a read aloud of Eve Bunting's The Wall, grand conversation, and letter writing...
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Lesson Plan
Missouri Department of Elementary

Goldilocks Revisited

For Teachers 2nd Standards
After a read-aloud of the story Goldielocks and the Three Bears, scholars gather into small groups to answer a series of questions. Peers examine the idea of smart decisions and identify three feelings of characters alongside three...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Point of View

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
A picture is used to begin considering point of view. Then, have kids role play included scenes which all involve some type of conflict where the character's have very different perspective. Discussions ensue each role play, with kids...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln

For Teachers 8th - 10th Standards
"The Gettysburg Address" is the basis of a series of activities that not only model for learners how to conduct a close reading of a text, but also how a close reading can help them comprehend a difficult text. The detailed, step-by-step...
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Printables
Achievement Strategies

CCSS Unpacked Learning Targets for Reading and Writing History/Social Studies

For Teachers 6th - 12th
How do all the lessons and activities you have planned for your class align to Common Core State Standards? This can feel like a very daunting question. Help ease the process by referencing a template that not only lists and organizes...
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Lesson Plan
Scholastic

Voyage on the Mayflower for Grades 3-5

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Following an online activity, scholars complete a Grafitti Wall in which small groups write words and phrases on chart paper pertaining to Pilgrims, the Mayflower, and Thanksgiving. Pupils perform a close reading then answer a series of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Step into the Painting: Social Studies, Literature, and Art

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Travel back in American history to the era of slavery and abolition. After reading about the Underground Railroad, young historians examine a painting depicting the event, and write a narrative from the point of view of a person in the...
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Lesson Plan
Crafting Freedom

Man in the Middle: Thomas Day and the Free Black Experience

For Teachers 5th Standards
How did free and enslaved blacks work to craft freedom for themselves and their families before the Civil War? Young historians read about the life of Thomas Day, a free black man who also owned slaves and had abolitionist ties in...
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Activity
Teaching Tolerance

Film Festival

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Everybody's a critic—even your pupils! Using the included resources as a guide, screen films related to social justice and ask film enthusiasts to critique them. Publish the reviews for your school community or develop a film festival...