Curated OER
Exploring Race Through Literature
Provide your class with an opportunity to examine race through a variety of literary works. They read and analyze a chosen poem, interview, speech, or story describing race in America. They then use key words from the original work to...
Curated OER
Social Studies: Geographic Regions
Third graders create Powerpoint presentations about the five themes of geography in regions of the United States. They focus on the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest regions. Students use both pictures and words in their shows.
Curated OER
Creating and Comparing Climographs
Students are introduced to the importance and usefulness of climographs. In groups, they create a climograph of two cities on about the same latitude. They compare and contrast the locations and climates of the two cities and write a...
Curated OER
Secretary of State Seeks Support
Learners examine the state of diplomacy through an interactive program. They analyze programs by the United States government to protect Americans. They discover some of the world's diplomats and their responsibilities.
Curated OER
Mexican Cessation
Eighth graders create a propaganda poster. In this US history instructional activity students research the various sides during the Mexican-American War. They present their poster and their position for or against the war.
Curated OER
Electronic Survey Activity
Fifth graders conduct a class survey and share the results with a class in another state via an electronic bulletin board. This technology-rich lesson is an ideal way to have learners practice communicating with others through the use of...
Curated OER
Mark Twain: Straddling the Civil War
Mark Twain's life, politics, writing, and role as a mirror of pre- and post-Civil War American culture are the focus 11th and 12th graders in this section from an expansive author study. A critical writing assignment comparing Twain...
National Endowment for the Humanities
The 1828 Campaign of Andrew Jackson: Expansion of the Voting Base
Students give examples to indicate how the franchise was extended and limited in the first half of the 19th century, and cite some differences in the newly enfranchised population that could affect the way they would vote.
Curated OER
US Geography: The Midwest
Students investigate the geography and agricultural products of the Midwestern United States. In this US geography lesson, students watch and discuss a video that depicts the Midwest of the US as the breadbasket of the country. They make...
Curated OER
Regions, Regions, Regions!
Students use regions to analyze the locational patterns of culture
groups at various scales. They discern the basics of region identity by discovering his/her "Home" Region through the examination of
criteria in his/her "backyard." In...
Curated OER
From Bolls to Bolts
Fifth graders explore the economic effects of the colonization of North America. In this Social Studies lesson plan, 5th graders examine the economic and cultural results that occurred due to North America entering the market....
Curated OER
Across Five Aprils
Eighth graders are introduced to the novel "Across Five Aprils" written by Irene Hunt. They become familiar with the people, places, and events referenced in the story and comprehend the story of the Civil War. Students are given a...
Curated OER
Naming the States of the U.S
Fifth graders study the 50 states on a map. In this social studies lesson, 5th graders identify the names of the states and location. Additionally, students work in small groups to name and locate as many states as they can on a blank...
Curated OER
U.S. Puzzle Map Bulletin Board
Students create cutouts of each state. They research different states noting their similarities and differences. They describe each state's location in relation to the state's surrounding them.
Curated OER
Egg Hunt: Review of States and Capitals
Fourth graders participate in an Easter egg hunt that gives them clues to states and their capitals. In this states and capitals lesson plan, 4th graders use clues to figure out the states described.
NOAA
I Can't Breathe!
The Gulf of Mexico dead zone, an area of low oxygen that kills marine life, costs the United States $82 million every year. Young scientists research anoxic ocean environments then come up with a hypothesis for the cause of the Gulf of...
Curated OER
Eye on the Storm
Young scholars discover the way geologists collect information about past hurricanes to determine patterns that may help with storm prediction. They then research the history of natural disasters in different regions of the United States...
Curated OER
Coasts
Learners explain the different types of marine coasts and where they are located in the United States and its territories. They explain and identify some of the life forms that inhabit different marine coastal regions.
Curated OER
HIV/AIDS And Contemporary Population Dynamics
Students describe the spread and occurence of HIV/AIDS at multiple scales. They explain global and regional variations in the occurence of HIV/AIDS and explain the spread of HIV/AIDS in the United States.
Curated OER
US Geography, The Blues
This instructional activity enables teachers to use blues styles and performers to think about various geographical regions of the United States. By studying different blues styles from the Mississippi Delta, Texas, and the Piedmont...
Curated OER
Regions of South Carolina
Third graders explore the 5 regions of South Carolina. In this regions lesson, 3rd graders locate the regions on a map and compare and contrast the areas. Students have sentence strips that have facts about the regions on them, students...
Curated OER
Recognizing How Another Culture Differs From One's Own
Students identify and understand the significant cultural traits described by the author. They discover how the concepts of time and punctuality can differ markedly in the United States and another country and determine that In some...
Curated OER
Where is the Trail? The Journey of Lewis and Clark
Students explore the trail followed by Lewis and Clark on their journey across the United States. In this United States History lesson, students complete several activities to establish the Lewis and Clark Expedition, including a class...
National Endowment for the Humanities
"Old Southwest" Humorists and George Washington Harris
Young scholars discover the work of George Washington Harris and his influence on American humor. For this George Washington Harris lesson, discuss cultural differences in the United States and read Sut Lovongwood stories by George...