Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Primary Sources in the Classroom

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Suggestions for using primary sources.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Art or Artifact?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars analyze and discuss illustrations of the New World by John White. They examine the images, answer questions about each one, and write an essay.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social and Cultural Issues in the Civil Rights Movement

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the society and culture during the times of the Civil Rights movement. They view video clips and answer comprehension questions. They work together to research different authors and musicians sharing their information...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Study of the Spanish-Speaking People of Texas: Understanding Primary Sources

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers analyze Russell Lee's photo essay as a sign of segregation in Texas. They consider the differences between primary and secondary sources and how historians use these sources.
Worksheet
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Minoan and Mycenaean Comparison and Contrast

For Students 5th - 8th
In this ancient history activity, students compare and contrast the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures in the given chart. They identify their art, trade, building techniques, language, religion, and the area that they were each located.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The O Zone-Code Read Alert

For Teachers 4th - 5th
What are the effects of an air quality alert? Expert groups receive one component of air quality information resources to study. Pupils then jigsaw into new groups and share their knowledge. Finally, they draft a statement of what they...
Lesson Plan
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The Treaty Trail: U.S. Indian Treaty Councils in the Northwest

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a timeline with the major events of the 19th and 20th century dealing with Native Americans. They examine artifacts and discuss how they reflect culture. They also identify trade routes the Native Americans used.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Everyday Documents

For Students 4th - 8th
Almost more of a lesson than a activity, this particular resource has learners examine different types of historical documents. There is a historical docment embedded in the activity that learners study, and they also bring in documents...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

When Clay speaks

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners listen as the teacher reads "When Clay Sings," by Byrd Taylor. They discuss clay, and view a variety of clay items. Students watch a video clip "Interests in One of a Kind Pots." They watch a demonstration on working with clay....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Immigration History Firsthand

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this immigration lesson, students conduct research regarding Ellis Island and the American immigrant experience. Middle...
Lesson Plan
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Digging up the Past

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore history through archaeology. In this critical analysis lesson, students work in teams to recreate a model of the archaeological discoveries made in the excavations at Monticello. This lesson is designed to help students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Working on the Railroad

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students plan a trip on the railroad.  In this railroad creation and implementation lesson, students listen to the song "Working on the Railroad", make a map of where the track was laid and discuss the geographical challenges. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Time Capsule - Jewish Children In Concentration Camps

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore personal characteristics of Jewish students in concentration camps and the ghetto and make a time capsule of events and photographs following survivors from the ghetto and concentration camps to freedom.
Lesson Plan
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Life in Ancient Mesopotamia

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students reconstruct and make drawings of vessels in the same manner as an archaeologist. In this archaeologist lesson plan, students each get a piece of a broken pot and they have to work together to put it back together. Once it is...
Lesson Plan
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Dwellings - The Message of Houses and Their Contents, 1780-1820

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explore how architectural styles of the times reflected the economic status and taste of the individuals who owned the houses and how changes in the landscape and in material wealth reflect changes in technology and in...
Lesson Plan
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Lesson 6: Examining Events from Different Perspectives Friend or Foe?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders sequence events of European exploration and colonization by creating timelines. They define the differences between primary and secondary sources. They discuss claims to Texas land in the 17th Century.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Looking for Lincoln Throughout His Life

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Young historians gather information about Abraham Lincoln through a variety of activities. They match vocabulary words with pictures to create a timeline. Additionally, learners read books and articles that teach them...
Lesson Plan
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Milton Hershey Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students participate in a scavenger hunt. In this Milton Hershey lesson, students prepare for a trip to the Hershey Museum in Pennsylvania by completing a scavenger hunt. Students draw conclusions on their findings. 
Lesson Plan
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Egyptian Tomb Art: Expressions of Religious Beliefs

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders are introduced to the Prown's technique of describing various objects. As a class, they view pictures of the pyramids in Egypt and discuss how the size and shape of them show their belief in eternal life and religion. ...
Lesson Plan
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The Ancient World Explorer

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the ancient structures of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China. In small groups, they conduct research, evaluate their findings within the group, create visual aides, and complete an Internet treasure hunt.
Lesson Plan
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The Museum Idea

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students evaluate and record the various types of museum careers. For this The Museum Idea lesson, students create a bicentennial time capsule, design a Museum of me, and make a classroom mini museum. In addition students visit a local...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Egypt's golden Empire

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore many of the key scientific and technological contributions made by the ancient Egyptians. Researched data is presented to the entire group.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We the People

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students examine both the Preamble of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They work in small groups to connect the two documents and analyze how the documents are important to their lives today. They create a poster that visually...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conflict in the Frontier town of Deerfield

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students use primary sources to investigate, explore and represent varying perspectives on the 1704 Deerfield Raid. They consider the reasons Deerfield was at the center of English, French and Native American conflicts in the early 18th...