Lesson Planet Article
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Oral traditions: Facilitating education through verbal traditions

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Bring oral traditions into the classroom to engage learning and facilitate best practices. From story telling to listening skills, this article provides reasons and rational behind oral traditions as a tool for education. 
Lesson Plan
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Frontier Life Story

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore American frontier life. In this history lesson, students participate in a series of activities that challenge them to discover what pioneer life was really like.
Lesson Plan
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World History: Legacy of the Conquistadors.

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the influence of the Spanish conquistadors on ancient South American Cultures. In four separate lessons, they discover the relationships of Cortes and the Aztecs, Pizarro and the Incas, Orellana and the Amazons, and...
Lesson Plan
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Impact of the Progressive Era

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the impact of the Progressive Era on the state of North Carolina. Using primary source documents, they discover the reason for the creation of schools during this time period. After reading news articles, they...
Study Guide
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Meet the Tarantula

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students study tarantulas. In this tarantula lesson, students discover the general description of the arachnid as well pointers regarding its behavior, reproduction, habitat, food schedule, and handling tips.
Lesson Plan
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Day of the Dead

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore Day of the Dead, also called "Dia de los Muertos," which is a holiday (or festival) celebrated in Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala, and other areas in Central and South America populated with the Latino ethnic background.
Unit Plan
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Meso-America

For Teachers 5th
Students will identify and locate Central and South America and their countries and features, as well as Meso-American civilizations. Students will compare civilizations and discuss voyages of relevant explorers.
Lesson Plan
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Powerful Potato

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders make food. In this agriculture lesson, 3rd graders learn about the history of the potato. Students then plant potatoes, harvest them, and make french fries, potato salad or potato soup.
Lesson Plan
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Afro-Caribbean Americans and the Sugar Economy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read the narrative, Caribbean Immigration and examine how sugar production and migration of people of African origin have been intertwined for centuries. Working in three groups, they present oral reports on the three eras of...
Lesson Plan
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Stars and Bars Forever?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate icons, monuments and places that serve as symbols of American history, assessing how and why the meanings of these historic symbols evolve through time to acquire new or different significance.
Lesson Plan
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Columbus wants to find a shorter route to Asia

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the reasons why Columbus wanted to find a shorter route to Asia. They make a timeline of the sequence of events surrounding his explorations. Students draw a map of the routes taken by early explorers around...
Lesson Plan
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Art to Zoo: India-Where Remarkable Differences Are Ordinary

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students "visit" India to learn about its culture and the lives of children in India. In this India activity, students conduct research and report on the lives of Indian children in the form of a mock interview between a journalist and...
Lesson Plan
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Civil War: The North History Lesson

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students demonstrate their reading comprehension skills, including reading strategies, inference, literal meaning, and critical analysis.
Worksheet
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Nov. 2, 1976 | Carter Defeats Ford in Presidential Election

For Students 9th - 12th
After reading about the presidential race in 1976, learners think critically about presidential legacy. They read all of the provided background information, related New York Times articles, and then respond to a writing prompt via blog...
Lesson Plan
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Runaways Past and Present

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders use video and the Internet to compare runaway teenagers of the 1930s with runaways today. The lesson uses the integration of technology in order to build skills and conduct research.
Writing
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March 2, 1877: Hayes Declared Winner in Disputed Presidential Election

For Students 8th - 12th
After reading an interesting article comparing the disputed presidential election of 1877 to a similar event in the year 2000, kids blog a response. They read the article, check out the embedded links, then respond to four related...
Lesson Plan
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Keeping in Touch

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students read about the Northern Migration of African Americans in the 19th century, and create an eight panel cartoon depicting the means of communication between freed slaves in the North and those still enslaved in the South.
Lesson Plan
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Region, History, and the Novel: Is Resistance Futile?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read a novel related to their geographical area and "Gone With The Wind". Using the first novel, they use the internet to research one aspect from it and relate it to their location today. They create a Hyperstudio or PowerPoint...
Lesson Plan
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Mesoamerica

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students demonstrate knowledge of early Middle American civilizations. They study Mesoamerican i religions, governments, and achievements. They identify geographies of North and South America.
Worksheet
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Latin America: 1500-Present

For Students 6th - 11th
In this Latin American history study guide worksheet, students read a brief overview pertaining to the history of Latin America from 1500 to the present and fill in the blanks with the appropriate words. Students also respond to 23 short...
Lesson Plan
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"Open Mic" - Giving Creative Expression To The Connection Between The Japanese American Internment, September 11, And Our Rights Today

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the similarities of the Japanese-American experience in WWII and Arab-American experience in post-September 11 US policy. They create presentations on their reflections and express themselves through poetry, dance,...
Worksheet
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Breaking News English: Map Shows the Chinese Discovered America

For Students 5th - 10th
In this English worksheet, students read "Map Shows the Chinese Discovered America," and then respond to 47 fill in the blank, 7 short answer, 20 matching, and 8 true or false questions about the selection.
Lesson Plan
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Southern Perspective on Reconstruction

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students analyze historical perspectives. In this Reconstruction lesson, students compare and contrast the Northern and Southern views on Reconstruction as they analyze letters from Robert E. Lee and read Confederate Military History.
Lesson Plan
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Natural History of Costa Rica

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Pupils use outline maps to become acquainted with Costa Rica. They see how it was formed and how its origin has created very diverse environments. Students then use atlases and compare their physical maps with maps of climate and the...