Lesson Plan
Curated OER

First Inauguration Speech of Abraham Lincoln

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars read an annotated excerpt of Lincoln's speech. In this government lesson, students discuss questions related to the speech to identify Lincoln's ideas to preserve the Union. Young scholars may write optionally write their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Perseverance

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine how the failure of Reconstruction led to the systematic passage of Jim Crow laws in states across the South and the negative impact these laws had on the growth and development of the US.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civilizations The Fall of Power

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students comprehend the major events that occurred in the final centuries of the Roman Empire. They explore the different reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire. Students write an editorial about one reason for Rome's fall.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

South Carolina's Constitution

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the definition of political culture. After viewing a movie, 8th graders discuss how the political culture of the 1600 and 1700s is reflected in early drafts of the South Carolina constitution.
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Government: Defending the Bill of Rights

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils examine the proposition of a country without the Bill of Rights. In a role-playing activity, teams of students gather information to build a case for retaining the Bill of Rights and present it before their congressperson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Historical Fiction: A Wealth of Interpretations

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students read a book from the Dear America series and contrast different points of view. They respond to the book either by participating in a literature circle or completing a journal entry. They compare and contrast two books or a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heart Mountain Relocation Center

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine several primary source documents related to the Japanese internment camp at Heart Mountain, Wyoming. They write an essay about Heart Mountain and explore the concept of restitution to Japanese-Americans.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Doubles: Japan and America's Intercultural Children

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Learners experience issues of intercultural children born as a result of the Occupation of Japan by American soldiers. They reflect on how these experiences and issues might be relevant to our own lives. Task cars are available to print...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ancient Greece: Inquiring Minds Want to Know

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore world history by writing newspaper articles. In this Greek history lesson, 2nd graders investigate the geography and society of Ancient Greece by utilizing the Internet as a research tool. Students collaborate with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lessons in Drama: Learning About American Political Thought

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students develop critical thinking skills so that they may produce their own written plays or music from their thoughts and feelings. They express their thoughts based on what has been presented to them over the duration of the course.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

MADAME C. J. WALKER

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders recognize the achievements of Madame C. J. Walker and select one long term and one short term goal and describe the steps necessary to achieve those goals.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Eleanor Roosevelt and the Rise of Social Reform in the 1930's

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Eleventh graders explore the various roles that Eleanor Roosevelt took on. In this US History lesson, 11th graders analyze the views that Eleanor Roosevelt held as an advocate for social justice. High schoolers evaluate her contributions...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Memorial Day Shoebox Parade

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners examine the history of U.S. conflict and Memorial Day. They conduct research, develop a timeline of U.S. conflict, and create a shoebox Memorial Day parade to commemorate veterans and soldiers.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dos mapas de Florida, el Caribe y parte de Sur America

For Teachers 7th - 12th
What can maps tell us about the past? Find out with a Spanish lesson that incorporates geography. After examining maps individually, comparing two old maps of Spanish Florida and writing notes in the provided Venn diagram, pupils pair up...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Multas

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Combine history and Spanish instruction with an exploration of descriptions of fines given in Florida in 1790. Partners read the brief text, fill out a graphic organizer about the crimes described, and interview each other about fines....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Did You Know...

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research about hispanic history. They complete a true-false worksheet together or in groups. They discover achievements by hispanic members of society.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coming to America: U.S. Immigration

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Analyze primary source documents relating the conditions under with prompted American immigration. Learners will analyze information in order to create a six-panel pamphlet. Much of the lesson is not available but the key objectives are....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Presentation of Pilgrims

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students are given a category to research (clothes, life before the New World, the voyage, etc.) about Pilgrim life. s Students, in groups, create presentations using software program such as PowerPoint.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Opening Doors to Social Studies with Children's Literature

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders read a story about immigration, listen to songs about America and explore the history of their ancestors. They discuss how immigration creates a multicultural country. Pupils create a collage of the people in America. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake of 1964

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine the damage from the earthquake across a large geographic area of Alaska. They discover additional damage occurred from the tsunami, fires, and flooding after the initial earthquake. They collect images and information...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Defining moments from the past with lessons for a post-9/11 world...

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine extension ideas concerning 9/11, Defining Moments. They analyze a variety of Supreme Court cases, the U.S. Constitution, Mass Media Interpretations, Racism, Immigrant groups and U.S. geography. Many questions are asked...
Lesson Plan
PBS

African-Americans in the American West

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Secondary learners explore the westward movement of African Americans. Segmented into four time periods, the activity provides an overview of how African Americans experienced westward expansion. Learners view PBS specials on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History, African Americans, The Blues

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
This lesson enables teachers to use blues music to explore the history of African Americans in the 20th century. By studying the content of blues songs, students can learn about the experiences and struggles of the working-class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early Settlements

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students embark on a journey through colonial times.  In this early settlement lesson, students come to understand what life was like for the settlers in the early colonies. Students research and create projects illustrating their...