Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U S Constitution--Checks and Balances

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students get an in-depth look at how our checks and balances system helps maintain the separating of powers between the three branches of government. They use current event head lines and insert them into he appropriate space on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding JFK's Presidency through his Speeches

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students reflect and discuss the major events that happened in the United States in the 1950's and 1960's.  In this U.S. History lesson, students read and analyze the famous speeches during this time frame, then complete a worksheet...
Lesson Plan
NPR

Civil Rights of Japanese-American Internees

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Prompted by a viewing of Emiko and Chizu Omori’s Rabbit in the Moon, a documentary about the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, high schoolers examine a series of documents, including the Bill of Rights and the UN’s...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where are the Famous Women in History?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars investigate sexism in history by identifying important women from the U.S.  In this women's equality lesson, students discuss why they remember more men in the history of the U.S. than women.  Young scholars...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History - Up Close And Personal

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers identify national origin and population movement across U.S. of ancestors and/or community residents, explain historical development of major local industries, identify local social patterns/economic development as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

1th Grade U.S. History from 1877

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders engage in a lesson that is about the study of history in the United States after the end of World War I. They conduct research using a variety of resources and then summaries are written to explain the reasons for The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making a Report to President Washington

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners gain an understanding of some of the challenges the U.S. faced at its birth. They are asked to compose a report on the state of the nation in 1790 (addressed to President George Washington), which includes a narrative, maps and...
Lesson Plan
Advocates for Human Rights

The Right of Indigneous Peoples in the United States

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
The sovereignty of U.S. Native American nations is the focus of a resource that asks class members to compare the Right to Self-Determination in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples with a fact sheet that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Louisiana Purchase

For Teachers 5th - 11th
Students explore U.S. territorial expansion. In this Louisiana Purchase lesson plan, students investigate how the purchase was funded and determine how diplomatic actions were part of the land transfer. Students analyze several primary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"I Hear America Singing": Controversy and Music in the Mexican War

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the Mexican War and its outcome through music. In this primary source analysis lesson, 8th graders analyze the lyrics of selected songs to consider the 2 perspectives regarding U.S. involvement in the war. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spanish Influence in the U.S.

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders research the role of the first Spanish conquistadors who explored the now United States. Using the internet, they gather information on different explorers and write a paper about why he is important in American history. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. Set to Celebrate Lincoln Bicentennial

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students use a news article about the celebration of the Lincoln Bicentennial to answer questions about Abraham Lincoln and the celebration. In this current events and US history lesson based on a news article, students participate in a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rise of U.S. Business and Industry

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the industrialization of post-Reconstruction America. In this 20th century American history lesson, 11th graders listen to a lecture about the industrial age and then conduct their own research to determine the...
Lesson Plan
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Smithsonian Institution

Battle of the Bulge: America Responds to a German Surprise

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
World War II and the Battle of the Bulge are the focus of a history resource. Exercises include analyzing images, writing letters in the mindset of a soldier, and even immersing oneself in a cold experience to better empathize with the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The U.S. Presidents

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students identify the Presidents of the U.S. by their physical characteristics and their impact on America. In this Presidents lesson plan, students read about each President, look at their pictures, and identify each of them based on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Look at U.S. and Canadian Approaches to Individual Liberties

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Young scholars compare and contrast Canadian and U.S. policies regarding social issues. In this sociology lesson, students research social and governance policies in the countries and write personal essays using their findings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tibet and the U.S.

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study the Tibetan situation. In this global issues lesson, students listen to a lecture regarding Tibet, its location, and its ties to China. High schoolers then create political cartoons or write letters to their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History of Natural Resources in the U.S.

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students define conservation, exploitation and preservation, identify legislation related to conservation and environmental issues, and identify leaders and organizations that were key to the conservation and environmental movements.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coming to America: Immigration Today

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research their own family histories and current U.S. immigration issues, rules, and regulations. They participate in a class discussion, watch a video about a Mexican immigrant's experience, and complete a WebQuest and a worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Historical poetry is lyrical in form and rich with content. After examining the differences between the Northern and Southern states before and during the U.S. Civil War, learners complete a Venn diagram and create an illustration of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 1: Map Data and the Census

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students learn about the history of the census. In this U. S. Census lesson plan, students develop an understanding about how the United States Constitution grants and distributes power and discover how the spatial organization of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Documents and Symbols and American Freedom

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students complete a unit of lessons on the documents, symbols, and famous people involved in the founding of the U.S. government. They create a personal bill of rights, write a found poem, design a flag, conduct research, and role-play...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Revolutionary War

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students identify and research significant people, causes, and primary documents of the U.S. Revolutionary War. They create a class Revolutionary War web using Inspiration computer software, write a journal depicting three days in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exile: Cuba and the United States

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers gain an understanding of U.S./Cuban Relations. In this world history lesson plan, students examine the events of the Cuban revolution and their effect on U.S.-Cuban relations and U.S. foreign policy.