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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seals: From the National To the Local

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate official government symbols by completing a scavenger hunt.  In this U.S. Government activity, 3rd graders participate in a scavenger hunt in which they locate seals or logos in their community....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Are Our Greatest Presidents?

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Students create criteria to evaluate U.S. Presidents. In this presidential legacy lesson, students determine criteria to rank presidents. Students research the presidents, then evaluate the current president and assess how they will be...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Three Branches of Government

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders discover details about the 3 branches of government. In this primary source analysis lesson, 6th graders examine documents and images from the Library of Congress to investigate the structure of the U.S. government.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Constitution: What's in It...Exactly?

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine the U.S. Constitution. In this American government lesson, 7th graders listen to a SMART Board-supported lecture about the branches of the U.S. government. Students write responses based on the lecture. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Send Lincoln a Letter

For Teachers K - 4th
Students discover the postal service through a letter writing activity.  In this U.S. Government lesson, students read the book Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers, and discover the life history of President Abraham Lincoln.  Students write...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Do You Know?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students learn why the census makes a difference. In this U.S. Census lesson plan, students demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the census and its importance.
Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

By the Foot: The History of Measurement

For Teachers 6th - 8th
When is a foot not a foot? When you use the length of your own foot to measure distances, of course. To underscore the importance of standardized units of measurement, middle schoolers engage in a series of activities that ask them to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trek Across America

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Bring a time machine into your classroom with this writing lesson, in which young writers project themselves back in time and have a variety of choices from that point forward. They either write a conversation with a historical figure,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Family Traditions, Customs and Beliefs

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students discuss African childhood, explore family traditions, customs, and beliefs, examine African recipes, discuss differences or similarities in food preparation between the U.S. and Africa, and prepare a dish with adult supervision.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Play House

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore U.S. government by participating in a role playing activity. In this House of Representatives instructional activity, students discuss the first day of congress and the role the House plays in running the United States....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Putting It All Together: Early American History 1776-1812

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students view the reverse side of state quarters of those states that entered the union before 1812 and make predictions about what the symbols mean to each state. They complete a worksheet during a lecture describing the symbols and use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Arab Americans: In the Aftermath of the Terrorist Attacks on the U.S.

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students examine the effects of the terrorist attacks in 2001. In this lesson on discrimination and the dangers of stereotyping, students will expand their understanding of stereotyping in contemporary society and compare in to similar...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ohio's U.S. Presidents

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the state of Ohio's claim to be the "Mother of Presidents." Nine U.S. presidents were from the state and their contributions and terms of office are examined in this lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Roundtable

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders apply the Five Themes of Geography as they relate to the U.S., the world, and specific places in United States history. They recognize and label geographical locations on a map of the United States.