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The Branding of America (And Your State)

For Teachers K - Higher Ed
Young scholars investigate about the origins of some major U.S. brands. They explore local products that stimulate the economy. Students create a map showing where those products originate. Young scholars discover the products that their...
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Map Directions and the United States

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders search TDC database for images of a compass rose, a miles marker, and a US map. They identify cardinal and intermediate directions to help identify their state and other states on a US map.
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Projects For USA Units

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study different regions of the United states through interdisciplinary activities. This lesson presents very creative, artistic ways for students to explore the variety of regions found in the United States.
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"History of My Family"

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explore world geography by participating in a family history project. In this U.S.S.R. instructional activity, students read assigned text regarding the Stalinist era of Russia and the intolerance that thrived there. Young...
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Civil War: Generals at the Battle of Stones River

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore U.S. history by creating a computer presentation in class. In this Civil War battle lesson, students read assigned text about the Battle of Stones River and research individual generals from the battles. Students utilize...
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Las Vegas: We Are Just Like You

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars practice making multimedia documentary films by investigating cities of America.  In this U.S. geography lesson, students examine Las Vegas and compare the state of Nevada to 15 other states and discuss their main...
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Unit Plan Template

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Use this U.S. History unit plan as a template for creating your own! Simply download the resource and edit the text fields with your own customized unit plan. This is a great jumping-off step, especially for newer teachers. 
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United States Regions

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify the regions of the United States. They gain general knowledge of Regions of the U.S., create a spreadsheet and use word processing to create a report.
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Making a Travel Folder

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore the United States. For this U.S. geography and expository writing lesson, students select a place in the United States to research.  Students take notes and create a travel "folder," or brochure, using the...
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Celebrate Texas!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore social studies by completing a U.S. history research project. In this Texas lesson, students utilize almanacs, encyclopedias and the Internet to research the history of Texas and create a presentation based on a specific...
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Immigration: Marijana's Story

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore world geography by researching U.S. history. In this immigration lesson, 2nd graders read the book Marijana's Story and discuss the main character, her goals, and the plot. Students complete a worksheet about U.S....
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Native American Cultures for Grades 4-5

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students investigate Native American culture by researching the Internet.  In this U.S. History lesson, students read online field reports about exploration and the history of Native Americans in the United States.  Students...
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Moving Objects

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discover the history of the United States by examining the Great Migration.  In this U.S. History instructional activity, students research the immigration movement on the Internet and complete a worksheet about the large...
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The Golden Spike

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate modern transportation in the 19th century by examining artifacts.  For this U.S. history lesson, students read the story Joseph's Railroad Dreams, and discuss the Golden Spike used in the first transcontinental...
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A Treaty Tail: U.S. - Indian Treaty Councils in the Northwest

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students view a painting as a document to find out about the Indian Treaty Councils.  In this artist's perspective instructional activity, students study the conflicts as shown in various pictures.  Students answer questions...
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Personal Stories of the National Parks

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore historical information about U.S. national parks using the stories of Edward and Margaret Gehrke as a primary source document. In this United States geography, history, and literacy lesson, students view the diary...
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Paint the States - 50 & D.C.

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students select and research a state as an individual project and present their findings to the class. Then, they write a one page paper and create a collage or painting of their state on a mural. Finally, students create and illustrate...
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Immigration to the United States

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders search TDC database for images of immigration from other countries, maps, and diaries. They identify why immigrants came to the United States and engage in a role-play simulating an experience the immigrants might have had.
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Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!

For Teachers K - 11th
Students use information from the U.S. Bureau of the Census to create a bar graph, a picture graph, or a circle graph showing the country of origin of U.S. Hispanics.
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Transportation's affect on the Growth of Cities in the United States

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the major advancements that have been made in transportation throughout U.S. history (waterways, horses, steam power, railroads, automobiles, etc.) They access websites imbedded in this plan and answer questions...
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Civil War

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the Civil War.  In this U.S. Civil War U.S. history instructional activity, students participate in a cubing activity in which a variety of Civil War projects are described on a paper cube.  Students roll the...
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Harvesting the River Lesson Plan: Taking an Oral History

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students practice researching history through oral traditions.  In this U.S. History lesson, students examine an online exhibit titled Harvesting the River, in which students interview someone from the story.  Students utilize...
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Superhighway Scholars

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Young scholars study the states of their choice by using Superhighway Scholars website. In this Unites States history lesson plan, students create a collage using information collected about a state of their choosing. This lesson plan...
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Big Blue Sky- Based on the Montana Quarter Reverse

For Teachers K - 1st
Students use a Montana quarter to help describe geographical features such as landforms and bodies of water. Students read an article about Montana as a group and discuss examples of landforms and bodies of water. After reading,...