Unit Plan
Curated OER

Story Stretching: Tall Tales in North America

For Teachers K
Students are introduced to tall tales. In this introductory tall tales unit, students explore the tall tales of Casey Jones and Johnny Appleseed. This unit includes many interdisciplinary lessons including graphing skills and geography.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Santa Claus Around the World

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Young scholars investigate how students in various countries celebrate their winter holiday traditions, locate various countries on a map, and draw and tell about various Santa Claus legends.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Christopher Columbus, The Explorer

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Young scholars brainstorm important facts about Christopher Columbus, input information into Kidspiration or Inspiration, watch United Streaming Video on Christopher Columbus and New World to gather information, research online to find...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

With Liberty and Justice for All

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the role of Supreme Court justices. For this judicial branch lesson, students consider the civil rights and civil liberties as they investigate Minersville School District v. Gobitis (1940) and West Virginia State...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Letters from Rifka

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders read Letters from Rifka and discuss the feelings of people forced to leave their homes and countries.  In this migration instructional activity, 4th graders relate their feelings about moving from their home forever....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New Food Saves Lives, Could End Hunger

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Learners locate the country of Niger, then read a news article about a new type of food that is being used to fight childhood hunger in Africa. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with map and vocabulary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stopping Along the Way

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Pupils use atlases, maps, and Web resources to plan a day trip to at least one city or point of interest that is on the way to their final destination.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Number the Stars

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students read Number the Stars. For this social studies lesson, students read the story and use a map of western Europe and identify the countries involved in the war. Students locate the cities of Denmark that are discussed in the story.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Middle Ages

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students read books about the Middle Ages. They discuss characteristics of the Middle Ages. In groups, students construct a castle and draw a map to scale. Pupils create a Venn diagram comparing rules in different countries in the...
Unit Plan
Core Knowledge Foundation

Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims

For Teachers K
Teach kindergartners about the First Thanksgiving with a series of lessons about the Pilgrims' journey to the New World. As they practice handwriting, CVC words, reading comprehension, and fun Thanksgiving songs, they learn about what...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Walking Down Main Street: The Changing Times of a Railroad Town

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students explore the historic district via a scavenger hunt. In this community history lesson, students complete a scavenger hunt using historic postcards and clues as guides. Students create a timeline demonstrating changes of the area...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trading Faces

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students use addition to determine values of coin combinations. They play a game where they come up with possible trades: two nickels for a dime and complete a tally worksheet. There are other lessons in this unit.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Sense of Place

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify and describe one or two places significant to them using vivid language. They describe one of those important places in accurate, evocative language showing an original perspective.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scrapbook of Freedom

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine what it was like for a child traveling in the Underground Railroad.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mali

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders begin the lesson by reading primary sources about the country of Mali. Using maps drawn in the past, they discuss what they can gather about the country from the map and how it has changed over time. They use a graphic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where, Oh Where

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students use maps to explore several traditional regions of Native Americans. They research information on the regions' climate, resources, landforms, flora and fauna.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Travel to Mesoamerica

For Teachers 1st
Students research books, watch movies, and look on the internet to find information on ancient America, Mexico, and Central America. In this Mesoamerica lesson plan, students participate in a social studies unit on North America of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

de Soto's Expedition: An Alternate Route

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Exploration Age lesson, 8th graders compare historical maps with new maps focusing on the route of Hernado de Soto.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Journey on the Underground Railroad

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students use Indiana and Michigan state road maps to trace a route to Canada from Madison, IN. with the many possible stops along the way. They make a picture book that depicts a runaway slave's journey on UCR.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ireland

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders discuss Ireland including its politics, education system, agriculture, etc . . . They locate Ireland on a map, and list facts about the country. They compare Irish money to American money.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Southeast Asia - Indonesia

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students explore Southeast Asia. In this Indonesia lesson, students listen to a lecture about the location of Indonesia and complete map activities. Students also examine Indonesian art forms and explore the process of dying. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Does Our Breakfast Come From?

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students bring in the cartons and containers of some of their favorite foods. They locate the origin of these foods on a map and visit a farm to view how food is grown and processed by a farmer. Students read books, complete worksheets...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering Your Community

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students focus on the origins of the families that make up their community by exploring their family's origins through themselves, parents, and grandparents. Students create a map marked with family origins for the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Influence of The Byzantine Empire on Russia and Eastern Europe

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine the influence on Russian and Eastern European language, religion, art, and architecture by the Byzantine Empire. They define key vocabulary terms, listen to a lecture and participate in a class discussion, and label a map.