Curated OER
Cheiftainship / Leadership
Young scholars examine Bill Reid's sculpture "The Black Canoe".They decide which character in the canoe they are most like. Students analyze how their personalities work towards contributing to the group. They explore the moral theme of...
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In Search of California Indians
Fourth graders research information about some of California indigenous tribes to find out as much as possible about the first people found in the west. They research about the history of a selected tribe and their contributions to...
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Portrait Sculptures
Eighth graders study Marisol's art work by comparing ad contrasting several sculptures. They create a 3-D portrait of a person they either know personally, or to portray a social issue. The sculpture be made of a cardboard structure they...
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Altered Books
Students transform a discarded book into a creative art work of art that encompasses a theme and utilizes a variety of media and techniques.
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National Turkey Off to Disneyland
Students share their holiday traditions, then read about an American Thanksgiving custom. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the news article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, the students participate in a...
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Reliving History Through Slave Narratives
Students read slave narratives and retell the stories to the class, identifying sensory details. In this slavery lesson, students discuss the importance of sensory details, then read the slave narratives looking for specific examples. ...
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Gunpowder And The Explosion Of World War
Students discover the role of technology in 20th century conflicts. In this technological advancement activity, students research how World War I, World War II, Vietnam, and the War in Iraq were fought. Students compose essays that...
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American Colonists Protest Song
Students explore the role of protest songs. In this early American history lesson, students research the acts passed by the British that angered colonists. Students then listen to protest songs from contemporary American history prior to...
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Memorial Day: Graphing Our History of Sacrifice
Students examine the significance of Memorial Day. They analyze data, conduct Internet research, create a graph using an online graphing tool, and take a quiz.
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You Be the Judge
Students research and evaluate a case considered by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. They watch a Bill Moyers video, conduct a debate, and write about the decision they would make if they were a...
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Imaginary Trip to South Korea
Students "visit" South Korea through the use of technology, in a fun, and stimulating, detailed project. They arrange travel, make choices, work through a budget, learn history, have exposure to language, and get a sense of what a...
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What Makes a General?
Students explore the duties of commander-in-chief. In this George Washington activity, students research Revolutionary War military leaders and examine the relationships they had with George Washington.
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Native American Basket Making
Students design a unique basket plaque incorporating at least one symbol from their chosen tribe. They also identify, share, and give rationales for the symbols in basket plaques. Whole class discussion jig-saws their discoveries.
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Government Policy and Its Impact on HIV/AIDS
Learners examine "President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief", identify important U.S. policy events related to AIDS/HIV from the last 25 years and hold a policy debate on the funding for AIDS/HIV programs.
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Show Me the Money
Students investigate the history of paper currency in the United States and consider anti-counterfeit strategies that are used by making their own paper.
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Early Explorers
Fifth graders investigate the routes taken by the early explorers. In this explorers instructional activity, 5th graders use interactive notebooks, discussion and maps to discover the routes taken. Students get into pairs and label maps,...
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Water, Water Everywhere?
Students discover the relationship between water availability and population growth. They change variables in a computer model using a worksheet to guide their hypotheses and conclusions. In small groups they choose a country undergoing...
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Land Use and Lawmaking in California
Learners design a plan for a housing development in their city. In this house development lesson plan, students observe pictures of land use, research lawmaking, and develop a plan for an environmentally friendly housing development in...
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Greek Vase Painting Project
Students identify the cultural context of ancient Greek, and especially Athenian, vase painting and the range of vase painting depictions of daily life and mythology. They experience the artistic and technical process of creating Greek...
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Abraham Lincoln: The Face of War
Students compare life masks and photos of Abraham Lincoln that were made before and at the end of the Civil War. In this "Faces of War" lesson, students analyze images of Lincoln in a historical context and create a timeline of event.
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All Aboard! Railroad Transportation
Students create a picture of a train. In this train lesson, students read Freight Trainand discuss the trains that they see. Students discuss what it would feel like to be a train and play a game where they pretend to be a train. They...
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Paper Making
Sixth graders create and design paper as an exploration of the history in making paper from pulp. Students will work in pairs or alone to create a piece of paper from raw materials.
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Going to the Promised Land
Students analyze primary resources and map in order to draw conclusions regarding the migrant-worker experience during the Great Depression. They explain and explain the impact of economic and ecological events on individuals.
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The Medici Popes
Students explore Italian politics and warfare of the Renaissance. They explain the origins and effects of the Protestant Reformation and contrast Renaissance and Medieval attitudes.