Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Watching Crystals Grow

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Amazing science can sometimes happen right before your eyes! The class gets cozy as they watch crystals grow. They use Epsom salts, rocks, and food coloring to create crystals. They'll observe the entire process, documenting every step...
Lesson Plan
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Revolutionary Money

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Examine paper money from the American revolution! Historians study the paper bills and discuss the history of money. How has money changed over the times? Activities are included. 
Lesson Plan
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Coming to Terms With Cultural Differences

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider cultural differences. In this Peace Corps lesson, students read "Help, My Father is Coming," by Jim Toner and then write journal entries about the culture of Sri Lanka.
Lesson Plan
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Dinosaurs Were Real!

For Teachers Pre-K - 3rd
Students investigate the history of dinosaurs, as real animals. In this dinosaur lesson plan, students examine basic concepts that help them understand the history of all life. Included in this article is information on the world of the...
Lesson Plan
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Ancient Mediterranean Trade Fair

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders begin the lesson plan by discussing how artifacts are located. In groups, they define the terms supply, demand, resources and trade and discuss how the United States is affected by International trade. They use this...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Codebreaker Math

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students solve addition and subtraction problems and decipher and write messages using a code. They read and discuss an informational fact sheet about the Navajo code talkers from World War II, and decode and re-code messages using math...
Lesson Plan
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Weather Anomalies

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders participate in a simulation of a select scientific team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
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Inference

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Making inferences about what you read is an important skill for both elementary, middle, and high school learners. Focusing on events which occurred during World War II, they answer a series of questions related to what we can infer as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geographical Area Analysis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students complete this lesson before visiting the National Museum of the Pacific War. They examine the patterns and characteristics of landforms, climates, ecosystems and cultures as they interact on areas or regions especially on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Things Fly

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students observe photographs of selected twentieth-century aircraft at the National Air and Space Museum and note differences in the design of aircraft wings, fuselages, and engines.
Lesson Plan
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Jeopardy Review for WWII

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners participate in a Jeopardy-style review game for a quiz on WWII. They divide into teams, choose team captains and answer a variety of questions pertaining to the study of WWII.
Lesson Plan
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Liberty Ships

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students complete a variety of activities that go along with the study of and possible fieldtrips to see various Victory Ships along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the U.S.
Lesson Plan
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Mineral Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students complete a scavenger hunt worksheet as they find examples in their classroom, at home, etc., of minerals. Excellent worksheet!
Lesson Plan
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How Size Shapes Animals

For Teachers Pre-K - 3rd
Students investigate how size affects large and small animals differently. In this animal lesson plan, students determine how size affects different animals by constructing their own animal out of marshmallows. Once students create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fossils Footprints Across Time

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Young scholars examine fossils to understand how they are formed and how they give information about geological history. In this fossil lesson plan, students research and write about fossils and make models of different fossil types.The...
Interactive
Curated OER

James K. Polk

For Students 9th - 12th
In this online interactive history learning exercise, students respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about James K. Polk. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive learning exercise. 
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Pre-Columbian Settlements and People

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders describe the social, political, cultural and economic life and interactions among the people of California from the pre-Columbian societies to the Spanish mission and Mexican rancho periods.
Lesson Plan
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California-Becoming an Agricultural and Insustrial Power

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explain how California became an agricultural and industrial power. They trace the transformation of the California economy in its political and cultural development since the 1850's.
Lesson Plan
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Lewis and clark...and Jodie, Freddi, and Samantha

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students practice descriptive language when one student describes an object to another student who cannot see it. They guess what the object is and relate the experience to that of the Lewis and Clark expeditionary journals.
Interactive
Curated OER

Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad

For Students 9th - 12th
In this online interactive reading comprehension worksheet, students respond to 15 multiple choice questions about Conrad's Lord Jim. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Worksheet
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President Gerald R. Ford

For Students 5th - 8th
In this Gerald Ford worksheet, students read a 3 page excerpt on the life, career and death of President Gerald R. Ford. They then use the information they read to answer 8 multiple choice questions. The answers are on the last page of...
Lesson Plan
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Atomic Bomb-Truman Press Release-August 6, 1945

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students read a copy of Truman's press release regarding the atomic bomb. They answer a series of factual questions regarding the press release. They discuss the press release and then follow up with answering more in depth questions...
Lesson Plan
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Heart Mountain Relocation Center

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners examine several primary source documents related to the Japanese internment camp at Heart Mountain, Wyoming. They write an essay about Heart Mountain and explore the concept of restitution to Japanese-Americans.
Lesson Plan
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Richard Nixon: Man and President (2 parts)

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students watch the video "Richard Nixon: Man and President, complete vocabulary work and discuss the video using the question provided.