Curated OER
America the Beautiful
Young scholars listen to a read-aloud discussing the landmarks of the United States. In pairs, they use the internet to research a landmark of their choice. They create a visual aid to be given with a presentation sharing the...
National Park Service
Leave it to Beavers
Many people know cats mark their territories by rubbing the back of their necks to leave a scent, but not many people know beavers also leave a scent to mark their territories. During the first activity of two, scholars use their noses...
Curated OER
Avoiding Armageddon
PBS has written a series of lessons on avoiding Armageddon. This is lesson plan 4 of 5 and focuses on defining terrorism. Upper graders watch episode 3 of "Avoiding Armageddon - The New Face of Terror," read how terrorism is defined by...
Kenan Fellows
Reading Airline Maintenance Graphs
Airline mechanics must be precise, or the consequences could be deadly. Their target ranges alter with changes in temperature and pressure. When preparing an airplane for flight, you must read a maintenance graph. The second lesson of...
Curated OER
Written Response: Jewish immigration to Palestine
Examine Jewish and Arab sovereignty as it relates to the control of Palestine. Pupils read a passage explaining the history of the conflict, then write a 10-sentence paragraph describing what they would do if they were a member of the...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Democracy Wall
How free are people in the United States, or in the world for that matter? The class reads and compares two articles that discuss levels of freedom enjoyed by different people around the globe. They discuss why some people have more...
Curated OER
George Washington's Foreign Policy
Students compare George Washington's foreign policy to the policies of presidents who followed him. In this primary source analysis lesson plan, students compare Washington's Farewell Address to the Roosevelt Corollary, the Monroe...
Minnesota Center for Community Legal Education
Minnesota v. Hershberger
Freedom of religion has been a controversial, yet fundamental, tenet of the United States since even before the nation's birth. In a well-constructed lesson, the class compares the Minnesota Constitution to the US Constitution as a means...
iCivics
Wanted: A Just Right Government
What type of government did American colonists gain and seek after gaining their independence after the Revolutionary War? Here is lesson that will guide your young learners through the new nation's progression from the Articles of...
Curated OER
I Can Buy Anything I Want: Consumer Debt and Social Responsibility
A clear, comprehensive overview of consumer debt, credit, interest, international currency, and social responsibility, this 45-minute session falters in the application stage. You'll need to create a way for learners to demonstrate their...
Curated OER
Philanthropy, Volunteering And Service: the Historical Connections Lesson 2: Hunger Hurts
High schoolers investigate the effects of hunger on a personal and community level. They examine how philanthropy can help alleviate hunger issues in the world and in their own community. They look at the available services using...
Curated OER
Diet: You Are What You Eat
Third graders examine the issue of food quality to assess the dangers of pesticides, additives, and improper food preparation. After keeping food diaries and categorizing foods, they fill in food pyramids based on their journal entries....
Curated OER
Understanding Demographics
Students use demographic information to gain an understanding of the Dominican Republic. They compare demographic data from the United States and the Dominican Republic and describe the difference between learning about a country from...
Curated OER
US Policy Toward Egypt: A Dialogue
Learners examine U.S. foreign policy concerning the 2011 Egyptian uprising. In this current events lesson, students discuss the uprising in Egypt and examine news reports related to it. Learners then discuss their feelings about the...
Curated OER
The Motivation for Movement
Students explore the geographic theme of movement. In this migration lesson, students discuss push-pull factors that motivate immigrants and interpret illegal immigration data. Students also discuss the difficulties that illegals face.
Curated OER
The New Madrid Earthquakes of 1811-1812: Shaking Our Misconceptions about Earthquakes in United States History
Students Examine how earthquakes work and what plate tectonics and fault lines are. In this earthquake lesson plan students complete an earthquake scavenger hunt.
Curated OER
The Influence of Jazz Music in Twentieth Century Art
Learners examine the effect of music on society. While listening to music, they identify the beat, rhythm and write down their reaction to it. Listening to longer selections, they assign a color to the music and share it with the...
Curated OER
Border to Border
Students use the Internet to gather information on the country of Mexico. They also discover the culture of their people and compare them with the United States population. They take a virtual tour of some of Mexico's most historical ruins.
Curated OER
Why Do We Suffer From The Rights Of Others?
Learners examine how diversity within populations has caused problems. In groups, they develop their own definitions of racism and discrimination. They participate in role-plays in which they gather the appropriate techniques to deal...
Curated OER
The Sparkplugs: Special Occasions for Writing In the History Classroom
Students are to discover ways in which to spark their interest in writing. As a class, they examine the purpose and function of political conventions. Individually, they role-play they are a page at a National convention and identify...
Curated OER
What is effective communication?
Students practice a series of communicaton activities. In this communication skills lesson, students role play listening and active listening strategies to improve communication. Students write a set of guidelines for improving...
Curated OER
Genetically Engineered Food: Altering the Blueprint
Students explore the genetic engineering of food. In this health lesson students explain how DNA technology can be used to produce food.
Curated OER
Trying Teens
Students explore the court cases and legal organizations that were instrumental in creating a system of juvenile justice in the United States, then present their findings in a composite timeline.
Curated OER
Labor Day Lessons and the History of Labor Unions
America was built on the strength of its workers, and on Labor Day we recognize their contributions.