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Check back often to see the newest resources we have added to Thinkfinity.org or access all of the Thinkfinity.org resources through our Search Engine located in the right-hand column.
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"America the Beautiful": Using Music and Art to Develop Vocabulary
ReadWriteThink
This lesson starts with a discussion to activate students' prior knowledge about well-known sights and scenery throughout the United States. The activity is followed by a read-aloud and introduction to the song "America the Beautiful," which is sung in each session of the lesson. Next students engage in a vocabulary lesson in which they learn the meanings of the song's words through shared reading and the use of context clues and images. Students then use photographs, illustrations, and descriptive language to create a mural shaped like the United States. Finally, through pictures and words, students reflect on what they have learned. This lesson is appropriate and adaptable for any patriotic event or holiday, and many of the vocabulary strategies are adaptable for other texts or word lists, as well.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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A Letter to Abraham Lincoln Homepage
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
In this "OurStory" module from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History entitled "A Letter to Abraham Lincoln", children will read "Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers", a children's book that tells the story of Grace Bedell and the famous letter that she sent to Abraham Lincoln in 1860. The module includes links to hands-on activities and a list of recommended readings for further exploration. "OurStory" is a series of modules designed to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of objects from the Museum's vast collections, quality children's literature, and engaging hands-on activities. Ideal for afterschool use, "OurStory" resources will allow children to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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A Vision of Puerto Rico: The Teodoro Vidal Collection Homepage
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
This online exhibition, from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, invites you to look at the history of Puerto Rico through the eyes of the collector who captured the island's history from the 16th to the 20th centuries with the thousands of wonderful objects he collected. Students will gain a unique insight into a cultural tradition that continues to play an important role in the growing diversity of the United States.
Grade: 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life Homepage
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
This online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. It is the first time that the Museum has displayed many of the major holdings of the Smithsonian's Lincoln collection together at one time. The exhibition covers each major period of Lincoln's private and public life, especially his years in Washington when he made the crucial decisions that ended slavery and preserved the nation. Also included are the artifacts of Lincoln's assassination-his top hat, the prison hoods of the conspirators, and other sobering reminders of this tragic story.
Grade: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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All's Well that Sells Well: A Creative Introduction to Shakespeare
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson, students access Web resources and draw on their own experiences to create a visual organizer prior to reading or viewing one of Shakespeare's plays. This visual organizer helps students compare attending a performance at The Globe Theater in Elizabethan London to attending a current professional production (such as a play on Broadway) or to viewing a movie at a local theater. Students then work collaboratively in small groups to create a commercial advertisement geared toward an Elizabethan audience to promote one of today's products or conveniences. This activity helps students better understand the Elizabethan times and Elizabethan theater audiences, as well as persuasive advertising techniques.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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America's New Birth of Freedom: Documents from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Was the Civil War worth the lives of more than 620,000 Americans? This online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History features a signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation and 10 letters expressing Lincoln's views on emancipation and the conclusion of the Civil War. Through the use of downloadable images of the original documents and 4 brief videos using Lincoln's words to answer questions about the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation, students will learn how Abraham Lincoln struggled with the same questions that many Americans had about the causes and costs of the bloodiest struggle in American history.
Grade: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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And I Quote: A Punctuation Proofreading Mini-Lesson
ReadWriteThink
This lesson plan reviews the basic conventions for using quotations from works of literature or references from a research project, focusing on accurate punctuation and page layout. After discussing the rules and analyzing their use in sample passages, students look closely at their own writing, marking quotation marks and considering how the conventions of punctuation apply.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Answering the Call 1917-1945
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Merchant seamen and ships played a vital role in winning both world wars of the 20th century. In this section of "On the Water: Stories from Maritime America", an online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, students will learn how the United States mass produced huge merchant fleets to support the soldiers fighting overseas. They will also learn about the men and women who built the ships and risked their lives sailing them while playing a vital and unheralded role in the American war effort.
Grade: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Artificial Anatomy Homepage
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
"Artificial Anatomy", an online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, highlights the museum's varied collection of paper-mache anatomical models. It showcases two major themes: the history and use of paper-mache; anatomical models and their construction, conservation and preservation. The exhibition also includes an interactive game named "Body Parts" and a searchable database of the museum's anatomical model collection
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Bon Appetite! Julia Child's Kitchen at the Smithsonian
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Julia Child shared the passions, philosophies, and products of the kitchen in her home, with family, friends, colleagues, and fans for 45 years. Learn about Julia Child and her profound effect on American popular culture, cooking and broadcast television through this online exhibition from the National Museum of American History. Students can use an interactive collection search to view selected objects from Julia's kitchen, browse an interactive storyline to discover more about Julia Child, her kitchen and her long love affair with cooking and look around the entire kitchen as it exists on exhibit at the Smithsonian using an interactive, panoramic photograph.
Grade: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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BOOKMATCH: Scaffolding Independent Book Selection
ReadWriteThink
This ReadWriteThink lesson prepares students to be independent and responsible for their own just-right book selections during independent reading time. Using the BOOKMATCH poster, the teacher introduces various criteria that influence book selection, such as length, language, topic, and genre. Students select books for independent reading using several of these criteria. In subsequent lessons, they discuss and evaluate their book choices and are introduced to additional selection criteria. Ongoing support and practice leads to increased awareness of their personal preferences as readers.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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Brave New Words: Novice Lexicography and the Oxford English Dictionary
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students become novice lexicographers as they explore recent new entries to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), learn the process of writing entries for the OED, and write a new entry themselves. They follow up their entry with a persuasive essay and a competition in which the strongest contender for the title of New Word is chosen.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Choose, Select, Opt, or Settle: Exploring Word Choice in Poetry
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students are prompted to challenge their notion of synonyms being words that "mean the same" by investigating key words in Robert Frost's poem "Choose Something Like a Star." They build an understanding of connotation and register by categorizing synonyms for the title word choose, develop lists of synonyms for words in the poem, and collaborate on a full analysis.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Creating a Persuasive Podcast
ReadWriteThink
In this ReadWriteThink lesson, intended for middle schoolers who have already studied persuasive speaking and learned to conduct basic research, students research a local, state, national, or international issue of great personal interest. During five class sessions, students use multiple online news sources to research up-to-date information that helps them form and communicate their opinions about the issue; practice working with podcasting tools; and create and share a two-minute persuasive podcast in class.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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Creating Better Presentation Slides through Glance Media and Billboard Design
ReadWriteThink
In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students improve their ability to make effective slides to accompany speeches and presentations through study and application of basic design principles. Students are introduced to "glance media" theory and then demonstrate their learning by creating slides to accompany an existing historical speech.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Dear Mr. President
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Are you excited about the election of Barack Obama? Have you thought about writing him a letter? In 1860, an eleven-year-old girl named Grace Bedell wrote a letter to Abraham Lincoln advising him to grow whiskers, and he did! Perhaps you can persuade the President to do something as well! In this activity from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, students will analyze the letter Grace Bedell wrote to President Abraham Lincoln, then write and send their own letters to the president of the United States. This activity is included in an "Ourstory" module entitled "A Letter to Abraham Lincoln". "OurStory" is a series of modules designed to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of objects from the Museum's vast collections, quality children's literature, and engaging hands-on activities. Ideal for afterschool use, "OurStory" resources will allow students to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom.
Grade: 3 | 4
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Down at the Shore
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Field trips are great ways to learn about life on the water. In this activity, students will find and explore a local maritime area-a river, seashore, or another place related to the water, and share the experience with others. The activity guide includes printable tip sheets tailored to help you explore different kinds of water-related areas. Included in an "OurStory" module from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History entitled "Life on the Water", this activity is intended to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of children's literature, everyday objects, and hands-on activities.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn: Jazz Composers
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
This online exhibition, from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, examines two jazz standards, each one its author's most-recorded piece: "Caravan", written in 1936 by Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol, and "Take the "A" Train", composed in 1941 by Billy Strayhorn. Through brief biographies of the composers, primary source documents, and media clips, students will learn about the collaboration of these two great jazz composers and the process involved in writing and recording two of the most celebrated jazz pieces ever written.
Grade: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Exploring the Gettysburg Address
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
This teacher tip-sheet is included in the online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History entitled "The Gettysburg Address" and includes tips for how to use the interactive document tool, suggested discussion questions based on the speech, and other recommended resources related to the Gettysburg Address. Students will closely examine a copy of the Gettysburg Address written in Lincoln's hand and will be encouraged to think critically about the meanings and context of one of America's most famous speeches.
Grade: 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Find Grace's Family
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
In this activity, children will analyze a primary source document-Grace Bedell's letter to Abraham Lincoln-and look for hints about Grace and her family. They will then draw a picture to represent the information they found in this activity, part of an "OurStory" module entitled "A Letter to Abraham Lincoln", from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. "OurStory" is a series of modules designed to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of objects from the Museum's vast collections, quality children's literature, and engaging hands-on activities. Ideal for afterschool use, "OurStory" resources will allow students to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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Fishing For a Living 1840-1920
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Oceans, seacoasts, and rivers have long been sources of food and profit. From tiny villages to bustling seaports, communities have harvested fish, whales, and other marine resources to survive. In this section of "On the Water: Stories from Maritime America", an online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, students will learn about the importance of salmon fishing to the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest, and the communities that developed around the Atlantic cod, Chesapeake oyster, Columbia River salmon and whaling industries.
Grade: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Freedom Songs
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Songs played an important role during the civil rights movement. In this activity, students will listen to freedom songs and then make their own version of one of the songs. It is included in an "OurStory" module from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History entitled "Students Sit for Civil Rights". "OurStory" is a series of modules designed to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of objects from the Museum's vast collections, quality children's literature, and engaging hands-on activities. Ideal for afterschool use, "OurStory" resources allow children to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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If a Body Texts a Body: Texting in The Catcher in the Rye
ReadWriteThink
This ReadWriteThink lesson serves as a review of the novel "The Catcher in the Rye," an exploration of Holden Caulfield's character and narrative voice, and a study of a now everyday form of communication - text messaging. Students first compare and contrast several forms of communication. They then select five moments in the novel in which Holden may have sent a text message had the technology been available. The lesson concludes with students sharing their text messages and a discussion of the rationales behind their choices.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Imagining Abraham Lincoln
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Cartoons are great documents that can tell both funny and serious stories. In this activity, from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, children will first read "Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers". Then they will use what they have learned about Abraham Lincoln and their critical thinking skills to add a scene to the story in the form of a comic strip. Included in an "Ourstory" module entitled "A Letter to Abraham Lincoln", this activity is designed to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of objects from the Museum's vast collections, quality children's literature, and engaging hands-on activities. Ideal for afterschool use, "OurStory" resources will allow students to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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Inland Waterways 1820-1940
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
The country's vast system of rivers and lakes has helped people settle the land and create communities. The realities of life and work on the inland waterways of the United States are the focus of this section of "On the Water: Stories from Maritime America", an online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Students will learn how commerce on the Great Lakes, canals and rivers played an important role in the development of the country. They will also learn about the professions and technologies that developed to safely navigate the perils of these vital waterways.
Grade: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Interactive Gettysburg Address
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Use this interactive document from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History to bring one of the five know handwritten copies of the Gettysburg Address to life! Students can zoom in on the document, click on highlighted passages that help put the famous speech into context and listen to actor Liam Neeson read the entire address. Transcripts of the manuscript are also available in English and Spanish to help students understand one the most famous speeches in American History. This resource is included in the online exhibition entitled "The Gettysburg Address.
Grade: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Interactive Star-Spangled Banner
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Explore features of the Star-Spangled Banner using this interactive flag included in the online exhibition entitled "The Star-Spangled Banner: The Flag that Inspired the National Anthem". Using this interactive tool from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, students can click on hotspots and learn something new about the flag each time they click. They can also zoom in on the image of the flag in order to see incredible detail.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Jamestown, Quebec, Santa Fe: Three North American Beginnings
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
This exhibition, from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, explores the international origins of the societies of Canada and the United States and commemorates the 400th anniversary of three lasting settlements in Jamestown, Quebec, and Santa Fe. Using a multicultural approach, students will learn about the virtually simultaneous introduction of English, French, and Spanish culture to this vast area and tells the stories of Native and European societies through 1700. Downloadable PDF's are included to relate the themes addressed in the exhibition to standards of learning.
Grade: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Lenses and Lighthouses
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Have you ever wondered how the lights in lighthouses are so bright? In this activity, students will examine a Fresnel lens to develop an understanding of how some lighthouse lenses work. They will then apply their knowledge of the lighthouse lens technology to imagine a new invention using a lighthouse lens to complete a different task. Included in an "OurStory" module from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History entitled "Life on the Water", this activity is intended to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of children's literature, everyday objects, and hands-on activities.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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Life on the Water
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
For hundreds of years, seacoasts, rivers, lakes, and canals have had a big impact on the ways America has changed as a country. By using this "OurStory" module from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, children and adults can enjoy exploring lighthouses and the maritime history of the United States together through children's literature, everyday objects, and hands-on activities. Focused around "Keep the Lighthouse Burning, Abbie", a work of children's literature about a teenage girl who becomes a hero by running her father's lighthouse during a storm, the module includes links to hands-on activities and a list of recommended readings for further exploration.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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Living in the Atlantic World 1450-1800
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
The web of maritime connections between Western Europe, western and central Africa, and the Americas that made up the Atlantic world is the focus of this section of "On the Water: Stories from Maritime America", an online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Students will learn how Atlantic-based trade shaped modern world history and life in America. Topics covered are the tobacco and sugar trades, the Middle Passage and the transatlantic slave trade, and the piracy that plagued the Caribbean Sea and North American coast during this period.
Grade: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Maritime Munchies
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
What kinds of food do you eat? How do the foods you eat today compare to the types of foods that sailors ate during long voyages of the past? In this activity, students will cook one or more historical maritime recipes and then compare the foods they eat to what was served on ships in the past. Included in an "OurStory" module from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History entitled "Life on the Water", this activity is intended to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of children's literature, everyday objects, and hands-on activities
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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Maritime Nation 1800-1850
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
The maritime history of the United States during the first half of the nineteenth century is the focus of this section of "On the Water: Stories from Maritime America", an online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Students will learn how shipbuilders, mariners, and maritime merchants helped the new nation defend itself and grow. Topics covered are the roles that privateers played during the American Revolution and the War of 1812, immigration, early steam travel and coastal shipping in the Atlantic Ocean, the California Gold Rush, and the life-saving technology that was used to rescue the victims of shipwrecks.
Grade: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Mobilizing Minds: Teaching Science and Math in the Age of Sputnik
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth. In order win the "Space Race", the United States urgently needed both a select group of mathematicians, scientists, and engineers; and a general population of mathematically and scientifically informed citizens. In this online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, students will learn how fear of Soviet domination galvanized reform in science and math education during the 1950's and 60's.
Grade: 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Modern Maritime America 1950-Present
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Maritime activity is as important as ever, and it affects the lives of people everywhere. The importance of shipping to today's global economy and the types of ships that transport goods throughout the world are the focus of this section of "On the Water: Stories from Maritime America", an online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Students will learn of their personal connections to martime enterprise and the role that global shipping playing in their everyday lives.
Grade: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Mr. Lincoln's Hat
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
In this activity, children create top hats out of paper by reading or listening to directions that use simple terms from geometry. After making the hat, they measure their heights with and without the hat, and then take a picture wearing the hat. This resource is included in an "OurStory" module, entitled "A Letter to Abraham Lincoln", from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. "OurStory" is a series of modules designed to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of objects from the Museum's vast collections, quality children's literature, and engaging hands-on activities. Ideal for afterschool use, "OurStory" resources will allow students to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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Ocean Crossings 1870-1969
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Ocean liners were ships of transport for immigrants and machines of leisure, status, and national prestige. This section of "On the Water: Stories from Maritime America", an online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, focuses on the roles that these ships played during the massive immigration of people to the United States from both Europe and Asia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Students will also learn how passenger liners such as the "Mauretania, Titanic," and the "S.S. United States" became a popular, and sometimes dangerous, mode of leisure travel for those who could afford it.
Grade: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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On the Water Collection Search
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
This interactive collection search contains objects that are featured in the exhibition "On the Water: Stories from Maritime America: Stories from Maritime America". All are from the collections of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, with most coming from the Division of Work and Industry. Representing a broad sweep of American maritime history, these objects were collected over more than a century and reflect broad patterns of technological, economic, social, and cultural change
Grade: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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On the Water: Stories from Maritime America
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
The maritime history of the United States is brought to life in this online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American history. With a focus on boats, ships and the lives of the men and women who lived, worked, traveled and died on them, students will understand the importance of maritime activity throughout the nation's history. Objects from the Museum's collections, audio and video clips, oral histories and narrative accounts provide a unique look into this important aspect of American history. An interactive collections search, learning resources and an extensive list of web links are included to extend the experience further.
Grade: 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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On Top of the World
Illuminations
If you were standing on the top of Mount Everest, how far would you be able to see to the horizon? In this lesson, students will consider two different strategies for finding an answer to this question. The first strategy is algebraic-students use data about the distance to the horizon from various heights to generate a rule. The second strategy is geometric-students use the radius of the Earth and right triangle relationships to construct a formula. Then, students compare the two different rules based on ease of use as well as accuracy.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Persuasive Techniques in Advertising
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson, from ReadWriteThink, students learn persuasive techniques used in advertising, analyze advertisements in a variety of sources, and explore the concept of demographics in marketing. They then create their own advertisement targeted for a specific demographic.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Protest Signs
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Protest signs are a powerful and important way for people to express their feelings. In this activity children will compare 2 protest signs from the civil rights movement and then create their own expressive chalk art or poster. It is included in an "OurStory" module entitled "Students Sit for Civil Rights". "OurStory" is a series of modules designed by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of objects from the Museum's vast collections, quality children's literature, and engaging hands-on activities. Ideal for afterschool use, "OurStory" resources allow children to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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Reading Freedom on the Menu
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
"Freedom on the Menu" is a work of children's literature that tells the story of the Greensboro sit-ins from the perspective of a young girl. This activity includes four reading helpers that will help adults and children actively read "Freedom on the Menu" together. It is included in an "OurStory" module entitled "Students Sit for Civil Rights". "OurStory" is a series of modules designed by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of objects from the Museum's vast collections, quality children's literature, and engaging hands-on activities. Ideal for afterschool use, "OurStory" resources allow children to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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Reading Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
This useful reading guide will help engage young readers as they read "Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers", a children's book based on a true story about a girl who writes a letter to Abraham Lincoln. It includes 4 active reading helpers that will help children identify new vocabulary, make predictions and think about the characters and their emotions. Part of an "OurStory" module entitled "A Letter to Abraham Lincoln", from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, this resource is designed to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together. Ideal for afterschool use, "OurStory" resources will allow students to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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Reading: Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
"Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie" is a work of children's literature about a young heroine who runs her family's lighthouse during a fierce storm. Included in an "OurStory" module entitled "Life on the Water", this activity includes four strategies that will help adults and children actively read "Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie" together. "OurStory" is a series of modules designed by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of children's literature, everyday objects, and hands-on activities.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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Send a Lincoln Letter
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Writing and receiving letters is fun! In 1860, Grace Bedell wrote a letter to Abraham Lincoln and took it to her local post office to mail it. A week later, a very special letter was waiting for her when she returned! Write a letter and then take it to the post office using helpful advice in this resource from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Included in an "OurStory" module, entitled "A Letter to Abraham Lincoln", this activity will encourage children to write letters to friends and family as well as learn more about their local post office. "OurStory" is a series of modules designed to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of objects from the Museum's vast collections, quality children's literature, and engaging hands-on activities. Ideal for afterschool use, "OurStory" resources will allow students to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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Separate is Not Equal: Brown v. Board of Education Homepage
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education marked a turning point in the history of race relations in the United States. On May 17, 1954, the Court stripped away constitutional sanctions for segregation by race, and made equal opportunity in education the law of the land. Brown v. Board of Education reached the Supreme Court through the fearless efforts of lawyers, community activists, parents, and students. "Separate Is Not Equal: Brown v. Board of Education", an online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, will help students understand an historic struggle to fulfill the American dream that set in motion sweeping changes in American society, and redefined the nation's ideals.
Grade: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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September 11: Bearing Witness to History
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
This online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History commemorates the tragic events of September 11, 2001. It includes highlights of the exhibition that was on display at the Museum from September 11, 2002 until July 6, 2003, including selected objects, photographs, personal stories and a specially produced video by the late Peter Jennings of ABC News. Students can also search over 100 objects related to the event from the Museum's collections, listen to oral histories of curators as they tell stories about collecting the objects, and have the opportunity to link to the September 11 Digital Archive in order to read unedited first-person accounts of the events of September 11 and then share their own memories. Some of the material included in the archive may not be suitable for young children.
Grade: 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Setting the Precedent: Four Women Who Excelled in Business
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Meet four American women who succeeded in business during the twentieth century in this online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Each woman-Freda Diamond, Estelle Ellis, Dorothy Shaver, and Brownie Wise-was exceptional in many respects. An influential industrial designer, a prolific magazine publisher, a prominent department store retailer, and a top-ranking business executive, each achieved a degree of visibility in her field enjoyed by few other women. Students can read about their lives and accomplishments, and learn about their careers through short biographies, timelines and interactive games.
Grade: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Slates, Sliderules and Software: Teaching Math in America
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
The history of mathematics education in America is the focus of this online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Beginning with the advent of public education in the early nineteenth century and ending in the modern Information Age, students will learn how advances in technology and changes in education theory have affected how math has been taught in American schools.
Grade: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Snapshots in Time
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
How does maritime activity impact your community and daily life? In this photo sharing activity, students investigate this central question by locating, exploring, and photographing evidence of maritime activities affecting them and/or their community. They will then write a detailed description about the effect of these activities and share both photographs and descriptions online. This activity is one of the learning resources connected with the online exhibition entitled "On the Water: Stories from Maritime America", from the Smithsonian's' National Museum of American.
Grade: 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Students Sit for Civil Rights Homepage
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
"Students Sit for Civil Rights" is an "OurStory" module that includes activities based on reading "Freedom on the Menu", a work of children's literature about the Greensboro sit-ins that played an important role during the civil rights movement. "OurStory" is a series of modules designed by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of objects from the Museum's vast collections, quality children's literature, and engaging hands-on activities. Ideal for afterschool use, "OurStory" resources allow students to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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Swish! Pow! Whack! Teaching Onomatopoeia Through Sports Poetry
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson, students will experience different poems written about sports by reading and listening, looking closely at the use of onomatopoeia in each piece. After a discussion of the poems, students will view a segment of a sporting event and generate a list of sounds used in that event. Using their lists as a springboard, students will then create their own onomatopoeic sports poems, draw accompanying illustrations, and compile their work in a flip book. Finally, students will present their flip books to the class.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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Taking America to Lunch
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
For generations, the lunch containers many of us have hauled to school and work have reflected American culture. "Taking America to Lunch" is an online exhibition that includes a sampling of illustrated lunch boxes and beverage containers dating from the 1890s through the 1980s. Students will learn how television changed the metal lunch pails carried by industrial workers and students a century ago into an important commercial vehicle for popular culture.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Texting a Response to Lord of the Flies
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students engage in a review of "Lord of the Flies" by looking at various ways the boys used communication while stranded on the island. Students focus on when and how more high-tech contact could have been successful, then create a summary of the book from one character's perspective by creating five text messages to an imagined audience off the island composed by that character.
Grade: 6 | 7 | 8
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The Gettysburg Address Homepage
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
President Abraham Lincoln's short address at the Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, battlefield is one of the most eloquent political speeches in American history. Its inspiring message remains as meaningful today as when first delivered at the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery on November 19, 1863. This online exhibition, from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, tells a unique story of the Gettysburg Address by focusing on the last handwritten copy of the speech, a manuscript that usually resides out of the public eye in the Lincoln Bedroom of the White house. Also included to help students further explore this important document are a printable version of the manuscript, transcripts in both English and Spanish and an interactive document that features actor Liam Neeson reading the entire address.
Grade: 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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The Ten-Minute Play: Encouraging Original Response to Challenging Texts
ReadWriteThink
This lesson prompts students to generate a ten-minute play adaptation of a novel such as Beloved by Toni Morrison. Because they are responding to a novel with significant internal dialogue and conflict, students are called on to use both analytical and creative skills as they create the adaptation, rather than simply cutting and pasting dialogue (as might be the case with a novel such as Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men). Students will provide peer responses for each play after its performance, creating additional opportunities for all students to participate in analysis and exploration of the text.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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The Water Nearby
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Do you live near the water? There is probably a body of water closer than you think! In this activity, students will use Google Maps to first find their school, and then locate and learn about the closest body of water to their school. Included in an "OurStory" module from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History entitled "Life on the Water", this activity is intended to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of children's literature, everyday objects, and hands-on activities.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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Three Mile Island: The Inside Story
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
America's worst accident at a civilian nuclear power plant occurred on March 28, 1979. Unbeknown to anyone, half the fuel melted in one of two nuclear reactors on Three Mile Island near Harrisburg, Pa. Large quantities of radioactivity leaked from the reactor, but most of it was contained. This online exhibition, from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, provides information about the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, the course of the accident there and the steps-extending over almost 15 years-through which the nature and extent of the damage were gradually revealed.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Timeline of American History
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Take a journey through time and discover fascinating stories from America's past as you explore this interactive timeline composed of items from the National Museum of American History's online collections, exhibitions, and programs. You can browse by historical era or select one of eight themes to highlight specific objects across time. Each timeline entry contains an image, a brief description, and a link to find more information about that object or topic.
Grade: K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Using Microblogging and Social Networking to Explore Characterization and Style
ReadWriteThink
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students use microblogging and social networking sites to trace the development of characters and examine writing style while reading a novel of manners. Though this lesson references Jane Austen's "Emma," the learning activities could be easily adapted to work with any novel of manners.
Grade: 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
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Using the Internet to Facilitate Improved Reading Comprehension
ReadWriteThink
In this ReadWriteThink lesson readers develop the ability to correctly make inferences, which aids reading comprehension. This is an important skill for beginning readers. This lesson targets facilitation of inferential language by having students use a motivating web-based technology, Really Simple Syndication (or RSS) feeds, to infer meaning. Thus, the lesson provides instruction in two principal areas for reading success: reading comprehension and acquisition of new literacy skills.
Grade: 3 | 4 | 5
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You Can Climb Any Mountain
Xpeditions
In this lesson, from Xpeditions, students think about the skills and qualities required to be a good mountain climber and learn about blind climber Erik Weihenmayer and his experiences climbing the highest peak on every continent, especially Mount Everest. Finally, students consider how studying mountain climbing has taught them about what it takes to be good at their own favorite activities
Grade: K | 1 | 2
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