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Observe Think Wonder Handout

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The "Observe, Think, Wonder" sheet was written (along with other resources) from a grant from the Library of Congress. It is based off their 6-12 analysis of primary sources documents. This is geared more towards elementary primary source analysis. A K-5 student can analyze appropriate primary sources such as photographs and maps. Using the "Observe, Think, Wonder", students can walk through age-appropriate analysis by taking some time to look closely at the source (observe) and write down what they see; then dig a little deeper into what they think is happening in the photo or reading (think) before finally writing down any questions they might have about the source (wonder). This is great practice for further analysis and evaluation as they get older.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Authors: Upper Midwest Primary Source Consortium, WI Historical Society

PBS Wisconsin Education Wisconsin Biographies

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A collection of educational media resources that features the stories of people who have shaped Wisconsin's history. Stories span a range of eras, areas of impact, and identities of individuals featured. Themes in the collection focus on community builders, innovators of industry, justice seekers, land protectors and leaders in government. With each story you'll find: - A short animated video (3-8 minutes) - Questions to spark reflection, connection, and conversation - A short digital biography book (accessible as a Google slide deck) with per-page audio, glossary terms, images, and maps - A historical image gallery - An educator guide with extension activity ideas and standards supported

Material Type: Other

Author: PBS Wisconsin Education

Teachinghistory.org

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Picture book biographies can provide young readers with a great deal of information. Yet without a focus for reading, students often pay attention to interesting details and tidbits—what's been called the "terrific specifics"—rather than the big ideas in history. As they read and respond to picture book biographies, students will see fundamental differences between the past and the present and witness the impact some people had on the times in which they lived.

Material Type: Homework/Assignment, Lesson, Lesson Plan

Author: Myra Zarnowski

Economic Significance of the Great Lakes

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In this lesson, students will be introduced to one of the main ways that the Great Lakes impact the economy of the region—shipping. Countless ships carry myriad cargo throughout the Great Lakes waterways to various destinations, making the transportation of goods accessible, reliable, and effective. Without the Great Lakes to transport various goods, which are typically shipped in the waterways, many commonly accessible materials would not be available in the ways they are today. This lesson will afford students the chance to see some of that technology in action, as well as see the direct impact that shipping has on the regional commercial industry.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Homework/Assignment, Lesson, Lesson Plan

Author: Gary Abud

Exploring the Past

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In this lesson, students will learn about what type of information we can learn from photographs. They will draw conclusions about the past through exploration of photos and explain how people can learn more about their family history through the use of historical records.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Game, Learning Task, Lesson, Lesson Plan, Primary Source

Authors: LAB@Thirteen, PBS Learning Media

Alexander Hamilton: Most Likely to Succeed?

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Explore the conditions and circumstances of Alexander Hamilton’s youth and the strengths he carried with him into his adult life. He rose from being a poor boy in the Caribbean, to a key leader in the founding of the United States government. As a culmination, students are encouraged to reflect on their own lives and think about how, like Hamilton, they might translate their childhood experiences into success later in life.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Interactive, Learning Task, Lesson, Lesson Plan

Author: PBS Learning Media

Classroom Constitution

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The Constitution is the supreme law of the land in the United States. With a positive overtone, the preamble, articles, and amendments in this document protect the rights of all US citizens. Create a similar document for your class to ensure that everyone has a voice and rights that make them feel safe and comfortable expressing themselves.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson, Lesson Plan, Primary Source, Simulation

Author: Creative Educator

Civil War and Its Aftermath

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How do we remember the Civil War? Whose stories are told in the art and memorials from and about the time period? In this resource students will examine works of art from and relating to the Civil War era. Students will also learn about the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts, an all-Black regiment, and compose a written response to a cause they are passionate about. Sensitive: This resource contains material that may be sensitive for some students. Teachers should exercise discretion in evaluating whether this resource is suitable for their class.

Material Type: Diagram/Illustration, Learning Task, Lesson, Reading, Reference Material

Author: PBS Learning Media

Finding a Home...Immigration

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Describe some of the feelings immigrants faced when deciding on a new settlement in the United States. Contrast the benefits and drawbacks of living in a new location when determining a place to live and compare that to the choices immigrants make past and present. Formulate several reasons why immigrants elected to live in selected areas.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Interactive, Learning Task, Lesson, Lesson Plan

Author: The National Park Service

Curious George Economics

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Use the lovable character Curious George to capture your students’ attention while teaching about personal finance and economics. Each lesson features a specific Curious George children’s book and includes fun activities to help your students learn about economics. Economic concepts will include goods and services, natural, capital, and human resources, production, specialization, interdepenence, and saving. Includes 5 lessons.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Interactive, Learning Task, Lesson, Lesson Plan

Authors: Author, John Kruggel, Lynne Stover

Enjoying the Harvest

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Bread has been an important part of the human diet since early times. Loaves baked over 5,000 years ago have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs. Wheat has been discovered in pits where human settlements existed 8,000 years ago. In the Stone Age, solid cakes were made from crushed wheat. Bread provided ancient civilizations with a reliable food source. Students identify the parts of a wheat plant and wheat kernel and investigate the process of milling wheat kernels into flour.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Learning Task, Lesson, Lesson Plan, Reading

Authors: Lynn Wallin, Pat Thompson