Grade Level: High School

Discipline: Arts and Humanities; Civics and Government; History

Historical Period: The Emergence of Modern Pennsylvania - 1901-1928; The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974; Contemporary Pennsylvania - 1975 to Present

In 1911 Pennsylvania became the first state to pass a film censorship law, creating the Pennsylvania Board of Motion Picture Censors. In this lesson, students will analyze primary source documents of the 1920s to find the roots of film censorship and understand how Pennsylvania led the way in this movement. Afterward, they will analyze actual government documents that banned a film in Pennsylvania and compare and contrast their earlier findings to the modern-day rating system used for films.

Grade Level: High School

Discipline: Arts and Humanities; Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; History

Historical Period: The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974

In this high-school level lesson, students will look at the relationship between Pennsylvania railroads and World War II. Through the examination of photographs and informational readings of the Horseshoe Curve and the Third Reich sabotage effort, students will uncover the historical and strategic importance of the Horseshoe Curve. Then, using this new knowledge, they will construct a plan of action for the Department of Homeland Security on the appropriate security for railroads in the United States, particularly the Horseshoe Curve. Finally, students will create an appropriate memorial for Pennsylvania Railroad workers who lost their lives in World War II and compare their ideas to the powerful and emotionally compelling Angel of Resurrection memorial located at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.

Grade Level: High School

Discipline: Economics; Geography; History

Historical Period: Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974; Contemporary Pennsylvania - 1975 to Present

Rich in physical beauty and cultural heritage, the Pocono region is renowned as a vacation destination. In this high-school lesson, students will investigate the many ways this region has accommodated vacationers. Initially, students will explore Unity House, a unique retreat for garment industry union members, and the inspiring role it played in Pennsylvania history. Ultimately, students will discover how demographic and economic factors have shaped the contemporary Pocono tourism experience.

Grade Level: Elementary School

Discipline: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; Health and Physical Education; History

Historical Period: The Emergence of Modern Pennsylvania - 1901-1928; The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974; Contemporary Pennsylvania - 1975 to Present

This elementary-level lesson looks at the uses of baseball cards over time–from childhood games to collector's items to marketing tools for companies. Students use primary sources (1910 Honus Wagner baseball card and 1912 news article) to examine ethical implications in using baseball cards to market cigarette products to a younger people, and then write a persuasive letter arguing for the removal of baseball cards from cigarette packages.

Grade Level: Elementary School

Discipline: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; Geography; History; Mathematics

Historical Period: Expansion and Reform - 1801-1855; Civil War and Reconstruction - 1856-1876; Development of the Industrial Pennsylvania - 1877-1900; The Emergence of Modern Pennsylvania - 1901-1928; The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974

In this series of four lessons students use a brief history of the growth and decline of the anthracite region in the state to create a photograph and map "peak shaped" time line. The students will learn map and photo analysis strategies to "read" photographs and maps and use information from the brief history to match and write captions for the pictures. Then they will categorize each photograph and map into one of the following categories; beginnings, peak, and decline and place them accordingly on the time line for a visual depiction of the rise and fall of the anthracite industry.

Grade Level: Middle School

Discipline: Arts and Humanities; Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; Geography; History

Historical Period: Colonization and Settlement - 1601-1760; New Nation - 1761-1800; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974; Contemporary Pennsylvania - 1975 to Present

In this middle-level lesson students will learn about the famous Seneca chief Cornplanter and the tract of land which he was granted "in perpetuity" as a gift from the United States government for his helpful negotiation skills. 10,000 acres of this land was flooded when the Kinzua Dam was created in the 1960s as a flood control measure. As a class, students will use primary source material and logical argument to debate this controversial land/water rights issue from the perspective of both the United States Government and the Seneca.

Grade Level: Elementary School

Discipline: Arts and Humanities; Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; History

Historical Period: The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974

Interviews and a video will help students gather insight about the opportunities created for black musicians in Pittsburgh at the Crawford Grill. Students will use this information to have a group discussion about the impact of the Crawford Grill on Jazz in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the United States. Then students will create a detailed illustration of a busy scene at the Crawford Grill in the heart of the 1960s using information gathered.

Grade Level: Middle School

Discipline: Arts and Humanities; Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; History

Historical Period: The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974

Students will investigate the contributions of the Dorsey Brothers, Billy Eckstine and William Strayhorn to Swing Music.

Grade Level: Middle School

Discipline: Ecology and Environment; Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; Geography; History; Science and Technology

Historical Period: New Nation - 1761-1800; Expansion and Reform - 1801-1855; Civil War and Reconstruction - 1856-1876; Development of the Industrial Pennsylvania - 1877-1900; The Emergence of Modern Pennsylvania - 1901-1928; The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974; Contemporary Pennsylvania - 1975 to Present

Bituminous coal has been, and still remains, a crucial part of our daily lives–but do we ever think about it? It is a main source of electricity and has been used to fuel the manufacture of iron and steel. It also has played a part in the production of various items you may not associate with coal such as paint, plastics, rocket fuel, dishes, bricks, perfume, or even vitamins. Students will gain an appreciation of the many uses of bituminous coal and explore ways that this important resource is extracted from the ground. Students will then have the opportunity to create land formations displaying different types of coal mines using edible items.

Grade Level: Middle School

Discipline: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; Health and Physical Education; History

Historical Period: The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974; Contemporary Pennsylvania - 1975 to Present

In 1945 Pete Gray played in 77 games for the St. Louis Browns. He collected 51 hits, 8 for extra bases, and compiled a .218 batting average. As an outfielder, he made 162 put-outs, 3 assists, and 7 errors for a .959 fielding average. These statistics are not that impressive. What they don't tell us, though, is that Gray was the first one-armed man ever to play major league baseball. Students will learn about Pete Gray's achievement and the challenges of being a person with a physical disability by viewing films, photographs, and an empathy-building exercise. Through primary source quotations students will view multiple perspectives of Pete Gray's career: from the adversity Gray faced on his own team and to the celebration of his achievement today. Finally, the class will read excerpts of an interview of Pete Gray revealing his own perspective of his achievements. Students will synthesize the multiple perspectives they have been given, choose a quote that they believe best represents Pete Gray's career, and write a 200-word essay explaining their choice.

Grade Level: Elementary School

Discipline: Ecology and Environment; Geography; History; Mathematics

Historical Period: The Emergence of Modern Pennsylvania - 1901-1928; The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974; Contemporary Pennsylvania - 1975 to Present

Students will discover the reasons for the fall and subsequent recovery of white-tailed deer population throughout Pennsylvania's history. This discovery will reflect changing culture, human population patterns, economic and technological advancements and social values. Students will evaluate the success of conservation efforts in regard to the white-tailed deer and apply it to other conservation efforts. They will then offer suggestions on how to solve the new problems caused by the "success" of conservation efforts.

Grade Level: Elementary School

Discipline: Civics and Government; Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; History

Historical Period: The Emergence of Modern Pennsylvania - 1901-1928; The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974; Contemporary Pennsylvania - 1975 to Present

In this elementary school lesson students will learn about one of the greatest athletes in Pennsylvania history, Native American Jim Thorpe. They will be challenged to create a persuasive pamphlet or letter to send to their Congressmen lobbying for Jim Thorpe to be named Greatest Athlete of the Century.

Grade Level: High School

Discipline: History

Historical Period: The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974; Contemporary Pennsylvania - 1975 to Present

In 1945 Pete Gray played in 77 games for the St. Louis Browns. He collected 51 hits, 8 for extra bases, and compiled a .218 batting average. As an outfielder, he made 162 put-outs, 3 assists, and 7 errors for a .959 fielding average. These statistics are not that impressive. What they do not tell us, though, is that Gray was the first one-armed man ever to play major league baseball. Students will examine Pete Gray's major league career by studying primary source quotations and the statistics he compiled during his one season with the Browns. The class will be divided into two groups: one will defend the credibility of Gray's career; the other will try to prove that he did not belong in the major leagues. After being given time to gather evidence for their respective cases, the two teams will discuss the issue: "Did Pete Gray belong in the major leagues?"

Grade Level: Middle School

Discipline: Economics; Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; History

Historical Period: Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974

In this middle level unit (adaptable for high school as well) students will examine the development of Levittown, Pennsylvania. They will examine the reasons for the community, as well as racial issues that played a part in the Pennsylvania history of the 1950s.

Grade Level: Elementary School

Discipline: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; Geography; History

Historical Period: New Nation - 1761-1800; Expansion and Reform - 1801-1855; Civil War and Reconstruction - 1856-1876; Development of the Industrial Pennsylvania - 1877-1900; The Emergence of Modern Pennsylvania - 1901-1928; The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974; Contemporary Pennsylvania - 1975 to Present

In this elementary lesson students will explore daily life in a bituminous coal patch through many photographs and oral histories of the people who lived there. As a class, students will use these resources to create one poster describing life in a coal patch town. Then using the poster to inform their writing, students will also create a short story imagining themselves to be a part of a coal mining family in one of several historical situations.

Grade Level: High School

Discipline: Arts and Humanities

Historical Period: The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974

Mary Lou Williams was one of the preeminent jazz composers, arrangers and pianists of the 20th century. She performed with many of the top musicians, influenced countless performers and achieved recognition in her own right. Despite these accomplishments, both she and her work were often slighted simply because of her gender. However, she persevered and is recognized today as a true equal in talent and accomplishment with the other jazz greats of the 20th century. The lesson will help students understand the development of Williams" music and also the place that Williams holds in American musical history.

Grade Level: Middle School

Discipline: Ecology and Environment; Geography; History

Historical Period: The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974; Contemporary Pennsylvania - 1975 to Present

This lesson leads the student to discover the impact human activities have had on water quality in Pennsylvania over time. The teacher will review historical periods in regard to population density, changes in technology and tools and general land use patterns. Students will analyze these changes and determine the impact they have had on water quality. The students will also discover that a conservation movement began which initiated improvements in land use patterns and thus made progress toward better water quality. Students will read about the Honey Hollow Watershed project as a case study for the conservation movement.

Grade Level: Middle School

Discipline: Arts and Humanities; Civics and Government; Geography; History

Historical Period: Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974

Students will explore how Rock and Roll stars such as Chubby Checker gained fame upon their appearance on American Bandstand. Hosted by Dick Clark, the show debuted out of Philadelphia and, using music and dance, paved the way for integration during an otherwise turbulent era in American history.

Grade Level: Middle School

Discipline: Arts and Humanities; Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; History

Historical Period: The Emergence of Modern Pennsylvania - 1901-1928; The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974

In this lesson middle-school students will be introduced to the history of the Negro Leagues. Students will read personal interviews with former players to learn about segregation and to appreciate the passion these players had for the game of baseball.

Grade Level: Elementary School

Discipline: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; History

Historical Period: Development of the Industrial Pennsylvania - 1877-1900; The Emergence of Modern Pennsylvania - 1901-1928; The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974

In this lesson, students will learn the meaning of the word "onomastics." Referring to onomastics, students will learn about the origin of 3 baseball team names - Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Athletics, and Philadelphia Phillies. Students will then create team names and mascots for their own class, supporting their decisions with a clear explanation of the value of their choices.

Grade Level: High School

Discipline: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; History; Science and Technology

Historical Period: Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974; Contemporary Pennsylvania - 1975 to Present

In this interdisciplinary high school lesson students analyze the impact of the first successful weather satellite, TIROS. Students will discover its significant political, meteorological, and historical impact through investigation of interesting satellite images and a Cold War presidential letter exchange, as well as through online research and secondary source reading. Finally, they will synthesize their learning in a culminating creative writing assignment.

Grade Level: High School

Discipline: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; History

Historical Period: Development of the Industrial Pennsylvania - 1877-1900; The Emergence of Modern Pennsylvania - 1901-1928; The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974; Contemporary Pennsylvania - 1975 to Present

This lesson plan focuses on several Pennsylvania boxers and considers the important ways in which factual and fictional accounts of boxers in the state have interacted to create a unique boxing history. The lesson then asks students to make a connection between the individual life experiences of these boxers and their boxing careers and to see their experiences in light of the American Dream.

Grade Level: Elementary School

Discipline: Arts and Humanities; Economics; Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; Geography; History; Science and Technology

Historical Period: Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974; Contemporary Pennsylvania - 1975 to Present

In this two-day elementary-level lesson, students will analyze images of the Pennsylvania Turnpike from the past and present and identify its original and current uses. They will discuss images, compare and contrast the historic and modern turnpike, and design an ad, encouraging travel on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Grade Level: High School

Discipline: Geography; History

Historical Period: Worlds Meeting-Beginnings to 1600; Colonization and Settlement - 1601-1760; New Nation - 1761-1800; Expansion and Reform - 1801-1855; Civil War and Reconstruction - 1856-1876; Development of the Industrial Pennsylvania - 1877-1900; The Emergence of Modern Pennsylvania - 1901-1928; The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974; Contemporary Pennsylvania - 1975 to Present

Students will discover that Native American paths were the blueprints for modern transportation routes throughout Pennsylvania, and in particular, in crossing the Allegheny Mountains. They will analyze a series of maps to determine geographic barriers associated with crossing the mountains and will establish how Native Americans and later travelers overcame these barriers. Journal entries from a traveler will be read and analyzed to provide a first hand account of what it was like to travel across the Allegheny Mountains in the early 1800s. A historical overview of transportation will be provided and students will discover how geographic features provided the foundation for Native American paths, as well as modern transportation routes.

Grade Level: Middle School

Discipline: Arts and Humanities; Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening; History

Historical Period: The Emergence of Modern Pennsylvania - 1901-1928; The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974; Contemporary Pennsylvania - 1975 to Present

Early public relations of railroad companies were often faced with significant challenges. People were not used to train travel and introducing change into society is difficult. In addition society held preconceived notions–many that were indeed correct–of train travel as dirty, dangerous, and inappropriate for women. Advertisers then had the task of changing public opinion about trains and making train travel appealing. In this middle-level lesson, students will look at types of early to mid twentieth century advertising (newspaper and magazine ads, postcard, calendar art, and a travel brochure) to assess the different ways advertisers "sold" the concept of railroad travel.

Grade Level: Middle School

Discipline: Economics; Geography; History

Historical Period: Expansion and Reform - 1801-1855; Civil War and Reconstruction - 1856-1876; Development of the Industrial Pennsylvania - 1877-1900; The Emergence of Modern Pennsylvania - 1901-1928; The Great Depression and World War II - 1929-1945; Post-WWII Pennsylvania - 1946-1974

Choosing the correct site for the location of a settlement or manufacturing facility can be crucial to the success of the venture. This lesson leads students through the process of using maps to evaluate the site and situation for the location of the Pennsylvania Railroad shops. Students will also evaluate the success of the selection by analyzing growth of population and manufacturing in the city of Altoona, Pennsylvania and the surrounding region. Further evaluation will be made of changes that have occurred with the pullback and abandonment of the railroads.