Browse lesson plans

America's first people

In Two worlds: Educator's guide, page 2.2

These activities, designed to accompany "First Peoples" and "The Mystery of the First Americans," will enable students to explore the origins of human populations in North America.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

By Pauline S. Johnson.

British migration to Roanoke: Push and pull factors

In Two worlds: Educator's guide, page 4.1

In this lesson, students will examine the push/pull factors that led settlers to attempt to settle Roanoke Island in the 1580s.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

By Pauline S. Johnson.

Discussion questions: Expanding to the west

This set of discussion questions was designed to help students understand an article about the settlement of the Piedmont region of North Carolina between 1730 and 1775.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

By Pauline S. Johnson.

Immigrants' experiences in colonial North Carolina

In this lesson plan, students read two primary-source documents describing the experiences of new arrivals to North Carolina during the colonial period: One is a summary of a report written by a young Moravian settler from Pennsylvania; the other is a letter from a German immigrant. Students compare and contrast the journeys and settlement of the two groups.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

By Pauline S. Johnson.

Moravian migration: Before a visit to Bethabara

Students investigate NCECHO site to learn about the 1753 Moravian settlement of Bethabara. Student teams present information to classmates in some visual product in one of five categories. Students also will visit the photos on NCECHO and answer analytical questions to increase understanding of the past as compared to today.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2–4 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

"The present state of North Carolina": Making decisions

In this lesson, students read an excerpt from John Lawson's 1709 book A New Voyage to Carolina and use a graphic organizer to decide whether they would have emigrated to Carolina as a result of reading Lawson's book.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

By Pauline S. Johnson.

Provisions for Carolina: Comparing lists

In this lesson, students will compare and contrast two historical documents: A list of recommended provisions for colonists traveling to Virginia in 1622, and a similar list of recommended provisions for colonists traveling to Carolina in 1709. Students will infer what has changed and what has stayed the same between the publication of these two documents.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Pauline S. Johnson.

Theories of migration

In Two worlds: Educator's guide, page 2.1

In this lesson, students will read about and evaluate differing theories about the migration of the first people to the Americas.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

By Pauline S. Johnson.

Understanding North Carolina's Moravian settlers

In this lesson plan, students read a diary written by a young Moravian man traveling from Pennsylvania to a Moravian settlement in North Carolina in 1733. Students complete a graphic organizer with details of the journey and follow the route on a map.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

By Pauline S. Johnson.

Understanding out-migration from North Carolina in the 1800s

In this lesson plan, students read an article about the factors leading North Carolinians to leave for other states in the 1800s. Students participate in a debate about which factors were more important — "push" factors or "pull" factors.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

By Jamie Lathan.

Resources on the web

The great migration

In this ARTSEDGE lesson, students learn about the migration of African Americans to Harlem, beginning with the original migration of blacks to North America. Students explore paintings by Jacob Lawrence to understand the experience of blacks who migrated... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Visual Arts Education and Social Studies)

Provided by: ArtsEdge

Population growth and movement in 19th century North Carolina

In this eighth grade social studies lesson, students compare historical maps of North Carolina from 1823 and 1892 and propose reasons for the population change evidenced by the maps. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

Provided by: UNC Libraries