This inquiry provides students with an opportunity to investigate the journeys of Christopher Columbus. They will construct an argument in response to the compelling question “How should Christopher Columbus be remembered?” The activities focus on motivations, costs/consequences of the journeys and different perspectives. Resource created by Melissa Brabec, Leigh Public Schools, as part of the Nebraska ESUCC Social Studies Special Projects 2022 - Inquiry Design Model (IDM).

Humans have been discovering and rediscovering places and people for more than a millennia. Through the context of the possible future colonization of Mars and the compelling question, students will explore the European colonization of Africa and how it benefited Europeans and hurt Africans. Resource created by Sharon Jeffries, Fall City Public Schools, as part of the Nebraska ESUCC Social Studies Special Projects 2022 - Inquiry Design Model (IDM).

This inquiry looks at the debate between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists, and how federalism is still impacting the United States today. Resource created by Andrew Heller, Wynot Public Schools, as part of the Nebraska ESUCC Social Studies Special Projects 2022 - Inquiry Design Model (IDM).

This inquiry is designed to provide a basic understanding of feudalism in medieval Europe. This lesson is created for a 7th grade World History class. During this inquiry, students will examine maps, artwork, documents, videos, and text to build knowledge on feudalism and then demonstrate their understanding by applying it to our modern world.Resource created by Lisa Bales, David City Public Schools, as part of the Nebraska ESUCC Social Studies Special Projects 2022 - Inquiry Design Model (IDM). 

This inquiry for 5th grade asks students to analyze the first amendment, why it was written, and how it affects them today. Students are asked to write an argument covering the need of the first amendment.Resource created by Tara Maltsberger, Heartland Community Schools, as part of the Nebraska ESUCC Social Studies Special Projects 2022 - Inquiry Design Model (IDM).

This inquiry is intended to have students civically engaged by becoming familiar with common terms such as liberty and freedom while toiling with their similarities through primary sources from the early influences of American democracy, documents leading to and written at the formation of United States’ government; all the way to the voices of the Americans who argued their promise of liberty and freedom wasn’t fulfilled. Resource created by Jacob Muir, Sidney Public Schools, as part of the Nebraska ESUCC Social Studies Special Projects 2023 - Inquiry Design Model (IDM).

In this inquiry project, students will determine whether they believe Hammurabi’s Code of Laws is fair or not. They will research who Hammurabi was and his role in Babylonia, discover the differences in social classes in the region at the time, and analyze the laws as they apply to different social groups. Resource created by Elizabeth Dunn, Nebraska City Public Schools, as part of the Nebraska ESUCC Social Studies Special Projects 2022 - Inquiry Design Model (IDM).

This inquiry leads students through an investigation of how a bill becomes a law in Nebraska, and how the law regarding the use of motorcycle helmets in Nebraska changed. Resource created by Brian Johnson, Wakefield Community Schools, as part of the Nebraska ESUCC Social Studies Special Projects 2023 - Inquiry Design Model (IDM).

This inquiry is designed for students to explore history through some of the historical markers in Nebraska and recognize places that have yet to be recognized as historically significant. Resource created by Mandy Morava, Crawford Public Schools, as part of the Nebraska ESUCC Social Studies Special Projects 2022 - Inquiry Design Model (IDM).

This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the legacy of the Homestead Act of 1862 by having students analyze the impact of the law on European settlers and American Indians since the law did not equally benefit both groups of individuals. Resource created by Justin Aaberg, Nebraska City High School, as part of the Nebraska ESUCC Social Studies Special Projects 2023 - Inquiry Design Model (IDM).

This inquiry will lead students through an investigation of farming and its impact on the environment, culture and people who live in Nebraska. In this inquiry students will research and discover more about the state they live in and how important its natural resources are to them, our country and the world. Resource created by Barbara J Knopik, Centura Public Schools, as part of the Nebraska ESUCC Social Studies Special Projects 2023 - Inquiry Design Model (IDM).

This inquiry leads students through an investigation of how human and physical features of India influenced the development of Ancient India’s culture. Students will investigate the role geography played in the development of trade, cuisine and religious beliefs. Resource created by Dee Ann Roy, Arcadia Public Schools, as part of the Nebraska ESUCC Social Studies Special Projects 2023 - Inquiry Design Model (IDM).

This 4th grade inquiry unit will allow students to explore how settlement affected the indigenous people groups that lived here before. The compelling question, “Did the presence of the settlers change the lives of native and indigenous people groups in Nebraska?” engages students in an examination of the American Indians of the Plains and how the forced removal and relocation of their people changed their way of life. The disciplinary structure of this inquiry is designed with collaborative learning in mind.Resource created by Olivia Holleran, Papillion LaVista Schools, as part of the Nebraska ESUCC Social Studies Special Projects 2022 - Inquiry Design Model (IDM).

Indian Relay shows Indian America like it has never been seen before, following three teams across a perilous Indian Relay horse-racing season, from the bitter cold of winter to the mayhem of the summer’s championship races, culminating with the Indian Relay National Championships in Blackfoot, Idaho.

The hope and determination of modern-day American Indian life is revealed in this film about what it takes to win one of the most exciting and perilous forms of horseracing practiced anywhere in the world today. From the bitter cold of winter on the Rocky Mountain front to the heat and mayhem of the summer’s championship races in Montana and Idaho, Indian Relay follows three teams from three different American Indian communities as they prepare for and compete across a grueling Indian Relay season—all hearts set on the glory and honor of winning an Indian Relay National Championship.

A mix of high-speed daring and exquisite horsemanship, Indian Relay is a sport widely enjoyed and practiced by men and women from tribal nations across the Rocky Mountain West. Each race begins with up to eight Indian athletes riding a horse bareback around a track at full gallop. After one lap, barely slowing down, the riders leap from their speeding horses to a second set of horses. Each team’s “mugger” must then catch the first horse or the team will be disqualified, creating a chaotic melee of up to 32 people and 24 thoroughbreds in front of the grandstands. Another top-speed lap, another daring horse change, and the teams race for the finish line, at speeds topping 40 miles an hour.

In this inquiry students will learn about how the people in Mongolia have adjusted to 21st century life through the use of primary document images from the Library of Congress Archives and from secondary source articles. The inquiry question asks, "What is the most influential factor leading to change in Mongolia today?" Resource created by Emily Gasper, Lincoln Public Schools, as part of the Nebraska ESUCC Social Studies Special Projects 2022 - Inquiry Design Model (IDM).

PBS Learning Media: Physical Education - Kids In Motion: An Israeli Arab’s Experience | Shadya Film Module

In this module, students meet 17-year-old Shadya Zoabi, an Israeli Arab karate champion who is fiercely independent despite growing up in a male-dominated, Muslim culture. At the same time, Shadya grapples with the challenges that Muslims face as citizens of Israel. Her internal conflicts intensify when she meets the Palestinian team at a karate competition.

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.

Students will examine the relationships between the Jamestown Settlers and Powhatan indigenous people. They will explore the different perspectives of these two groups of people and why their views clashed with one another. But were the Powhatans' actions justified?Through this inquiry, students will explore multiple resources, complete tasks, and answer questions that will show if the Powhatan Indians were justified in their response to the Jamestown settlers.Resource created by Lucas Spooner, Winnebago Public Schools, as part of the Nebraska ESUCC Social Studies Special Projects 2022 - Inquiry Design Model (IDM).

This inquiry focuses on the intent of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and its importance in the construction of the transcontinental railroad. Students will explore multiple resources, complete tasks, and answer questions that will show the intent of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and its impacts on the United States.  Resource created by Jenna Schawang, Falls City Sacred Heart, as part of the ESUCC Nebraska Social Studies Project 2022 - Inquiry Design Model (IDM).

This lesson is part of a larger collection of lessons developed by NET - Nebraska Studies project work and accompany website. To see all of the lessons use the keyword search "Nebraska Studies".

Summary
Lesson 1 has a variety of activities and materials related to The Nebraska Kansas Act.

There are a variety of activities and materials that can be used with students of various grade levels. All of these items are tied to the NET Nebraska Studies Timeline materials which are shown and linked throughout the lesson. Teachers are not intended to use all of the contents within this lesson but to pick which activities or materials they would prefer to use with their students depending on the teachers needs. Most of the materials are shown within the lesson and/or have external links to the content or other content which may be helpful to the lesson's activities or materials.

This lesson is part of a larger collection of lessons developed by NET - Nebraska Studies project work and accompany website. To see all of the lessons use the keyword search "Nebraska Studies".

Lesson 2 has a variety of activities and materials related Native Americans and Settlers within Nebraska from 1850 - 1874.

There are a variety of activities and materials that can be used with students of various grade levels. All of these items are tied to the NET Nebraska Studies Timeline materials which are shown and linked throughout the lesson. Teachers are not intended to use all of the contents within this lesson but to pick which activities or materials they would prefer to use with their students depending on the teachers needs. Most of the materials are shown within the lesson and/or have external links to the content or other content which may be helpful to the lesson's activities or materials.