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Settling the Great Plains

In this lesson, students will explore the appeals and challenges of settling the West from different cultural perspectives by analyzing primary and secondary sources. Students will use primary and secondary source images and documents to better understand the various cultural perspectives of those affected by the settling of the West. Students will also use critical thinking and analytical skills to organize, examine, and summarize reasons why people would want to settle in the Great Plains and the challenges that occurred. Finally, students will dig deeper into the life of George Jordan, a Buffalo Soldier and Medal of Honor recipient, to examine the character traits he possessed and how those characteristics led to him earning the Medal of Honor.

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One-Four Star General | Before Your Visit

In this short and OPTIONAL lesson, students will watch an overview video created by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and centered on the origin of the Medal of Honor and what the Medal represents. Students will complete an anticipation guide prior and post viewing to check for understanding. Students, either individually or in pairs, will explore the story of our nation’s very first Medal of Honor Recipient via the short graphic novel Medal of Honor: Jacob Parrott produced by the Association of the United States Army. Students will utilize the accompanying handout to practice identifying the six character values associated with the Medal of Honor (Courage, Commitment, Integrity, Citizenship, Patriotism, and Sacrifice), making claims, and supporting their claims with evidence from text. As a culminating activity, students will identify THREE things they learned about the Medal of Honor, TWO interesting details about Jacob Parrott’s story, and ONE way they can show/apply one of the character values embodied in the Medal of Honor in their own life.

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Above & Beyond Field Trip | Before Your Visit

In this short and OPTIONAL lesson, students will be introduced to the Challenger Seven story. Here at the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, we proudly display Commander Francis Richard “Dick” Scobee’s Space Medal of Honor and engage students in a series of activities that help them gain a better understanding of who the Challenger Seven were, their mission, and their fateful outcome. This lesson begins with a viewing of President Ronald Reagan’s address to the nation on the evening of the Challenger incident. Students will complete a related anticipation guide before and after the viewing which also includes a short writing prompt. Students will then consider their own personal interests which will preface a related activity at the Center where students are introduced to each Challenger crew member and their interests. As homework, students will be tasked with interviewing a relative or community member about his/her experience watching or learning about the Challenger tragedy on the day it occurred.

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