Lesson Plans and Resources
"Making Invisible Histories Visible assures that students, through the research of various cultures and ethnic groups (their own and those of their classmates), bridge cultural differences. The students' use of differing perspectives increases innovation and the quality of work."
Barry Thomas, past Social Studies Supervisor, Omaha Public Schools
Why should I use this content in my classroom?
The Making Invisible Histories Visible (MIHV) project provides teachers with an opportunity to bring local and minority history into their classrooms. There are profound benefits to doing so: research demonstrates that when a teacher integrates literature and resources that reflect the diverse backgrounds of his or her students, the teacher contextualizes or connects to students' everyday experiences. The content on this website gives social studies teachers diverse resources that can be integrated into the classroom to support students' academic and personal success.
How do I use this content in my classroom?
Utilize the materials found right here in the Lesson Plans section.
- Many of the projects have a lesson plan created by an Omaha Public Schools educator. The lesson plans are found below and on each of the project pages.
- The General Lesson Plan and Graphic Organizer found below can be applied to all the projects.
- An Omaha Primary Resource Guide is provided to give you resources on where to uncover photographs and artifacts pertaining to Omaha history.
- If you are having problems finding what you need, we encourage you to reach out to the Lindsay Behne, Secondary Social Studies - Teaching and Learning Consultant, at Lindsay.Behne@ops.org
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Lesson Plans
African American Lesson Plans
A list of free, online resources available for teachers and students to use to uncover and share the history of Omaha's people, places, businesses, and events.
This lesson introduces students to Lakota culture and the legacy of Black Elk.
Racism and segregation during the Civil Rights era played a major role in sports.
Omaha Public Schools teacher Matt Pierson has prepared a lesson plan to accompany the Bob Campos student web project.
Senator Edward Danner fought for equality in Omaha, Nebraska. Use this lesson to help students understand this struggle and compare it to other cities during the Civil Rights Movement.
Students will learn the importance of drill and step in North Omaha and use primary sources to shape their understanding of music history in Omaha.
Students will learn the importance of drill and step in North Omaha and use primary sources to shape their understanding of music history in Omaha.
Link to Gretchen Sorin's Driving While Black Documentary covering The Great Migration, Mass Production of Automobiles, African American Travel and The Green Book, and the highway system and its impact on America's African American neighborhoods. It also includes a discussion guide and local pictures to share.
Students will explore the culture of funk music in Omaha and what it meant to the performers and audience members.
Students will learn how gospel music became popular in North Omaha and understand its community impact by comparing the story of gospel music in North Omaha to the story of African Americans during the 1920s.
Lesson plan where students will compare and contrast the Green Books from the 1930s to the 1960s.
A lesson in which students map a two-day, 800-mile trip starting in New York City. The trip must include stops for gas, meals, and overnight accommodation. Caveat. All places they stop at must have been listed in the Green Book.
Students will learn about the challenges African Americans in the United States face due to external factors, including deindustrialization, white flight, the war on drugs, and systemic racism.
In this lesson, students will explore how Nisei were treated in Nebraska compared to the West Coast of the United States during Japanese Internment.
Students will learn the definitions of primary and secondary sources and how to identify these types of sources in context.
Students will learn about Mexican-American music in Omaha using the historical thinking process (source, contextualize, close read, corroborate) and primary source documents. This lesson is appropriate to learn and review how to use primary source documents.
Students will use Robert Navarro to learn about the Chicano Movement. In this lesson, students will identify and explain the significance of the Chicano Movement and the impact it had on Omaha and the nation.
The lesson rotates students through five stations to become familiar with using Omaha Primary Resources. Stations include Sanborn Maps, Omaha City Directories, Omaha Public Library Site/Omaha World-Herald Newspaper, The Durham Museum Photo Archives and the Newspaper Newspaper Site.
A PowerPoint presentation sharing with students the history of Omaha's streetcars. It includes historical images and 1950s-era video of the streetcars in Omaha.
Pioneers face challenges as they break through barriers. Elizabeth Pittman was a pioneer in the fact that she was the first black female graduate of Creighton Law School, first female and first black judge in the State of Nebraska.
Students will learn about Omaha's Eastern European Immigrants, their culture and music as well as the connection to South Omaha, the Stockyards, and breweries.
Lesson designed in conjunction with the UNION exhibit, Undesign the Redline.
Students will create a venn diagram to compare the culture of refugee populations prior to relocation to the culture of refugee populations living in the United States.
Students will create a venn diagram to compare the culture of refugee populations prior to relocation to the culture of refugee populations living in the United States.
This lesson plan introduces students to the Omaha Tribe and their history.
Learn about the U.S. Census and its use as a tool to research the history of a person.
Students will assess the impact of society and culture on personality, identify the social factors influencing their choices for interaction with others, illustrate the differences in social roles and social stereotypes, justify their opinion on which social factors influence our social interaction with others.
In this lesson, students learn why Edward Zorinsky’s legacy is important to Omaha.