An Interactive
Pennsylvania Curriculum Guide
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Click on the letter that you want to visit!
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
U
R
V
S
W
T
X
Y
Z
A is for Amish
• The Amish first settled in Lancaster,
Pennsylvania in the 1720’s for religious
freedom.
• They live a simple life with no electricity
or automobiles.
• Farming, quilting, carpentry and family
are very important to these “Plain
People”.
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
B is for Ben Franklin
•
•
•
•
•
•
Founding Father
Famous Philadelphian
Exciting Experimenter
Innovative Inventor
Declaration (of Independence) Drafter
Almanac Author
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
C is for Coal and Caverns
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fossil Fuel
Important natural resource for PA
Many Mines
Seldom Seen Tourist Coal Mine
Crystal Cave Park
Lost River Caverns
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
D is for Deer
• Whitetail Deer is official
state animal
• Important to Native
Americans and
colonists
• Hunting now regulated
by game laws
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
E is for Erie
• Major city
• Lake Erie is the
northwest natural
border of PA
• Beach
• Canal
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
F is for Forests
• Pennsylvania means Penn’s woods
• Pennsylvania forests supply more
hardwood lumber than any other state
for building homes, making furniture,
and producing paper at a value of $4.5
billion a year.
• More than 2 million acres of forest
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
G is for Gettysburg
• Gettysburg was founded in
1786 from the farmstead of
Samuel and James Gettys.
• Site of the Civil War Battle
in the summer of 1863.
• Location of President
Abraham Lincoln’s
Gettysburg Address.
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
H is for Harrisburg
• Founded by John Harris and his
son John Jr. in 1785
• Became the capital of
Pennsylvania in 1812
• Capitol building was
dedicated in 1906
• One of the most important
commercial centers and
distribution points in the East
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
I is for Independence
• Independence Hall located in the
city of Philadelphia was original
constructed in 1732 as the
Pennsylvania State House.
• The building is recognized as the
“birthplace” of the United States of
America.
• It is the place where the
Declaration of Independence and
the Constitution of the United
States was debated, drafted and
signed.
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
J is for James Buchanan
• 15th President of the United
States 1857-1861
• Elected as a Democrat
• Born near Mercersburg, PA –
April 23, 1791
• Died in Lancaster, PA
June 1, 1868
• Remained a bachelor
throughout his term
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
K is for Keystone
• Pennsylvania is called the keystone state
A "keystone" is the central,
wedge-shaped stone in an
arch, which holds all the other
stones in place.
Geographically, Pennsylvania
was said to be "the keystone
in the federal union." However,
Pennsylvania is also a
keystone in the development
of the United States.
HOME
Activity
Resources
L is for Liberty Bell
• Why is it cracked?
• Facts and Figures
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
M is for Mountains
Vast
varied
across
Vastand
and
varied
acrossthe
thestate
state….
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
N is for Native Americans
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
O is for Original
One of the Original 13 colonies
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
P is for
Punxsutawney Phil
• Pennsylvania's earliest settlers were Germans. They
found many groundhogs all over the state.
• They determined that the groundhog, resembling the
European hedgehog, was an intelligent and sensible
animal and therefore decided that if the sun did appear
on February 2nd, so wise an animal as the groundhog
would see its shadow and hurry back into its underground
home for another six weeks of winter.
• If the day is cloudy and without shadows he takes it as a
sign of spring and stays above ground.
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
Q is for Quakers
• Founded in England by George Fox (16241691)
• William Penn (1644-1718)
• Toleration of minority
religious groups
• Public stand against slavery
• Major role in organizing and running the
"Underground Railroad"
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
R is for Railroads
• The first railroad in Pennsylvania
opened in 1827 - the Switchback
Railroad in Mauch Chunk, now
known as Jim Thorpe, P.A.
• Horseshoe Curve near Altoona
made crossing the Allegheny
Mountains possible
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
S is for Shipping
• Conestoga Wagon
• Erie Canal - PA launched its first major statesponsored canal-building project in the Schuylkill
River valley in 1815
• Allegheny Portage Railroad opened on March
18, 1834, connecting two bodies of water at
Hollidaysburg and Johnstown
• During the Revolutionary War, Philadelphia was
a perfect port because of its location between
the northern and southern colonies.
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
T is for Turnpike
• Opened in 1794, the Philadelphia and Lancaster
Turnpike was the first of the new paved roads
• Nation's first major toll road
• Other early turnpikes employed wood rather than
stone in their construction. "Corduroy" roads were
fairly common
• They involved logs laid perpendicular to the
roadway, covered by soil. They provided better
traction than simple dirt roads, but proved difficult
to maintain
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
U is for
Underground Railroad
• Pennsylvania became the first northern state
to adopt an emancipation law, named the
Gradual Emancipation Act
• Philadelphia Vigilance Committee was
founded in August 1837
• William Still, a hardworking clerk in the
Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society office
made Philadelphia a hub of the railroad.
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
V is Valley Forge
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Revolutionary soldier’s winter encampment
2,000 died from conditions
Gen Washington’s HQ
Living history
Memorial Arch
Chapel
Edgar Allen Poe’s “The raven” written here!
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
W is for Water
• Rivers, Lakes,
Watersheds
• Commercial use
• Recreational use
• Natural habitants and
habitats
• Environmental concerns
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
X marks the spot
where you live
• Neighborhoods
– Geography
Landmarks
– History
– Population
– Changes
• Map skills
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
Y is for Yellow (and blue)
• State flag
• State motto
• State symbols
– Animal
– Bug
– Plant
– Beverage
– Fossil
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
Z is for Zoo
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•
•
•
•
•
Philadelphia Zoo- oldest in the country
Pittsburgh Zoo, Aviary, Aquarium
Petting Zoos
Preserves
Varieties,
Conservation efforts
HOME
Lesson Plans
Activities
Resources
A- Lesson plans
• Compare & Contrast your community to
the Amish community
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/SSAmishCommuniti
es23.htm
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/SSCommunityDiffer
encesVenn3.htm
Back to A
A- Activities
• Various games and
activities
http://www.ardecol.acgrenoble.fr/english/a
mishpage.htm
Back to A
A- Resources
• http://pittsburgh.abo
ut.com/cs/pennsylva
nia/a/amish.htm
• http://pittsburgh.abo
ut.com/cs/pennsylva
nia/a/amish_2.htm
Back to A
B- Lesson Plans
Interactive lesson
http://www.school-forchampions.com/biographies/franklin.htm
Find out about Ben Franklin
http://www.ccle.fourh.umn.edu/ruleswebstersd2.
html
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/progra
ms/benfranklintimeline/
Back to B
B- Activities
• Scavenger Hunt
• http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/hunt/hunt018.shtml
• Science Fun
http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/activity.html
• Games and more
http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/fun/
Back to B
B- Resources
• http://www.lessonsfr
omhistory.com/lfhsa
mpl.htm
• http://bensguide.gpo
.gov/3-5/
Back to B
C- Lesson Plans
• Coal
http://www.coaleducation.org/lessons/pri
mary.htm
http://www.ceednet.org/educ/for_teache
rs/lesson_plans.htm
• Caverns
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/
textonly/teachers/explorecaves_story1_l
essons2.htm
Back to C
C- Activities
• Cookie Mining
http://www.teachcoal
.org/lessonplans/coo
kie_mining.html
Back to C
Coal Facts
C- Resources
http://www.teachcoal.org/aboutcoal/articles/fastf
acts.html
http://www.teachcoal.org/aboutcoal/articles/coalj
ourney.html
Cavern info
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teacher
s/explorecaves_multimedia.htm
http://www.nps.gov/cave/home.htm
Back to C
D- Lesson Plans
• http://sftrc.cas.psu.edu/
• http://www.eduref.org/cgibin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Ecology/
ECL0043.html
• http://www.proteacher.com/cgibin/outsidesite.cgi?external=http://homeschooling.ab
out.com/education/homeschooling/library/weekly/aa1
02699.
Back to D
D- Activities
• http://www.firstschool.ws/activities/crafts/anima
ls/wild/reindeer2.htm
• http://www.enchantedlearning.c
om/subjects/mammals/deer/Whi
tetailprintout.shtml
• http://www.proteacher.net/dcforu
m/arts_crafts/185.html#3
Back to D
D- Resources
• http://www.statehousegirls.net/pa/symbols/animal/
• http://www.geocities.com/pabackcountry/deerfacts.ht
m
• http://www.proteacher.com/cgibin/outsidesite.cgi?external=http://homeschooling.ab
out.com/education/homeschooling/library/weekly/aa1
02699.htm&original=http://www.proteacher.com/0901
40.shtml&title=Pennsylvania:%20The%20Keystone%
20State Scroll down and click on state animal
Back to D
E- Lesson Plans
• http://www.pbs4549.org/SECRETS/D
LSLES2.HTM
Back to E
E - Activities
Lake Erie Scavenger Hunt
• http://www.pbs4549.org/SECRETS/DLSLES
1.HTM
Back to E
E - Resources
• http://www.pbs4549.org/SECRETS/DLSE
RIE.HTM
• http://www.presqueisle.org/
Back to E
F - Lesson plans
• http://sftrc.cas.psu.edu/forest%20_lesso
ns/Maple%20Syrup.htm
• http://www.berksiu.k12.pa.us/webquest/
LessWentzel/index.htm
Back to F
F - Activities
• http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/statefore
sts/
Back to F
F - Resources
• http://www.dep.state.pa.us/earth
daycentral/02/posterdocs/pafore
sts_explore.htm
Back to F
G - Lesson plans
• http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/00-2/lp2006.shtml
Back to G
G - Activities
• http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lesson
s/44gettys/44putting.htm
Back to G
G - Resources
• http://www.nps.gov/gett/getttour/mainms.htm
Back to G
H - Lesson plans
• http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/VC/vi
sitor_info/activity_book/amazing_laws.ht
m
Back to H
H - Activities
• http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/VC/visit
or_info/activity_book/word_search.htm
Back to H
H - Resources
• http://www.visithhc.com/caphist.shtml
Back to H
I - Lesson plans
• http://bensguide.gpo.gov/35/documents/index.html
Back to I
I - Activities
• http://bensguide.gpo.gov/35/games/interactive.html
• http://www.pbs.org/democracy/kids/
Back to I
I - Resources
• http://www.glencoe.com/sec/socialstudies/cgibin/splitwindow.cgi?top=../top.html&link=http://w
ww.ushistory.org/tour/tour_indhall.htm
Back to I
J - Lesson plans
• http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpe
ditions/lessons/01/g35/presidents.html
Back to J
J - Activities
• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/u
s/pres/wordsearch/preswordsearch.shtml
Back to J
J - Resources
• http://www.museumstuff.com/articles/ar16
6881066247501.html
Back to J
K - Activities
• Design a new keystone symbol for
Pennsylvania with your favorite symbols.
Back to K
K - Resources
• http://www.netstate.com/states/intro/pa_
intro.htm
Back to K
L - Lesson plans
• http://www.teachnology.com/worksheets/misc/christmas
/color/
Back to L
L - Activities
• http://www.whyy.org/community/libertycon
test.html
Back to L
L - Resources
• http://www.ushistory.org/libertybell/
Back to L
M - Lesson plans
• Persistent Paths: Trails, Tracks, and
Turnpikes Across the Alleghenies
http://www.explorepahistory.com/viewLe
sson.php?id=37
Back to M
M - Activities
• http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/classro
om/teachers/elem4.aspx
Back to M
M - Resources
• http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/roll
er-coaster6.htm
Back to M
N - Lesson plans
• Persistent Paths: Trails, Tracks, and Turnpikes
Across the Alleghenies
http://www.explorepahistory.com/viewLesson.php?id=
37
• Philadelphia’s Important Contribution to the Lewis
and Clark Expedition
http://www.explorepahistory.com/viewLesson.php?id=
57
• The Three Faces of William Penn
http://www.explorepahistory.com/viewLesson.php?id=
9
Back to N
N - Activities
•Native American Madness
http://www.mce.k12tn.net/indians/games/memory1.ht
m
•Native American Memory Games
http://www.mce.k12tn.net/indians/games/memory2.ht
m
Spot the Loner
http://www.mce.k12tn.net/indians/games/play.html
Back to N
N - Resources
• http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/VC/vi
sitor_info/pa_history/pa_history.htm
• http://www.totaltrainingsols.com/Grade3/
Grade3.htm
• http://www.thewildwest.org/native_ameri
can/index.html
• http://www.ilhawaii.net/~stony/loreindx.ht
ml
Back to N
O - Lesson plans
• http://www.proteacher.com/090021.shtm
l
Back to O
O - Activities
• http://www.proteacher
.com/090021.shtml
Back to O
O - Resources
• http://libertyskids.com/
Back to O
P - Lesson plans
• http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson048.shtml
Back to P
P - Activities
• http://www.groundhog
.org/activities/
Back to P
P - Resources
• http://www.stormfax.
com/ghogday.htm
• http://www.starfall.co
m/n/holiday/groundh
ogsday/play.htm?f
Back to P
Q - Lesson plans
• Role of the Quakers in Abolitionism
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/Secret
sOfTheUndergroundRailroadUnitDay2A
bolitionistAndQuakers4.htm
Back to Q
Q - Activities
• Wiggle Free Zone - Here are a few ideas that
use some energy and gives children an
opportunity to get the wiggles out before
starting with the First Day School lesson.
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/agkeener/fds/w
iggles.htm
Back to Q
Q - Resources
• The Freeman
(http://www.quaker.org/wmpenn.html)
• RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS)
http://www.religioustolerance.org/quaker.htm
• Pennsylvania
(http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11638c.htm)
• Ideas on Liberty
William Penn, America's First Great Champion
for Liberty and Peace
by Jim Powell
Back to Q
R - Lesson plans
• Allegheny Portage Railroad: Developing
Transportation Technology
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/le
ssons/23allegheny/23allegheny.htm
Back to R
R - Activities
• Railroad Museum of PA - Kids' Corner
http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/education/k
ids/welcome.htm
Back to R
R - Resources
Experience Pennsylvania’s Railways – History and Heritage
• http://www.parailways.com/history/
Railroad History Timeline
• http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/education/historytimeline1.htm
Map of PA Railroads
• http://memory.loc.gov/cgibin/map_item.pl?data=/home/www/data/gmd/gmd370/g3701/
g3701p/rr000800.sid&style=rrmap&itemLink=D?gmd:29:./tem
p/~ammem_tOVg::&title=Map%20of%20the%20western%20r
ailroads%20tributary%20to%20Philadelphia,%20with%20thei
r%20rival%20lines;%20prepared%20under%20the%20
Back to R
S - Lesson plans
• Allegheny Portage Railroad – Putting it
al Together
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/les
sons/23allegheny/23putting.htm
Back to S
S - Activities
• Explore PA History – Crossing the Alleghenies
– click Interactive
http://www.explorepahistory.com/displayinte
ractive.php?storyId=10&interId=4
Back to S
S - Resources
• Explore PA History – Crossing the
Alleghenies
http://www.explorepahistory.com/story.php?stor
yId=10
• Pennsylvania Canal and Railroads
http://www.explorepahistory.com/story.php?stor
yId=10&chapter=4
Back to S
T - Lesson plans
• Persistent Paths: Trails, Tracks and
Turnpikes across the Alleghenies
http://www.explorepahistory.com/viewLe
sson.php?id=37
Back to T
T - Activities
• Explore PA History – Crossing the
Alleghenies – click Image Gallery
http://www.explorepahistory.com/display
gallery.php?gallery_id=22&bcolor=bpurp
le
Back to T
T - Resources
• Crossing the Alleghenies
http://www.explorepahistory.com/story.php?s
toryId=10
• Early Turnpikes
http://www.explorepahistory.com/story.php?s
toryId=10&chapter=2
• The Pennsylvania Turnpike
http://www.explorepahistory.com/story.php?s
toryId=10&chapter=5
Back to T
U - Lesson plans
• WOULD YOU HAVE HELPED OUT?
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/17/g68/ra
ilroad.html
• Underground Railroad - Social Studies
Grade Level - Intermediate/ Middle School
http://www.solanco.k12.pa.us/providence/UGRR/lessplan.htm
• How Far to Freedom?
http://www.explorepahistory.com/viewLesson.php?id=22
Back to U
U - Activities
• Interactive Underground Railroad
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/
• Underground Railroad
http://www.explorepahistory.com/displayinteractive.php?storyId=8
&interId=3
Harriet Tubman – Underground Railroad
http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/tubman/tubman.html
Back to U
U - Resources
• Underground Railroad
http://www.explorepahistory.com/story.php?storyId
=8
• Organizing Escape Networks
http://www.explorepahistory.com/story.php?storyId
=8&chapter=3
Helping Runaways
http://www.explorepahistory.com/story.php?storyId
=8&chapter=4
• Fighting Against Slavery
http://www.explorepahistory.com/story.php?storyId
=8&chapter=2
Back to U
V- Lesson plans
• Lesson Plans
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/p
rograms/revwar3/
http://besthistorysites.net/LessonPlans.sht
ml
Back to V
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
V- Activities
http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/kids/index.html Valley Forge for Kids
activities
After viewing sample timelines students will create a 10 item timeline with the
Battle of Valley Forge at the center. http://www2.canisius.edu/~emeryg/time.html
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/marry.htm (Who Wants to
marry a Founding father game)
http://www.quia.com/jg/66325.html Quiz on Places of the American revolution
Examine the following historical documents (pictures)
http://www.archives.gov/digital_classroom/lessons/american_revolution_images/i
mages/valley_forge.gif
http://www.archives.gov/digital_classroom/lessons/american_revolution_images/i
mages/washington_and_committee.gif
Answer the following questions: What problems are shown facing the
soldiers camped at Valley Forge? What other problems might they have faced
that are not shown? How do you think the British army's experience in
Philadelphia compared with the Americans' experience? Ask students to
compare the style of dress of the congressmen and the soldiers, and ask them
to brainstorm what Washington might have been saying to the congressmen
Vintage Photos Take digital photos of your students when they dress up as
historical figures, but use the SEPIA setting to "age" the images.
Back to V
V- Resources
• http://www.explorepahistory.com/ Stories of Pennsylvania's
Past & Present, attractions, activities and resources for
students and teachers
• http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/index.html Historic valley
Forge site (History and kids section)
• http://members.aol.com/TeacherNet/Revolutionarywar.html#L
and
• http://www.netstate.com/states/intro/pa_intro.htm
• http://www.usmint.gov/kids/index.cfm?fileContents=timeMachi
ne Click on Revolutionary period for a tour of Valley Forge
and learn about the clothing and money of the era.
• http://library.thinkquest.org/J002611F/ WebQuest “Colonial
kids”
Back to V
W - Lesson plans
• http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow7/dec98/
delaware.html Lessons and activities
on Delaware Estuary
• http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/nps/educ
ation/curricandtools/pdf/millcreekcurricul
um/Lesson_Plan_II.pdf
The Natural water Cycle and the Natural
Watershed (EPA) Delaware River
Back to W
W - Activities
• http://www.web-savvy.com/river/Schuylkill/
History and activities for the Schuylkill and
its wateshed
• http://www.greenworks.tv/kids/
Activities and information on environment
and watersheds in PA
• http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/KYW/glossary/
whatisaws.html
“Know your Watershed” Information and
activities
Back to W
W - Resources
• http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/brc/rivers/
Travel the Pa Rivers
Back to W
X - Lesson plans
Community Government
• http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lesson
s/04/g35/specialtown.html
“Your Special Town” from National Geographic
• http://ofcn.org/cyber.serv/academy/ace/soc/cecsst/ce
csst060.html Increase awareness of students’
immediate community
• http://ofcn.org/cyber.serv/academy/ace/soc/cecsst/ce
csst115.html Orienteering, map skills
• http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/less
on325.shtml Variety of map skill Lesson plans for
Geography Week
Back to X
X - Activities
• http://www.maps.com/games/
Back to X
X - Resources
Symbols and state facts
• http://bensguide.gpo.gov/35/neighborhood/index.html
• Http://www.pasda.psu.edu/outreach/trc.sht
ml
Back to X
Y - Lesson plans
• http://members.aol.com/MrDonnHistory/
States.html#Pennsylvania
Create a brochure @ PA lesson plan
• http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesso
n/lesson278.shtml
50 States, 5 Lessons with activities
Back to Y
Y- Activities
• http://sites.state.pa.us/kids/state_emblems.
htm Games of state symbols
• http://members.aol.com/MrDonnHistory/Stat
es.html#USGAMES games of states and
capitals
Back to Y
Y- Resources
• http://sites.state.pa.us/kids
• http://www.50states.com/flag/paflag.htm
Pa flag
• http://www.atozkidsstuff.com/pennsylva
nia.html
• http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/pahist/sy
mbols.asp?secid=31 PA State Historical
and Museum Commission
Back to Y
Z- Lesson plans
• http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr08
0.shtml “It’s a Zoo Out There” General zoo
lesson plans and National Zoo and Aquarium
Week Lesson plans and activities
• http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/less
on068.shtml Animals of the World; an Internet
Scavenger Hunt
Back to Z
Z- Activities
• http://netvet.wustl.edu/e-zoo.htm NetVet;
Electronic Zoo from veterinarians,
information and activities for all animals
(real and fictional)
• http://www.campingpa.com/story1.htm Zoos
in PA
• http://www.switcheroozoo.com/zoo.htm
Create a new mammal by morphing body
parts
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Z- Resources
• http://www.geozoo.org/ GeoZoo;
Exploring Our Living Planet
• http://www.phillyzoo.org/ Philadelphia
Zoo–visit the kids section
• http://www.hersheypa.com/attractions/zoo
America/ Zoo America at Hershey Park
• http://peaceablekingdompettingzoo.com/
Petting Zoo
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