1800s Lesson Plans

Students examine reasons for immigration to the United States in the 19th century. They role play as immigrants asked to write accounts of their immigrant experiences.

Students read a piece of Native American literature and analyze it in a class discussion. They are explained that the piece is from the 19th century but that, unlike so much Native American literature that began orally and later was written down. Students are asked to demonstrate their comprehension of Chief Joesph's piece by paraphrasing it based on their notes and memory.

Students examine the larger social, political and economic issues that influenced the first Asians' migration to the Americas in the 18th and 19th centuries. They distinguish between commonly held assumptions about the first Asians in the Americas and the more historically accurate version.

Students evaluate the different types of historical and geographical information that one can gather through close study of historical maps from the 16th through the 19th centuries. They create their own maps.

Learners examine and discuss 19th century clothing, comparing it to contemporary styles. After writing paragraphs describing the clothing styles, they play games from the period. For homework, they crreate their own games which they play the next day.

Students research information on the village life of Hidatsa and Mandan groups in the early 19th century and compare it with the textbook history of nomadic horse-culture Indians.

Learners analyze historical photographs to draw conclusions about family life in Colorado mining camps and towns in the late 19th century. They discuss inquiry questions within groups and record information.

Students examine how posters can depict history and reflect societal issues of an era. They apply principles of poster art to create original posters reflecting society in 19th century England.

Students examine the evolution of landscape painting in France from the 17th to the 19th century. They study and compare three landscape paintings, emphasizing space, depth, and the concepts of foreground, middle ground, and background.

Eighth graders explore the novel, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. In this language arts instructional activity instructional activity, 8th graders listen to passages and present findings to the class through a creative project. Students compare and contrast life in King Arthur's time to life in the 19th century.