Vanderbilt University
Stories from the Panama Canal
The stories of the Silver People, the West Indies immigrants hired to work on the Panama Canal, come to life in a lesson about the building of the Panama Canal. Groups research why the canal was built, how it was build, the working...
Curated OER
The United States and the World
Journey through highlights of the late 19th and early 20th century with your history class. Topics covered are the highlights of Theodore Roosevelt's presidency, the Spanish American War, the building of the Panama Canal, and World War...
Curated OER
This Great Enterprise”: Theodore Roosevelt and the Panama Canal
Students explore the implications of the "Great Enterprise." In this Panama Canal instructional activity, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding President Teddy Roosevelt and Panama Canal. Students respond to...
Curated OER
The Panama Canal, The World's Most Important Shortcut
Students, through teacher lecture and online activities, study the Panama Canal. They discuss how it was made and the hardships the workers encountered while building it. Through the eyes of one of these workers, they write a short...
Curated OER
An Uphill Swim
Students explore the concepts and engineering principles used in a canal lock system and apply those concepts to navigate a boat through a working model of a canal lock waterway.
American Museum of Natural History
Being an Archeologist: Chuck Spencer
Meet Chuck Spencer, an archeologist who studies the Zapotec people who lived in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico over 2000 years ago. Spencer shares in print his response to questions posed by kids.
Curated OER
Walter Reed's Yellow Fever Studies
Middle schoolers and high schoolers examine the ethics of using human test subjects in scientific research. They do a simulation which focuses on yellow fever and how human subjects were used to develop a treatment/cure for the disease...
Curated OER
Imperialism: Beginnings and Basic Structure
A great presentation awaits young historians as they delve into the causes, types, and motives for British Imperialism. Each slide provides clear information regarding new imperialism occurring from 1875-1948. Justifications for...
Curated OER
Late 19th Century U.S. Foreign Policy
Eleventh graders discover that many of the issues the United States faces today elicit the same type of political, philosophical and moral debate that has divided the country in the past.
Curated OER
Lines From Behind the Lines
Fifth graders create a timeline of events in a soldiers life. In this World War I lesson plan, 5th graders learn about the Great Depression and World War I. Students watch video segments about World War I and examine primary sources...
Curated OER
Foundations of WWI
Middle schoolers explore how World War I created a foundation for the United States to become a world power. In this World History lesson, students work in small groups to create posters and an oral presentation to share their findings...
Curated OER
Segregated Soldiers
Fifth graders explore the role of African American troops in World War I. In this World War I instructional activity, 5th graders analyze a collection of letters from an African American soldier. Students create memorials to the men who...