Curated OER
"I Hear America Singing": Controversy and Music in the Mexican War
Eighth graders examine the Mexican War and its outcome through music. In this primary source analysis lesson, 8th graders analyze the lyrics of selected songs to consider the 2 perspectives regarding U.S. involvement in the war. Students...
Curated OER
American Civil War: Conflicting Newspaper Reports
Students examine the happenings at the Battle of Antietam from all sides. In this American Civil War lesson, students analyze newspapers accounts from different perspectives regarding the battle and then write their own accounts of the...
Curated OER
A History of the War of 1812 and The Star-Spangled Banner
Students examine the causes and outcomes of the War of 1812, and determine the chronology of the Star-Spangled Banner. For this War of 1812 lesson, students learn vocabulary and read a narrative about the War of 1812 before participating...
Curated OER
War of 1812
Eighth graders locate the major land forms and bodies of water on a map of Louisiana. In groups, they discuss the role of the Mississippi River in the Battle of New Orleans and how land and water affect the outcome of battles. To end...
Curated OER
Intro to Cold War
Eleventh graders are introduced to the events between the years 1949 and 1989. They list and explain key events and people that contributed to the development of the Cold War. Students are asked "what do you think Billy Joel meant by...
Curated OER
Multiple Perspectives on the Korean War
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. For this Korean War lesson, students examine and analyze primary sources regarding U.S. involvement in the Korean War.
Curated OER
Guerilla Warfare During The Boer War
Tenth graders define guerilla warfare in relation to the Boer War. Students explain the relationship between the British and the Boers through the analysis of a primary source document, which is included in the lesson.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Refugees From Vietnam and Cambodia
The United States may have pulled its troops from the Vietnam War in 1973, but the conflict was far from over for the citizens living in Asia at the time. An informative resource lets learners know about the wave of over 220,000...
Curated OER
Lincoln and His Generals
Students explore Abraham Lincoln's role as Commander in Chief. In this American Civil War lesson, students listen to an instructor-delivered lecture on Lincoln's leadership and then analyze 8 pirmary documents to determine what Lincoln's...
National Endowment for the Humanities
The New Order for "Greater East Asia"
Sometimes the New Order becomes synonymous with its implications for European countries, but what about its consequences for East Asia? The final instructional activity in a four-part series teaches scholars about World War II. High...
Tennessee State Museum
An Emancipation Proclamation Map Lesson
Did the Emancipation Proclamation free all slaves during the Civil War? Why was it written, and what were its immediate and long-term effects? After reading primary source materials, constructing political maps representing information...
Curated OER
Decision Making: Who Was Right?
Help your class explore the question "Is it ever right to disobey a law?" With a strong base of knowledge about the Civil War, anti-slavery movement, and Underground Railroad, your class explores civil disobedience in Marshall, Michigan...
Friends of Fort McHenry
Political Cartoons from the War of 1812
Long before the advent of Facebook and television, political cartoons were a primary mechanism for influencing public opinion. Support your learners through a thorough analysis process and explore how these cartoons had a profound effect...
Star Wars in the Classroom
"Shakespeare and Star Wars": Lesson Plan Day 15
To conclude the study of the play, William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope, class members craft an in-class essay comparing Doescher's adaptation to George Lucas's film, Star Wars: A New Hope.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
Military Advisers in Vietnam: 1963
How did the beginning of the Vietnam War factor into the Cold War with the Soviet Union? As part of a study of American involvement in Vietnam, class members read a letter address to President Kennedy and his response in which he...
National Gallery of Art
The First African American Regiment
Young historians examine a memorial sculpture of the first African American regiment in the Civil War, and then compare how the experiences of the regiment are portrayed in letters and poetry, as well as in the motion picture, Glory.
Curated OER
World War II: Causes and Consequences
Tenth graders examine Hitler's occupation of Europe and the Allies' efforts to fight it. In this World War II lesson, 10th graders examine how World War II changed American society, especially for women. Students analyze a print ad...
Curated OER
America Declares War on Germany, 1917
Students explore the reasons that the United States entered World War I. In this World War I instructional activity, students read "America Declares War on Germany, 1917," and then discuss the consequences for the U.S. entering the war.
Curated OER
The Consequences of World War II
Ninth graders explore the aftermath of World War II. In this World War II lesson, 9th graders investigate the consequences of the war as they complete a post-assessment project that requires them to compose essays on the topic.
Curated OER
United States-Japanese Relations in Post World War II Era
Ninth graders analyze political cartoons and posters relating to the United States and Japan in the period following World War II. They discuss the positive and negative consequences of the United States occupation of Japan.
Curated OER
World War I and Its Consequences
Tenth graders decipher the long and short term causes of World War I. They follow through by studying the history of the present day situation in the Balkans and simulating peace talks with presentations.
Curated OER
The Cold War: Anti-Communism at Home
Eleventh graders take a closer look at the Red Scare. In this Cold War lesson, 11th graders read the provided literature about anti-communism in the United States and then respond to the provided discussion questions that accompany the...
Curated OER
Lesson 6: World War I Ends
Students study why the United States entered World War I and brainstorm what led to the German collapse on the front. They review arguments for the factors contributing to the end of the war.
Curated OER
Why Empire? Why War?
Tenth graders examine the purpose of territorial expansion. In this World History lesson, 10th graders analyze various articles on World War II. Students prepare arguments for and against territorial expansion.