Facing History and Ourselves
After Charlottesville: Public Memory and the Contested Meaning of Monuments
Are Civil War monuments a kind remembrance or a reminder of a dark past? The instructional activity focuses on the public's memory of the Civil War and the monuments that represent it. Young academics explore past efforts to change...
National Woman's History Museum
How Do We Remember and Honor the Contributions of Women in Public Space?
Public art, especially monuments and memorials, are designed to celebrate and honor those who have made significant contributions to a community or even an entire nation. Here's a instructional activity that asks scholars to consider who...
Curated OER
A memorial for Ground Zero
Learners discuss memorials and design a memorial for the 9/11 victims.
New Museum of Contemporary Art
Lesson: Unmonumental: Fallen and Disappearing Monuments
Due to vandalism, war, and urban decay, many of the world's great monuments have fallen to ruin. Here is an interesting instructional activity that increases understanding of the dichotomy between what are intended as lasting tributes,...
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Looking at Portraits: Literary Monuments
Examine artwork, research literature, and create art pieces for a monument to a literary figure. Young scholars analyze the sculpture Model for a Monument to Alexandre Dumas père and compare it to other well-known monuments. They...
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The Washington Monument: Tribute in Stone (62)
Students decide why George Washington was so revered and why a monument was built in his honor. They discover how monument design changes over time.
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New D.C. Memorial to Honor Dr. King
Students read and discuss a news article about a memorial being built in honor of Dr. King in Washington D.C. They develop a list of facts about Dr. King, complete a fill-in-the blank activity, answer article comprehension questions,...
Facing History and Ourselves
How Should We Remember?
We must remember the past in order to avoid its mistakes. Young historians analyze the importance of historical remembrance using primary and secondary documents, as well as video clips. They then study the creation of a World War II...
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Facing The Unknown
Young scholars discuss how images help us to mark the passing of time, and to remember people, places and events from the past. They discuss the different ideas and images related to life, death and the idea of the afterlife. Students...
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Washington D.C.
Students research monuments in Washington, D.C. In this geography lesson, students research one monument and use the Internet to gather information. Students create a three-dimensional model of their monument.
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In Memory
Students examine the issues that designers and civic planners face in designing memorials to historic tragedies, wars and other events. They design memorials dedicated to the events of September 11, 2001.
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The Massachusetts 54th Regiment: Honoring the Heroes
Students use art and images analyze the Civil War. In this lesson on the Shaw Memorial, students engage in 3 activities, discussion, and art analysis to better comprehend the events of the Civil War. This lesson includes web resources,...
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The March Continues
Students explore the Civil Rights Memorial. In this character development and U.S. History lesson, students employ reading comprehension strategies while reading a news article about the Civil Rights Memorial. Students work in groups to...
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A Salute to American Symbols
Students explore American symbols. In this reading and social studies instructional activity, students read literature regarding American symbols and describe the significance of the symbols as they research them in groups.
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Ramses The Great
Students investigate the statue that memorialized Ramses II. In this world monuments lesson plan, students research national and local monuments to find out if there are any controversies regarding their construction. Students then...
American Battle Monuments Commission
Honoring Service, Achievements, and Sacrifice: A WWI Virtual Field Trip
The largest offensive in United States military history comes alive in a online interactive resource. Young historians explore the Meuse Argonne battlefield and scour the landscape for evidence from the battle. They then use primary...
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Honoring the Veterans of WWI
Students raise money for a memorial. In this community service instructional activity, students support the building of a memorial for WWI veterans in Washing D.C. Students educate their community about the memorial, raise funds, and...
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Symbols of America
Students research the events of September 11th . In this symbols lesson, students discover ways to honor this day. Students research the Internet for symbols used to represent ideas, events and people. Students work in groups to design a...
Overcoming Obstacles
Setting Expectations
As Don Quixote asserts in the musical Man of La Mancha, it is possible to achieve your dreams. For the last lesson plan in the Getting Started Module, participants learn the importance of having dreams and setting goals that help them...
Academy of American Poets
Teaching the Vietnam War with Poetry and Archives
The language of and the perspective of photographs, poems, and official reports differ. After a close reading of two photographs, two poems, and a military report about the Vietnam War, individuals adopt someone's voice or something from...
Curated OER
Patriotic Symbols
Young scholars define what a patriotic symbol means, as well as sing a patriotic song. In this social science lesson students work in groups to write about a patriotic symbol. Groups draw pictures of their symbols.
Curated OER
Vetern's Day, A Chance to Honor Those Who Served Our Country
Students examine some of the symbols, songs, and pledges that represent our country as well as the liberties they enjoy today due to those who served. They discuss the rules for displaying the United States Flag, practice folding the...
Journey Through the Universe
Voyage of Discovery
Did you know that Pluto is smaller than the United States of America? It is difficult to conceptualize the size of planets and the distance between them, and the activity addresses those exact issues. After a discussion, pupils create...
Journey Through the Universe
Where to Look For Life?
Every year we discover new planets including more than 1,000 in 2016 alone. Will we ever find life on another planet? The lesson includes two activities to help scholars understand this concept. First, they analyze the temperature range...