Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stamps of Approval for Women Journalists

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research, explore and analyze the history of how American women journalists have influenced major social change in the nation and the world. They visit major institution's to examine the written legacies of Abigail Adams,...
Primary
Massachusetts Historical Society

Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive

For Students 9th - 10th
This electronic archive presents images of manuscripts and digital transcriptions from the Adams Family Papers.
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Biographies: President John Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed biography of John Adams' life prior to the American Revolution, beginning with his childhood with sections on all the important periods of his life. Site also includes texts of the inaugural address, state of the union addresses...
Lesson Plan
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: America in Class: Abigail Adams and "Remember the Ladies"

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lesson using primary resource to explore how Abigail Adams's famous appeal to "Remember the Ladies" is a reflection of the status of women in eighteenth-century America.
Website
University of Virginia

Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: John Adams: A Life in Brief

For Students 9th - 10th
A good look at John Adams as president and the struggles he had both domestically and in foreign affairs. Read about how he kept America out of war and his political isolation because of his hard-held beliefs.
Lesson Plan
Huntington Library

Huntington Library: Six Important People From Our Nation's History

For Teachers 5th
In this instructional activity, 5th graders examine the lives of six people who were important in early American history. They include Abigail and John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and George Washington....
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: John Adams

For Students 3rd - 8th
An overall look at the life of America's second president, John Adams (1735-1826 CE). Contains small articles of information, as well as portraits, actual photos of inaugural addresses, obituary notices, and more.
Handout
National Women’s History Museum

National Women's History Museum: Abigail Smith Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover biographical facts on Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams and an early advocate for women's rights.
Primary
History Tools

History Tools: Abigail and John Adams Discuss Women and Republican Govt [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A series of four primary source letters written by John and Abigail Adams which reveal their position on the political role of women during the Revolutionary Era. Documents have been updated with modernized spelling.
Website
Ibis Communications

Eye Witness to History: Washington d.c. 1800

For Students 9th - 10th
This article offers personal accounts from Abigail Adams regarding her journey and arrival in the new national capital.
Website
National Women's Hall of Fame

National Women's Hall of Fame: Abigail Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
This biography of First Lady Abigail Adams outlines her important roles, both politically and personally, during her husband's administration. Includes a description of her famous "Remember the Ladies" letter, espousing her strong belief...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: "Republican Motherhood"

For Students 5th - 8th
Although brief, this article makes clear the change in the role and perception of women in the new United States. See why it was deemed important for women to have the chance to be educated.
Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Abigail Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
Abigail Smith Adams was born in Massachusetts, a descendant of the distinguished Quincy family. She married young lawyer John Adams in 1764. They settled on a farm in Braintree, Massachusetts. The couple had four surviving children,...
Handout
The White House

The White House: Biography of Abigail Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
Profile of First Lady Abigail Adams (1744-1818), wife of the second President of the United States, John Adams.
Website
Massachusetts Historical Society

Masshist: Massachusetts Historical Society

For Students 9th - 10th
Site devoted to teaching the history of the state of Masssachusetts.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Martha Washington Creates the Role of First Lady

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This essay, borrowed from the full text located at the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, provides biographical information about Martha Washington and her role as the First Lady of the...
Website
A&E Television

History.com: American Presidents: John Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
This easy-to-navigate site has John Adams' biography, a timeline detailing some of the significant events in his life, an image gallery, and several video clips.
Handout
Other

D.c. History Project: Nation's Capital Moves to d.c.

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the entry for May 15, 1800, to find out about John and Abigail Adams' feelings about the new President's Palace in the new capital of Washington, D.C.
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Abigail Smith Married John Adams

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Former First Lady Abigail Adams is featured in this brief profile from The Library of Congress. Also contains a portrait of Abigail and her husband, President John Adams, as well as a photo of their home in Massachusetts.
Article
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: 300 Women Who Changed History: Abigail Smith Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
Encyclopedia Britannica provides a biography of Abigail Smith Adams (1744-1818 CE), wife of President John Adams and avid letter writer. Additional content includes the full text to two of her letters.
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Founding Mothers Mini Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 8th
We've heard a lot about the role the Founding Fathers played in the early United States, but what role did our Founding Mothers play? Discover the contributions of women in the Revolutionary War and the founding of the U.S.
Handout
National First Ladies' Library

National First Ladies' Library: Abigail Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical essay on Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams and mother of President John Quincy Adams. Delves into her early years, her family and marriage, the White House years, and her later life.
Article
PBS

Pbs American Experience: Remember the Ladies

For Students 9th - 10th
Abigail Adams was an outspoken, intelligent woman concerned with the state of her country and its citizens. Of particular interest to her was the status of women and their improvement within the domestic sphere.
Activity
Curated OER

National Park Service: Adams National Historic Park

For Students 9th - 10th
Read an overview of Massachusett's Adams National Historic Park, which contains over five generations of history for the Adams family. Links to more specific information about the park and traveling there are available.