



Now... gain access to over 2 Million curated educational videos and 500,000 educator reviews to free & open educational resources
We found 86 resources with the concept the founding fathers
Videos (Over 2 Million Educational Videos Available)

9:28
Ancient Egypt | What Everyday Life Was...
6:54
How to paint a watercolor and ink flower...

5:10
How Computers Work: What Makes a Computer,...
Other Resource Types
(86)
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Who Was Really Our First President? A Lost Hero
Three lessons in the series “Lost Heroes of America” unit module send young historians on a quest to determine who was the first president of the United States. To find clues, scholars watch a short video that provides background on how...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
National Constitution Center: Hall Pass Videos
The National Constitution Center offers this collection of informative and entertaining videos intended to start conversations and develop critical thinking skills. Viewers learn about the rights granted by the constitution, about the...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
The Constitutional Convention of 1787
By 1786, it became apparent to many American founders that there were serious problems with the Articles of Confederation. A three-lesson unit focuses on the debates that lead to the 1787 Constitution Convention, as well as the...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
America from Scratch
What if the people of the United States started over and, knowing what we know now about how things are working, redesigned the government created by the founding fathers? That's the central premise of the 11 resources in the American...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Ben Across the Curriculum: High School
Benjamin Franklin: The man, the scientist, the inventor, the statesman, the legend. A 10-lesson collection introduces high schoolers to the many facets of Franklin’s character. Although developed for the International Traveling...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Before and Beyond the Constitution: What Should a President Do?
A three-lesson unit provides middle schoolers with the founding fathers' vision of what they saw as the role of the president and the executive branch of the government. Young scholars examine the Articles of Confederation, Alexander...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Preserving the Bill of Rights
Consider how America's founding fathers and their experiences contributed to the rights we all enjoy today. A collection of reading, writing, and collaborative exercises prompt high schoolers to think about the ways their current lives...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
American Presidents: John Adams
The first president to live in the White House, John Adams was not particularly popular. He took a lot of flack from his supporters when he refused to go to war with France. Although he could be responsible for the western United States,...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Black Genius: How Did Black Genius Help Build American Democracy?
New Review"How did the slavery system undermine the United States' democratic principles?" This question launches a study of how the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, and Article IV,...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Starting a Government from Scratch
Young historians have an opportunity to experience the challenges of starting a new government. After watching a short video about the Articles of Confederation, class members generate a "to-do list" of actions that a new government...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Memorials, Statues, and Monuments to George Washington
An activity uses images of George Washington's statues to compare how they represent different aspects of his life. Scholars complete a worksheet based on their findings and then share as a group how they would construct a new memorial...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Why is John Adams Standing on Thomas Jefferson's Foot?
Was it a bromance, or were they frenemies? Young historians use a controversial portrait and letters between Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and others to evaluate the relationship between the two Founding Fathers. Examining the primary...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
The Founding Fathers and the Constitutional Struggle Over Centralized Power
Believe it or not, the Constitution was America's second attempt at a democratic government. Academics travel back to the past to explore the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation that would eventually lead to the Constitutional...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Hamilton Was Here: Rising Up in Revolutionary Philadelphia
Hamilton may be a hit Broadway show, but there is so much more to learn. An eight-unit resource guides young historians through the life of Alexander Hamilton and the Revolutionary War. The lessons include hands-on-activities, writing,...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
The Ongoing Revolution
America: a nation that continues to change. Budding historians analyze primary sources to understand the key ideas of the American Revolution and how the country has changed over time. Scholars read text from the Declaration of...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Comparing Depictions of the Boston Massacre
Academics compare images of the Boston Massacre to understand differing opinions of the event. Scholars view multiple images, participate in group discussion, and complete a series of written prompts. Young historians gain an...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Celebrating America's Bicentennial in 1976
Budding historians learn the process of preserving history in an interesting hands-on-activity. The resource walks academics through the process of restoring the Declaration of Independence. Individuals place a series of images in...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
To Sign or Not to Sign
To sign or not to sign, that is the question. Scholars review the Declaration of Independence and discuss the Framers' decisions for signing the document. The activity uses primary text, a worksheet, and group discussion to help...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
The Voting Record of the Constitution
A piece of the past helps shape the future. Learn what historical documents reveal about the past using an engaging activity. Academics participate in a role-playing scenario, view the voting record of the Constitutional Convention,...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Road to Revolution: Patriotism or Treason?
Patriot or traitor? Scholars debate the line between patriotism and treason in a short activity. Academics analyze a political cartoon and discuss varying viewpoints between different groups living in the American colonies. The activity...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Prequel to Independence
It's about time! Young historians use primary sources to create a timeline of events leading to American Independence. The fast-paced activity is designed to be used at the end of a unit on the Revolutionary War or as an assessment tool....
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Excerpts from the Declaration of Independence
What exactly did the Founding Fathers declare? Elementary historians delve into the Declaration of Independence in a fast-paced activity. The resource provides text experts and guided questions to help academics analyze the intent of the...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Comparing American and French Revolutionary Documents
This document or that? Historians compare crucial documents from both the American and French Revolution to gain a better understanding of the purpose and impact the documents had on each nation. Academics read excerpts from both...
Lesson Planet: Curated OER
Should We Rewrite Our Constitution? | America From Scratch
An episode from the PBS "America From Scratch" series asks the question of whether or not the United States Constitution should be rewritten. Legal experts from around the world weigh in on the very weighty question. The video ends with...