The Vietnam War and World War I were two very important—and different—wars. To understand the differences, and similarities, class members watch videos, examine primary source documents, and then create a newscast that examines the...

Poetry is not just for romance. Teach middle schoolers about soldiers' experiences during World War I with poetry written by the soldiers themselves. The lesson includes a simulation activity, a graphic organizer activity, and a...

Ann Shin's award-winning documentary, My Enemy, My Brother introduces viewers to Zahed Haftlang and Najah Aboud, two child soldiers on opposite sides during the Iran-Iraq war. After viewing the film, class members are asked to reflect on...

It looks like a cracker, but hardtack was anything but. The staple of the Civil War soldier's diet is one of many aspects of military life that scholars consider using letters from soldiers back home and images from slavery. A PowerPoint...

It's one thing to read history, it's another to live it. Pupils examine secondary and primary sources that detail the training of soldiers before deployment. Then, they consider the impact of primary sources on how they understand the...

The impact of war is deep and profound. Moving paintings, along with brief narrations from veteran artists and other former soldiers, show scholars how the cost of war is paid for years to come. Individuals dive deeper into the artwork...

The term shell shock has its origins in World War I. In England alone, there were more than 80,000 cases of soldiers experiencing post-traumatic stress after the war. Using the installment of a larger Technology and Warfare in World War...

"I was scared, pale, and senseless..." - Ernst Junger. Scholars analyze how the writings of one German soldier serve as a description for those who never saw the battlefields of the First World War. A short video clip of the firsthand...

Learners research the impact Paul von Hindenburg had on the German front, military, and nation in the 28th installment of a 32-part series on the Great War. They use a short video clip on Hindenburg's rise to glory to spur discussion on...

Prior to the Mexican-American war, citizens had only heard updates about the battlefield from the United States government. But with the expansion of media publication in the nineteenth century, individual soldiers were able to reach out...

The media is supposed to report the news, but can the media affect the events occurring in the news? Explore the ways the media has influenced world events in the last few centuries with a study of the Mexican-American War, the...

The Civil War, a war that divided a nation. Comparing and contrasting the Confederate and Union soldiers is not always an easy task, but the eighth of 15 resources makes it easy to teach the concepts. Exercises include watching videos in...

Hunkering down in the trenches of World War I, Leland Linman decided to write a journal about his experiences. By reading Linman's entries in the fourth installment of an eight-part lesson series, scholars get a firsthand look at life in...

A pet can offer comfort, friendship, and loyalty in the most stressful of situations. Here is a lesson plan that explores the important role animals played during the Civil War. Class members read informative texts, complete a KWL chart,...

Imagine you are a soldier in the Civil War. What are you wearing? What do you need to carry with you? Examine the life of a person during the Civil War, from drummer boys to powder monkeys to musket-toting soldiers. Elementary learners...

What do the American Revolution, Monday, and remembrance have in common? These are three of the 63 words you'll find in this word search dedicated to the major symbols, events, and features of Memorial Day.

Students research history of honoring unknown soldiers in United States, Canada, France, and Australia, research origins and building of tombs for unknown soldiers in country of their choice, and create diorama depicting national...

Eleventh graders watch and discuss various clips from the movie "Gettysburg". Using the video, they identify the main motivation for the Union and Confederate soldiers. They describe how soldiers motivation changed from 1861 and 1863.

If it were possible to step back in time, what would learners want to know about the Civil War? With the aid of discussion prompts, they now have that chance. Invite a Civil War re-enactor to your classroom and have all their questions...

What was it like to enlist as a soldier in the Civil War? By using enlistment papers, young scholars consider this question. After they've looked at the primary source and discussed it, they create a short story of a fictional soldier to...

Students explore Valley Forge. In this U.S. history and literacy lesson, students view and describe a picture of Valley Forge, complete a verbal and visual word association activity using Valley Forge vocabulary, and write an "I am" poem...

Learners examine images of Civil War soldiers. In this Pink and Say lesson plan, students read the story and record any questions or thoughts they may have while viewing the images. Learners decide on research questions inspired by the...