Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Graphic Organizing: Early American History

For Teachers 8th - 12th
In collaborative groups, young US historians sort cards (each labeled with a single early American event or issue) according to which of the first four presidents was leading the country at the time. Learners copy the events onto a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Declaration of Independence: America is Born

For Teachers 9th - 12th
America is born, follow the Declaration of Independence from creation through ratification. Learners look at Thomas Jefferson and his pivotal role in the formation of America. Students view the handout of Declaration of Independence...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Drafts of the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders compare drafts of the Declaration of Independence. In this primary source analysis lesson, 7th graders access copies of Thomas Jefferson's original draft of the document and compare it the final document that gave birth...
Lesson Plan
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From the White House of Yesterday to the White House of Today

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the history of and the current state of the White House. They take a virtual tour of the White House and Monticello, explore various websites, and compare/contrast Monticello with the White House.
Lesson Plan
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Jefferson vs. Franklin: Renaissance Men

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the achievements of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. They conduct Internet research, identify their achievements, and participate in a 'competition' that compares/contrasts the two men.
Lesson Plan
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Understanding the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students work in groups to do a document analyxix of several documents. Students view the Martin Luther King speech, "I Have a Dream." They discuss the Battle of Saratoge. Students give a personal view of the reason the Declaration of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. History: Chapter 11, Sections 1 & 2

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Reviewing American history from 1818 - 1832 (chapter 11 of an unspecified textbook), this presentation includes key terms and ideas about the era of Jeffersonian politics and the election of John Adams. The slides are in all caps, making...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Revolutionary War

For Teachers 8th - 11th
March your students off to war with this presentation, which provides details to the American Revolution such as important figures (Jefferson, Franklin, Henry), facts about the Declaration of Independence, and definitions of key terms. A...
PPT
Curated OER

1792 Election Results

For Teachers 10th - 12th
The beginning of American politics and elections is found in these slides, which detail the 1792, 1796, 1800 elections of Washington, Adams, and Jefferson (respectively). Plan on including your own discussion points and details in this...
Lesson Plan
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Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine readings and symbols to learn about the War of Independence and Thomas Jefferson. For this War of Independence lesson, students explore the role of Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration for Independence. Students answer...
Lesson Plan
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Thomas Jefferson

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the accomplishments of world leaders. In this Thomas Jefferson lesson plan, students list the accomplishments achieved by Jefferson and read his epitaph. Students then write epitaphs for recent world leaders or celebrities.
Interactive
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Thomas Jefferson

For Students 7th - 12th
For this online interactive history quiz worksheet, students respond to 50 multiple choice questions about the accomplishments of Thomas Jefferson. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Lesson Plan
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Digging up the Past

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore history through archaeology. In this critical analysis lesson, students work in teams to recreate a model of the archaeological discoveries made in the excavations at Monticello. This lesson is designed to help students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Declaration of Independence: From Rough Draft to Proclamation

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students discover the purpose of the Declaration of Independence. In this colonial America lesson, students compare the original draft by Thomas Jefferson to the final draft of the Declaration of Independence.
Lesson Plan
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Thomas Jefferson's Library: Making the Case for a National Library

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students examine a letter written by Thomas Jefferson. In this lesson on the Thomas Jefferson Library, students discover a methodology for creative writing by examining Jefferson's letter to congress explaining why they should purchase...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Louisiana Purchase

For Teachers 5th - 11th
Students explore U.S. territorial expansion. For this Louisiana Purchase lesson, students investigate how the purchase was funded and determine how diplomatic actions were part of the land transfer. Students analyze several primary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Declaration of Independence: From Rough Draft to Proclamation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners discover how the Declaration of Independence transformed from a draft to a treasured historical document. In this Declaration of Independence instructional activity, students discuss the context in which Jefferson wrote the...
Lesson Plan
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Politics and Leadership

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners research a historic leader and analyze how a philosopher's writings influenced the ruler in an essay. In this philosophy of government lesson plan, students view a video and participate in a class discussion on how great...
Worksheet
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Famous Thomas Jefferson Quote

For Students 3rd - 6th
For this famous quote worksheet, students read a famous quote by Thomas Jefferson, write their opinion of what it is about and then write a sentence or 2 about a time that they rebelled against something.
Worksheet
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The Louisiana Purchase

For Students 7th - 9th
In this Historical Facts worksheet, students read a passage about the Louisiana Purchase and answer 8 fill in the blank and 7 true/false questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lewis and Clark for Grades PreK-2

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students read the "The Journey Begins" article and discuss why people want to discover new lands and why it is still exciting today. They are introduced to the idea that Lewis and Clark sent back discoveries to President Thomas...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Johnny Tremain for the 21st Century

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders complete a unit of lessons on the American Revolution based on the novel, 'Johnny Tremain.' They define key vocabulary terms, develop a timeline, write a report on a colonial craft, make a colonial flag, and create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I'm Number One!

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders complete a unit of lessons on the first seven presidents of the U.S. They conduct research, write a four-paragraph essay, and create posters and speeches for a simulated campaign convention.
Lesson Plan
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Thomas Jefferson on the Sedition Act

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research and cite arguments Jefferson used in objecting to the Sedition Act. They discuss Jefferson's opinion on how constitutional questions about the Sedition Act could be resolved.