While cities had only a small fraction of the population in colonial America, they played a significant role in pre-revolutionary years, and this was certainly true for the largest city in the North American colonies: Philadelphia. Your...

Learners discover what happens when people take advantage of shared resources. In this ecology lesson, students explore "The Tragedy of the Commons" by playing a role playing simulation game in small groups. Learners soon discover the...

Learners listen to songs from the French and Indian War period. They answer questions about the song and identify any historical terms. They examine the role of music in their own lives.

Students examine several colonial-era editorial cartoons. They evaluate the effectiveness of the techniques the cartoonists used to display their messages and share one editorial cartoon with the class emphasising what message has been...

Young historians play the role of history detectives as they investigate some primary source texts and images related to the early colonization of America, The Jamestown Settlement, and the Mayflower Compact. 

Students examine the first settlement at Jamestown and its citizens. Using the internet, they discover the role of women and Africans in Jamestown. They role play what the settlement was like before and after women and Africans coming...

Fourth graders examine the Revolutionary War in New York State. In this experiential hook lesson, 4th graders adhere to new rules imposed by the teacher.  Students document their feelings and frustrations with being taxed on using...

Students explore U.S. history by reading biographical material in class. In this Benjamin Franklin lesson, students identify the life of Franklin and the events that led him to become one of America's first heroes. Students complete an...

Fifth graders examine how the merchants of the city allowed the economy to flourish. Using primary sources, they discover how international trade helped to develop the United States. They also identify the role of Elias Hasket Derby, a...

Young scholars review John Lawson's writings to discover the impact they had on emigration to America. Using the writings, they analyze the influence of them and review the early settlement of the colonies. They write their own essay...

Middle schoolers focus on the First and Ninth Amendments of the Bill of Rights. Before visiting a museum, they examine the Americans with Disabilities Act. During the visit, they work together with a museum member to watch a video and...

Fifth graders explore U.S. geography by reading assigned text about American Indians. In this migration instructional activity, 5th graders identify the differences between Native Americans and European settlers who traveled through...

Students engage in a lesson designed to be used with the Print Gallery section in the Community Construction Kit. The Print Gallery is a library of photographs, which provides students with an auditory description of each dwelling...