Harry S. Truman Library & Museum
Marshall Plan: Convince the American People
This is an excellent resource for US history classes, especially AP history. After learning some background on the Marshall Plan, the class, divided into two groups, researches opposing positions on this aid program. Groups read and...
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Social Studies: Lesson 2
Students explore the beginning of Communism. In this World History lesson, students exhibit their knowledge of Communism and the Marshall Plan through completion of a map activity.
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The South, the North and the Great Migration: Blues and Literature
Here is a complex lesson plan that interweaves the history of the Jim Crow South and the Great Migration with the study of poetry, art, and blues music from the Harlem Renaissance. The plan helps young historians develop a deep...
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The Role Of NATO
Young scholars examine the role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). For this NATO lesson, students research the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech, and the Berlin airlift and how...
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The Marshall Plan And The Reconstruction Of Europe
Third graders investigate various aspects that are associated with the history of Maryland. They look at the establishment of America as becoming a superpower. They conduct research using the text provided. The students gather the...
Boston University
South African Short Stories: Apartheid, Civil Rights, and You
How are short stories from South Africa connected to issues of civil rights in the United States? A unit plan uses South African short stories to discuss issues such as apartheid, colonization, and civil rights. Questions and activities...
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How the Court Became Supreme
Students investigate how the Supreme Court changed under the leadership of John Marshall. In this Supreme Court lesson, students recognize the role of the Supreme Court as well as the significance of Marbury v. Madison. Students also...
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Geography Lesson Plan
Students examine the history of the Aborigines. For this Australia lesson, students research selected websites and print materials regarding the lives of the Aborigines and create posters that showcase their findings.
Advocates for Human Rights
The Right of Indigneous Peoples in the United States
The sovereignty of U.S. Native American nations is the focus of a resource that asks class members to compare the Right to Self-Determination in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples with a fact sheet that details the...
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Founding Myths, Stories that Hide Our Patriotic Past
Students participate in a scavenger hunt using their textbooks to find information about historical events, people and places in US history during the Revolutionary Era. After creating their list of important people, students create...
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We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution
Robert Coles’ The Story of Ruby Bridges forms the basis of this powerful cross-curricular study of civic education and civic responsibility. Class members consider how the book presents authority, responsibility, justice, and privacy.....
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Judicial Review
Student demonstrate understanding of both sides of the argument between Jefferson and Marshall that led to the strengthening of the Judicial Branch through the creation of judicial review. Unit is comprised of five lessons and fits into...
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The Cuban Missile Crisis
Students explore facets of the Cold War. In this Cold War history lesson, students research a Cold War event in order to write a news story about the events that features direct quotations and images.
Museum of Tolerance
Making Lemonade: Responding to Oppression in Empowering Ways
An activity focused on tolerance encourages class members to consider how they might respond when they or someone else is the target of oppression and discrimination. After researching how some key figures responded to the anti-Semitism...
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Exploring the Triangle Trade and The Middle Passage
Students explore the economic factors surrounding slavery in the United States, such as the Triangle Trade. In this American History activity, students analyze primary sources such as narrative accounts and pictures, to gather...
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Indian Removal
Fourth graders read The Trail of Tears and create a timeline to show the sequence of events that effected the Native American tribes during Andrew Jackson's presidency. For this Native American lesson plan, 4th graders discuss the...
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Korean War
Young scholars visualize where the Korean Peninsula is located and what are some neighboring countries. They read a handout giving background information on Korea's 20th centuy history and Truman's Statement and answer questions in their...
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Constitutional Issues: Separation of Powers
Students discribe the principle and the history of separation of powers.
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The Formation and Function of the Supreme Court
High schoolers analyze the role of the U.S. Supreme Court. They read a handout and Article III, section 1 of the Constitution, analyze and rate by relevance noteworthy Supreme Court cases, and write how they decided each rating.
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Foreign Policy: Containment
Students examine opinions regarding the American policy of containment. In this Cold War lesson plan, students read articles by George F. Kennan and Walter Lippmann. Students compare the perspectives of the 2 men on U.S. foreign policy.
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End of World War II
Ninth graders examine the results of the Yalta Conference on Europe after the war. They develop a PowerPoint presentation that compare the effects of World War I and World War II. They write a journal entry taking the point of view of...
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Economy vs. Humanity Exploring the Triangle Trade and The Middle Passage
Young scholars examine the economic factors of the Triangle Trade as they related to slavery in the US. They use primary sources to study the experience of Africans as they traveled through the Middle Passage.
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More Rules, Consequences and Procedures
Eighth graders list the four classroom rules and turn them in for an assignment grade. They give examples that break the rule and explain what happens when they break a rule in the classroom. They imagine that they are a wonderful cook...
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Ruby Bridges
Students think about differences and equality as they compare their life to that of Ruby Bridges.