National First Ladies' Library
The Power of Images in Shaping Ideas
Learners examine the role of photography in recording and sharing history. They view online photos that Life magazine has identified as changing the world, then conduct research on one of the photos. Students create and present an oral...
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Digital Dreams
Students write a speech. In this dreams lesson, students define the word dreams and list their own dreams. Students read and discuss Langston Hughes work, read and discuss excerpts from speeches by JFK and Martin Luther King, Jr., and...
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World War II
Students research World War II and discuss how conflicts in the war lead to change. In this World War II lesson plan, students read books, watch movies, complete activity sheets, and answer questions all researching the war.
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The Children of World War II
Learners examine the lives of children during WWII. In this WWII lesson, students investigate the effects of the war on children, what life was like on and off the battlefield and how the geography influenced decisions. Learners also...
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"When They Came for Me, There Was No One Left to Speak Up" - Exploring Personal and Collective Responsibility in WWII
Students examine the underlying meaning of the phrase spoken by Pastor Martin Niemoller in 1945, "When they came for me, there was no one left to speak up."Â In this World History lesson, students share in a class discussion on civic and...
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Diary of Anne Frank: Act 1 Scene 1 & 2
Eighth graders read act 1 scenes 1 & 2 of the play Diary of Anne Frank. In this Diary of Anne Frank lesson plan, 8th graders discuss how the setting of the play affects the mood of the story and answer short answer questions.
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Modern-Day America
Students remember the September 11 terrorist attacks. In this public memorials activity, students research 20th century memorials. Students then design their own memorials for the victims at the World Trade Center site.
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Israel and Palestine: The Roots of Conflict
Students examine the causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In this world conflict lesson, students research print and Internet sources about the roots of the conflict and the status of the conflict today. Students use their...
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Passage to Freedom Teacher's Guide
Students explore the main elements of the book Passage to Freedom. In this reading response lesson, students participate in pre-reading activities that focus on the idea of courage. Students conduct a book walk-through and are introduced...
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The Diary of Anne Frank
Eighth graders read the Diary of Anne Frank. In this novel reading instructional activity, 8th graders read and analyze the story. Students do online activities and create a newspaper giving a summary of three major events in the story....
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Adolf Hitler
Students explore facts about Hitler's life and the historical events that occurred in that time, his view of history, his theory of race and his political goals. They explore his use of anti-Semitism to advance his career and consolidate...
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Night by Elie Weisel
Students read "No News from Auschwitz" and answer the study questions as an introduction to the novel. They record reactions to the essay and compare with reactions after reading "Night".
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Genocide
Twelfth graders examine human genocide. In this genocide activity, 12th graders listen to their instructor present a lecture about genocide and then research specific historical events. Students present their research findings to their...
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Anne Frank: Nuremberg Laws
Eighth graders research and discuss the Nuremberg Laws and their effect on the Jews during the Third Reich.
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Music As Survival: Alma Rose and the Auschwitz Women's Orchestra
Students explore a period of European history in which musicians have used theri musical talents and abilities to survive and rise above extremely difficult situations. The psychological uses of music by the Nazis is examined in this...
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History: I'm Watching You 24/7
Students examine the growth of authoritarian societies. Focusing on North Korea, they watch video clips looking for examples of totalitarianism and identify the problems there. They write letters to the editors of local newspapers...
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Can Anyone Be a Leader?
Pupils explore the concept of leadership and identify leaders from the past and present. They brainstorm qualities of effective leaders, research a leader from the past and develop a presentation on their findings and choose a local...
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Literature and the "Age of Anxiety" (1920s and 1930s).
High schoolers examine historical events of the 1920s, World War II and the Cold War. They discover how literature reflects the economic, political, social, religious and historical concerns of a culture. Students compare literature...
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Famous Asian Americans
Students conduct basic research using library and/or Internet resources and
study about the contributions of Asian Americans. They use a copy of the Famous Asian Americans work sheet to use for their research.
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Follow the Drinking Gourd: Creative Writing
Students conduct Internet research to identify the conflicts and positions of slaves, slaveholders, and members of the Underground Railroad network in the time preceding the Civil War. Students write an essay about their findings written...
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Major people and events of WWII
Twelfth graders research major people from WWII. They interview each person in their group, then create a newspaper which contains articles, advertisements and illustrations from the WWWII period.
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Comfort Women
Ninth graders analyze connections between WW II, the Cold War and contemporary conflicts. They discover a more global perspective, as well as a greater sensitivity to the atrocities of war, and how the atrocities against the...
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20th Century II: The 1940's - The War
Students watch the movie The Tuskegee Airmen. Write a one page typed paper that describes the obstacles the African-American servicemen, particularly these aviators, had to over come to defend their country. They use specific scenes from...
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Stop the Bus: Confronting Our Assumptions About Muslims in America
High schoolers explore Virginia Interfaith Center's A More Perfect Union "Misunderstanding" Ad Campaign, view two episodes of PBS America at a Crossroads series, examine historical context of colonialism and geo-political tensions in...