Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Gilder Lehrman Institute: The Civil War, 1861 1865
[Free Registration/Login Required] A collection of letters and documents focusing on the Civil War and the secession crisis. Learn about the historical events through personal letters, diaries, newspapers, and photographs.
US National Archives
Docs Teach: Analyzing Evidence of the Pearl Harbor Attack
This activity is intended to get students thinking about where information comes from, how it is presented, how its presentation affects understanding, and how information is used. Because the featured document relates to the Japanese...
US National Archives
Docs Teach: Checks and Balances in Action
In this activity, students will analyze documents that span the course of American history to see examples of 'checks and balances' between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches in action. Students will then match the...
Stanford University
Sheg: Document Based History: Reading Like a Historian: World War I & 1920s
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students use primary source documents to investigate historical events. In this instructional activity students analyze historical evidence as they consider eight document-based questions about the...
TES Global
Tes: Determining of Credibility of Online Sources
[Free Registration/Login Required] This free resource is a sheet that will help students assess the credibility of an online primary source or an online secondary source.
Read Works
Read Works: Letter From Jackie Robinson on Civil Rights
[Free Registration/Login Required] A letter from Jackie Robinson to President Eisenhower in response to a speech Eisenhower gave asking African Americans to be patient. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in...
Read Works
Read Works: Analysis of the Declaration of Independence
[Free Registration/Login Required] This ReadWorks passage provides a brief analysis of the Declaration of Independence. A paired passage, a lower level passage with related content, a questions sheet, and an additional answer sheet are...
Other
The Dbq Project
Teach students how to read with understanding, think straight, and write clearly using document-based questions.
Other
Office of Historic Resources, City of Los Angeles: Survey La
This Los Angeles Historic Resources Survey is the first-ever comprehensive program to identify significant historic resources throughout the city. The survey marks a coming-of-age for Los Angeles' historic preservation movement, and will...
Other
New York State Library: Student Activity: Primary Versus Secondary Sources
Read about the Railroad Strike of 1877 using three excerpts from textbooks and three original newspaper articles. Compare and contrast the information in the primary and secondary sources.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Marshall Plan Speech
A learning module that begins with a George Catlett Marshall's "Marshall Plan Speech" accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "The Declaration of Independence" by Thomas Jefferson
A learning module that begins with "The Declaration of Independence" by Thomas Jefferson, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Les. 8: Using Rock as Primary Source Material
I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die-Rag' by Country Joe McDonald has been played with great success in classrooms for over twenty years. While it conveys literary elements such as theme, point of view, and irony, it also functions as an...
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Common Pitfalls of Primary Research
Learn about the common mistakes made when reporting primary research findings.
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Ethical Considerations in Primary Research
Learn about the ethical considerations necessary when reporting primary research findings.
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Interviewing
Learn about different types of interviews, how to set up an interview, and important tips to remember during an interview.
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Surveying
Learn about important things to remember when conducting a survey.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Reports From the Ruins of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906
A learning module that begins with "Reports from the Ruins of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906," accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned...
CommonLit
Common Lit: A Participant's First Hand Account of the Boston Tea Party
A learning module that begins with "A Participant's First-hand Account of the Boston Tea Party" by George Hewes, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Henry Adams' Testimony Before Congress
A learning module that begins with "Henry Adams' Testimony Before Congress" by Henry Adams accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online...
CommonLit
Common Lit: General Eisenhower's Order of the Day
A learning module that begins with "General Eisenhower's Order of the Day" by General Dwight D. Eisenhower accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or...
Harp Week
Education at Harp Week: The Civil War Illustrations Activity
A set of three activities where students explore and analyze illustrations and cartoons from Harper's Weekly magazine that showed what life was like in the United States during the Civil War. The first activity looks at why the North won...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Letter From Mary Mallon: On Being "Typhoid Mary"
A learning module that begins with "Letter From Mary Mallon: On Being 'Typhoid Mary'" by Mary Mallon, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: What Should a House Do
Site provides an extensive lesson plan that challenges students to compare early American houses to present day houses. Very comprehensive site with several activities that will assist students in understanding common features of houses....