In groups, 8th graders read different documents and answer questions on the Civil War period. Students read documents by Thoreau, Stowe and Frederick Douglas.

Students explore westward expansion in the United States as it relates to Native Americans and the novel Holes. Students read a passage from Holes and discuss how westward expansion affected the Native Americans. Students compare and...

Students complete a brief presentation documenting the life of an American Indian. In class, students discuss the pros and cons of placing American Indians on a reservation. After their discussion, students choose a issue in Native...

Young scholars study the contributions of the Larrabee family. In this Iowa history lesson, students listen to a lecture regarding William Larrabee's governorship and the building of Montauk home.

Students research the anti-railroad movement of the mid-19th century. They review propaganda from the period and consider various points of view. They develop role-plays and write essays using their research.

Young scholars examine the life and reform efforts of Dorothea Dix on behalf of people with disabilities. They also examine the role of women in the 1840s and 1850s. They discover different sources of examples of citizen's rights.

Students identify propaganda related to World War and discuss its impact on society and research issues related to the American war effort between 1914 and 1918.

Young scholars explore the suffragist, Susan B. Anthony, documents her life and era with photographs, illustrations, and interviews. It demonstates how this feminist leader simultaneously influenced events and was shaped by external forces.

An extensive look at the consequences of manifest destiny, with emphasis on six different topics for student discussions. These include the growth of a national market economy, the impact of drastic economic changes on American society,...

John R. Commons was known for his progressive views on social welfare and labor reform in the later 1800s. He is felt to be responsible for the beginning of Social Security in the United States.