Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Reform Movements of the 1800s

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders consider the impact of reform movements of the 19th century. In this Progressive Reform lesson, 11th graders examine documents and images associated with women's suffrage, prohibition, and labor reform. Students respond...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Progressive Era

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders utilize the SOAP method to analyze a work of art and relate it to what they know about the Progressive Era and the reasons why cities changed and the ways in which cities changed during the end of the 19th century. They...
Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper: 19th Century African-American Writer and Reformer

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Although some African American abolitionists—such as Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass—are well known, others, like Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, remain in the shadows of history. Harper was a poet and activist who played an...
Unit Plan
C3 Teachers

Women’s Rights: What Does It Mean to Be Equal?

For Teachers 7th
A guided-inquiry lesson asks seventh graders to research the compelling question, "What does it mean to be equal?" Guided by three supporting questions, researchers complete three formative performance tasks and gather evidence from...
Interactive
Curated OER

Early 19th Century: The Conservative Reaction

For Students 9th - 12th
In this online interactive world history activity, students answer 20 matching questions regarding the early 19th century. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dress Reform in the 19th Century

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders utilize the writings of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Timothy Shay Arthur, Elizabeth Smith Miller, Frances Hard and others to explore the dress reform movements of the mid to late 19th century.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dress Reform in the 19th Century

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars read and discuss the writings of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Timothy Shay Arthur and others to explore mid to late 19th century dress reform. They use their findings to write a letter to an editor from a 19th century viewpoint.
Lesson Plan
City University of New York

African Americans and the Populist Movement

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
Why did the Populist Party fail to ally itself with African American farmers? To answer this essential question, class members investigate the Populist Era (188-1900) and read an article written by Tom Watson, a Populist leader.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Expansion and Reform: Applying the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct inquiries and research-acquiring, organizing, analyzing, interpreting, evaluating, and communicating facts, themes, and general principles operating in American history. They use the Declaration of Independence to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper: 19th Century African-American Writer and Reformer

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate African-American author Frances Ellen Watkins Harper by analyzing her life and poetry. They explore the reformist messages communicated in her writings and evaluate the potential impact of her work.
PPT
Curated OER

Manifest Destiny

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Complete with maps, photographs, and historical documents, this presentation would be a great resource throughout a unit about mid-19th century America. Manifest Destiny, Texas Independence, the Oregon Trail, and the Mexican War are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Women's Rights and Reform

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students evaluate primary source documents. They assess the development of women's rights in the United States. They identify other rights beside suffrage that were important to famous women reformers.
Lesson Plan
NPR

Progressive Era Lesson Plan

For Students 8th - 12th Standards
The women working for equal rights in the early 20th century weren't a part of one large group; rather, they were members of dozens of small groups focused on social reform. Explore the ways groups in the Progressive Era like National...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

French Realism and Its Place in History

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students can gain a greater understanding of 19th century Europe by focusing on French Realism.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Victorian Philosophies in the Connecticut River Valley: The Connection between Mind, Body, and Spirit

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explore late 19th century concepts of physical and spiritual health, which includes spiritualist and conservation movements, heath tonics, the perceived relationship between climate and physical well being.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Women's Rights Historic Sites

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students use maps, readings, floor plans, photos and cartoons to research the conditions of upstate New York in the first half of the 19th century, examine the issues that led to Women's Rights Convention of 1848 and consider current...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Progressives and the Era of Trustbusting

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars investigate the free-market system and anti-trust laws. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture on the details of monopolies and the progressive reform movement to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Anti-Railroad Propaganda Poster -- The Growth of Regionalism, 1800 - 1860

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers 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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lincoln's Spot Resolutions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils examine the controversy and varying points of view leading up to the 19th century Mexican War. They research examples of anti-war movements throughout history and write editorials about their findings.
Lesson Plan
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media

Labor Unions in an Industrializing U.S.

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Have class members eager to enter the workforce? They'll be glad to learn that things aren't how they used to be. Have your young historians examine then discuss four primary source images related to the negative effects of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Louisa May Alcott: The Candle and the Mirror

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss the life of Louisa May Alcott and create an outline of a biography of her life and times.  In this Louisa May Alcott lesson, students explore the Transcendentalist involvement in the abolitionist movement, relating...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Workers, Take a Holiday! the Beginning of Labor Day

For Teachers 4th - 8th
When your upper elementary class returns in the fall, have them identify and define the beginnings of the labor movement and Labor Day in the United States. They thoughtfully reflect on changes that have occurred in the way we think...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

John Gary Evans and the Politics of Race

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students read letters written by Evans and Gunton regarding race relations. In this Progressive Movement lesson, students interpret the intentions and tone of the letters to understand contemporary racial beliefs. Students discuss the...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Gibson Girls and Flappers: What is this "New Woman"?

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students divide into five groups with each exploring one section of the website, "The New Woman". After they complete their research, they discuss the nature and characteristics of the "new woman" and compare these to characteristics of...