Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Letters from the Japanese American Internment

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students make deductions about life in an internment camp by reading and comparing letters written to Clara Breed. Along the way, they consider the advantages of looking at a historical event from the multiple points of view of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Online Collaborative Social Studies Lesson Plan

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create newspapers and post them online for others to see.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Symbols of Our Land

For Teachers 2nd
Students explore the symbols and figures significant to the American culture in the five lessons of this unit. The U.S. flag in various versions, the Statue of Liberty, and the Lincoln Momorial are all covered in short segments in this...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American History Review

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how people have contributed to American history, regardless of culture, race or religion. They develop a sense of pride for their own efforts, as well as for the efforts of others. They also study how to work both...
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Music in America Civil War Music

For Students 9th - 10th
A set of primary sources having to do with music during the Civil War. Analysis tools and teacher guides are included.
Website
Other

Pdm: The Music of the American Civil War

For Students 9th - 10th
A compilation of music from the Civil War era, including patriotic songs, songs of the homefront, as well as battlefield songs. Hear the songs and read the lyrics from "The Civil War Songbook."
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: Band Music From the Civil War Era

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore band music from the Civil War Period at The Library of Congress website.
Website
University of Virginia

Hearts at Home: Southern Women in the Civil War

For Students 9th - 10th
Uses primary sources to document the role of Southern women in the Civil War.
Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: The Civil War: The Nation Moves Toward War

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Examine the causes of the Civil War using primary source documents. This lesson plan gives background on the Civil War, includes a timeline, and a bibliography for further reading. Primary source documents include music, newspapers,...
Lesson Plan
University of Pittsburgh

Center for American Music Library: Civil War Homefront

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
A great lesson plan using Stephen Foster's music and lyrics to show what life was like on the homefront during the Civil War.
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: Sheet Music About Civil War

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides more than 200 sheet music compositions that represent Lincoln, the Civil War and the times. Compiled by the greatest private collector of Lincoln material, Alfred Whital Stern.
Article
Other

Popular Songs During the Civil War

For Students 9th - 10th
This website outlines the popular forms of music during the Civil War, which included the songs of the minstrel shows like "Dixie," "Blue Tailed Fly," and "Old Dan Tucker."
Website
Civil War Home

Home of the American Civil War: The Lyrics and Origin of Dixie

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides you with the lyrics to the song, Dixie. Also provides a link that explains the origins of the popular Civil War song.
Website
Other

National Music Museum: Virtual Tours

For Students 9th - 10th
Enjoy browsing through this virtual music museum. You will see many different pictures ranging from instruments of the Civil War to former President Bill Clinton's saxophone.
Website
Other

David Holt: The Roots of Mountain Music

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a short history of the major influences that have combined to create mountain music, one of which is minstrel music. Provides a good decription of minstrel music in general. Includes names and descriptions of specific songs,...
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: African American Sheet Music, 1850 1920

For Students 9th - 10th
View 1,300 pieces of sheet music composed by and about African Americans between 1850-1920.
Website
PBS

Pbs: American Roots Music

For Students 9th - 10th
If teaching a unit about the history of popular music in America, this PBS web site supporting their four-part TV broadcast of a few years ago would make a great resource. Includes lesson plans and oral histories too.
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Gettysburg National Military Park: Camp Life

For Students 9th - 10th
Colorful exhibit showcases the actual artifacts used by the Civil War soldiers at Gettysburg. View their camp materials, clothing, equipment, and personal items. Also, like soldiers of all wars, long hours passed when they were not...
Primary
Brown University

Brown University Library: African American Sheet Music: James Bland

For Students 9th - 10th
This website is an excellent source for information on James Bland and his music. Includes images of his sheet music, complete with notes and links to related information on African-American music and popular music from the post-Civil...
Article
Other

Minstrel Show: Contribution to Folk Music

For Students 9th - 10th
Interesting essay page on the influence of minstrel shows on folk music. Provides historical connections and is accessible for research purposes.
Activity
Other

Internet Cello Society: Portrait of Pablo Casals

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of the famous Spanish cellist, Pablo Casals. Of particular interest is the outstanding courage he displayed during the Spanish Civil War.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America Singing: Nineteenth Century Song Sheets

For Students 9th - 10th
Song sheets, which containedonly lyrics, were a popular form of printed music. The Library of Congress holds over 4,000 of these from the 1800s that can be viewed online.
Handout
National Women’s History Museum

National Women's History Museum: Sarah Josepha Hale

For Students 9th - 10th
Sarah Josepha Hale is best known for creating the nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Her influence can also be seen in historic sites and in the creation of Thanksgiving as a national holiday.
Interactive
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation: Drum Corps Tryout

For Students K - 1st
See if you can march to the beat of your own drum and try out for a Drum Corps. When the falling letter hits the drum, press the matching key.

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