Students explore the correlation between the Cold War and the Domino Theory.  In this history lesson, students watch a short video that exhibits the domino effect, then divide into small groups, each representing an assigned...

Ninth graders determine that nationality is not defined by race, especially in the United States. They group into teacher created dyads with eight pictures. Four pictures are of American citizens (multiracial representations), and...

Students explore U.S. history by creating a computer presentation in class. In this Civil War battle lesson, students read assigned text about the Battle of Stones River and research individual generals from the battles. Students utilize...

Students view a video called Battling Beyond the Borders about the Spanish-American War. They discuss the role of newspapers in the war and then analyze political cartoons of the time, writing explanatory sentences about them.

Students identify and interpret general information about the Korean War, including important dates, terms, events, and participants. They also identify what the Cairo Declaration was and what military forces, political forces, and...

Students examine the role of the United States in the Vietnam War. In this Vietnam War activity, students research primary and secondary sources to find out why the United States was involved in the war and why it was unsuccessful in the...

Students discuss the decision after World War II of Japan's to follow a policy of pacifism. After reading an article, they identify the ways Japan is strengthening its military. They watch a video to discover how their Constitution was...

The third in a series of lessons introduced by “A Fence Away From Freedom,” uses the Smithsonian website, “A More Perfect Union: Japanese Americans and the U.S. Constitution” and focuses on the section of the presentation devoted to the...

Students examine how the Nazis came to power and living conditions at Auschwitz. They watch and discuss a PBS documentary, read and discuss handouts, analyze a Pyramid of Hate, and assign experiences in their own lives to different...

Young scholars research the way of life of the Jews before Kristallnacht. Using new vocabulary and resources, they discover how carefree life was before the days of discrimination and antisemitism. In groups, they create a timeline of...

Students examine historical evidence regarding the atomic bomb. In this Truman presidency activity, students research images and documents about the use of the bomb in Japan. Students write position papers that identify their stance on...

Learners complete activities with the book Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. In this literature lesson, students read this story and view the Dust Bowl history from the eyes of a child. They discover the Great Depression and life in...

Pupils explore the Korean War through photography. In this Korean War lesson, students examine photographs taken by a soldier and respond to question about them.

Fifth graders explore poems of African Americans. They research a famous African American, write a report, create a timeline of events in African American history, create a map of the New World, and research Molly Walsh. After...

Students view a short film about the results of dropping the atomic bomb at the end of World War II. They research controversies surrounding the use of the bomb and nuclear weapons. They write two editorials about the issue.

Learners compare and contrast major events in U.S. histroy using a Venn diagram. They focus on how the events affected their state and the country as a whole. Events expolred include World War I, the Great Depression, Prohibition, the...

Young scholars conduct a mock Congressional Hearing to decide whether or not Japanese Americans who were sent to internment camps during World War II should be provided financial restitution. They research and create a time line of...

High schoolers research and chart events associated with World War II from 1935-1945 using a data retrieval chart in order to list in chronological order important dates and events with accuracy. Each student create a Historical Pop-Up...

Sixth graders explore and examine the production of biofuels from the 1850's to the present. Included in their research is Henry Ford, ethanol, World War I and prohibition. They explain the importance of grains and grasses for the...

Invite your young historians to demonstrate how the American Revolution truly was one crazy ride after another as they design a theme park! This unique and engaging project prompts learners to consider major events leading up to and...

Being a historian requires serious sleuthing. They examine primary source documents and look for evidence, for clues that reveal who wrote the document, when, and why. After watching two historians model the process, young history...

Students examine the aftermath of World War II. In this Marshall Plan lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the plan to rebuild Western Europe and its outcome.  Students respond to discussion...

Students identify the reasons why the United States entered World War I. In this world history instructional activity, students are given a lecture on Woodrow Wilson and analyze documents (specifically, Woodrow Wilson's speeches)....

Fifth graders explore world history by reading historical fiction. In this World War II lesson, 5th graders read the story My Secret War and identify the importance of fiction when analyzing history. Students answer study questions about...