National First Ladies' Library
The Education of Freedmen...and Women and Children
Pupils examine political debate surrounding Freedmen's Bureau, use primary sources to explore trials and successes of effort to educate newly-freed slaves of all ages, research reasons for creation of Freedmen's Bureau, discuss President...
Curated OER
Across Five Aprils
Students read the novel, Across Five Aprils and investigate the theme of the individual vs, community loyalties. They keep a daily journal, role-play situations, hold a mock debate, and write a research paper on "coming of age."
Curated OER
Arguments Against Ratifying the Constitution
Students define federalism, Federalist, and Anti-Federalist, debate issue of ratification in classroom convention, and take vote on whether to add bill of rights. Three lessons on one page.
Curated OER
History of Miss America
Students make a time-lines of of decades using images from Miss America. In this history lesson, students looks at the country's beauty pageant and how it changes the lives of women in America. Students debate issues...
Curated OER
Turmoil in Thailand: The Battle of Bangkok
Tenth graders examine the battle of Bangkok. In this Conflict in Thailand lesson, 10th graders read an article about the causes and effects of the Battle of Bangkok. Students participate in a debate about whether or not to visit the city...
Curated OER
Checks and Balances: Japanese-American Incarceration
Students examine the three branches of the Federal Government and their decision to place Japanese-Americans in camps during World War II. They analyze debates made by leaders during this time period.
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Three Essential Soft Skills That Span Every Content Area
Reading, writing, and arithmetic are just the start of what young people need to know to be successful.
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Do Suspected Enemies Have Rights?
Students investigate the history of Japanese immigration. They complete an online Webquest, explore various websites, answer discussion questions, and locate and read newspaper articles about enemy compatants.
Curated OER
Why Do Governments Exist? Locke, Hobbes, Montesquieu, and Rousseau
Here is a great secondary source reading that includes the primary ideas and philosophies of the famed Enlightenment philosophers: Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Charles Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In additional to discussing...
Curated OER
Images of Secession
Analyze political cartoons and historical events. Middle schoolers utilize primary resources to increase their comprehension of the topic of secession. They utilize graphic organizers to take notes, compare, and analyze political...
Curated OER
Research Techniques: Gathering Credible Sources
How can you spot a credible source? What even makes a resource reliable in the first place? Answer some of these questions with this presentation. Although intended for higher education, this PowerPoint could be modified for middle...
Curated OER
The Industrial Age in America: Robber Barons and Captains of Industry
Middle schoolers define terms "robber baron" and "captain of industry," list positive and negative actions of one or more captains of industry/robber barons, and take and support stand as to whether particular financier/industrialist is...
Digital History
The Crisis of 1833: Tariffs and Nullification
This resource offers a detailed review of the events that led South Carolina to nullify the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832, as well as to pass the Nullification Ordinance, which questioned the federal government's authority to enforce any law...
Curated OER
Miss America
The first part of this article by PBS on the Miss America pageants can be used in a health class when it's time to talk about body image. There are links to related articles. There are some great questions for discussion. There are ideas...
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Archaeology For Kids Quiz 101
In this archaeology for kids quiz 101 worksheet, students interactively answer 12 multiple choice questions as part of an online magazine, then click to check their answers.
Curated OER
You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer!
Students study women's clothing in the 19th century as well as one prominent
feminist of the time. They examine women's dress of the period from the picture book read aloud You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer! They provide adjectives...
Curated OER
Act of Sabotage?
Students examine animal cruelty laws in Great Britain. In this health lesson, students visit selected websites to research animal cruelty laws as they consider animal rights and hunting rights.
Curated OER
African American Homesteaders
Pupils analyze the reasons African-Americans settled in the area to be known as Nebraska. Using primary source documents, they read about the challenges they faced and compare their growth and distribution of African-Americas in the...
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Lesson Plan on Landmines
Students take a look at how landmines are being used all over the world (with specific focus on Cambodia). Students identify the physical and emotional impact of the use of landmines and how the international community is working to...
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Celebrating the Smithsonian's Birthday
Students examine online objects from the Smithsonian website and use them as subjects and inspiration for creative writing exercises.
Curated OER
Indian Removal: The Cherokees, Jackson, and the “Trail of Tears”
Students examine executive power. In this Indian Removal lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the "Trail of Tears". Students respond to discussion questions regarding the lecture.
Stanford University
Sheg: Document Based History: Read Like a Historian: Civil War Reconstruction
[Free Registration/Login Required] In the Civil War and Reconstruction unit, students engage in contentious historiographic debates about the period: Was Lincoln a racist? Was Reconstruction a success or failure? Was John Brown a...
US National Archives
National Archives: The Civil War: Celebrate or Commemorate?
To try to understand both sides of the Civil War, students will think about some of the different aspects and perspectives involved. In this activity, students will match Civil War terms to their definitions to familiarize themselves...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: African American Christianity Pt Ii: From Civil War to the Great Migration
Essay focussing on African American Christianity from emancipation to the great migration. Site offers photos, student discussion guidelines, historian debate and links to related material.