Students create a movie that includes both sound and pictures of the Gettysburg Address using iMovie, digital cameras, and copies of the Gettysburg Address. Extensive examples of student works are given.

Study history through photographs. In this visual arts and history lesson, students learn to analyze photographs to discover details about life during the Civil War era. Students write journal entries as if they are the African-American...

Young scholars examine the United States Constitution and how the application for due process differs in two amendments. They research the changing definition of the term since the Civil War. They use the internet to research press...

Even though American slaves were officially emancipated in 1865, the effects of slavery perpetuated throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Middle and high schoolers learn about the ways that discrimination and the Jim Crow laws...

In this Reconstruction worksheet, students read assigned textbook pages regarding Reconstruction plans and respond to 44 short answer questions.  

Students analyze Alexander Gardner's photograph of Abraham Lincoln and complete related activities. In this Abraham Lincoln lesson, students describe Abraham Lincoln as he is presented in Gardner's photograph. Students read a biography...

Students discuss the role of women before, during, and after World War II. In this equality instructional activity, students plan how to make the workforce more equal among men and women after World War II. They research World War II and...

Students decode archaeological artifacts in order to recreate an event, using discarded objects as a model for real-life artifacts. They apply this model to reconstructing historical or literary events from artifacts they create.

Students investigate the impact of historical events. In this historical scavenger hunt lesson, students examine photographs of a local monument that zoom in on details. Students record their impressions regarding the photos. Students...

Young historians research the debate over slavery; some students take the pro-slavery side and others the anti-slavery side. They take the role of a character such as a plantation owner, a legislator, a free Black, a slave, or a northern...

Fourth graders create a coded message in a quilt. In this art lesson plan students demonstrate the communication used by the Underground Railroad. Students work in a group to make a quilt with a code in it.

Eighth graders interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Reconstruction lesson plan, 8th graders research the role of Reconstruction in South Carolina by simulating the environment of East Bay...

In this U.S. history instructional activity, students read assigned textbook pages regarding the Cold War 1950's America and respond to 50 short answer questions.

Students examine human rights by taking a closer look at children in combat. In this human rights lesson, students discuss the reasons that children have been used to fight wars throughout history and today. Students analyze the...

Students explore the history of the United States and slavery. For this slavery lesson plan, students view primary sources, complete journal writing, view videos, and answer short answer questions.

Students explore desegregation in the courts. In this civil rights lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture on Supreme Court cases Brown v. Board of Education and Plessy v. Ferguson. Students examine the...

A great way to connect social studies with language arts, a resource on Mary Henry's historical diary reinforces the concepts of primary and secondary sources. It comes with an easy-to-understand lesson plan, as well as the reference...

Learn more about the policy of the United States to contain communism during the Cold War. The fifth installment of an eight-part series looks at primary and secondary materials about a challenging time in history. After analyzing the...

Young scholars explore the views of both sides of the Civil War. Through class discussion and debate, they look at how each side justified their position during the Civil War. Students write a letter explaining one of the viewpoints...

Students discuss democratic ideals and constitutional principles. They decide which side of the issue they are on dealing with the placement of Japanese-Americans in camps during World War II. They examine primary source documents for...

Fifth graders view a news reel of African Americans in World War II. In this World War II lesson plan, 5th graders discuss the newspaper clippings they get to view and hypothesize about why the African Americans use military news clips....

Eleventh graders take a closer look at the Red Scare. In this Cold War instructional activity, 11th graders read the provided literature about anti-communism in the United States and then respond to the provided discussion questions that...

Students explore the content of Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address. In this Abraham Lincoln lesson, students analyze the text of the speech to determine how Lincoln sought to reconstruct the country as the Civil War drew to a close.

For this online interactive history quiz worksheet, students respond to 50 multiple choice questions about the Reconstruction Era. Students may submit their answers to be scored.