National First Ladies' Library
The First Great Awakening
Connecting social studies and American literature, students study the Great Awakening and draw comparisons between its impact on England and on parts of Colonial America. They research the lives and experiences of people who lived during...
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Where is the Trail? The Journey of Lewis and Clark
Middle schoolers explore the trail followed by Lewis and Clark on their journey across the United States. For this United States History lesson, students complete several activities to establish the Lewis and Clark Expedition, including...
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A Picture's Worth 500-700 Words: Neoclassical Painting Analysis and Creative Write
Students survey Neoclassical art and create a narrative based on their analyses. Focused questions and relevant background information provided by the Getty Museum provides a great foundation for students to understand art techniques as...
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Taking a Stand on Bullying
Middle schoolers stand up against bullying in a character-building lesson. After discussing historical figures who became advocates in times of adversity, they brainstorm ways to end bullying at their own school, and use a formal letter...
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A Wolf by the Ear
Students examine Thomas Jefferson's complex and contradictory relationship with slavery.
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Identifying Verb Tenses
How many different verb tenses are there? When do you use each? After introducing the different tenses with your upper elementary schoolers, have them read through a series of sentences, underline the verb in each sentence, and then...
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Lesson 1: Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury
I love Faulkner, his experimental style and stream of consciousness are so exciting. Your learners can analyze William Faulkner and his novel, The Sound and the Fury by defining his place in American literary history and exploring...
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Perseverance: Keep Going
Kids evaluate world history events that show perseverance by creating artistic images. They investigate historic photographs and images which conjure up the feelings of perseverance, then utilize acrylic paints to capture the...
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What Is War?
What kinds of human activity do we define as "warlike"? Middle and high schoolers examine various definitions of war and types of warfare, especially as these descriptions relate to the kinds of war we are witnessing at the beginning of...
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LLoyd's Corner
Students write a description of how a local environment has changed over time and why these changes have occurred accordingly. They describe and record changes in Lloyd's corner over time as depicted in pictures taken at four different...
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Indian Removal
Fourth graders read The Trail of Tears and create a timeline to show the sequence of events that effected the Native American tribes during Andrew Jackson's presidency. In this Native American lesson plan, 4th graders discuss the...
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Will the Real Ben Franklin Please Stand Up?
Students explore the life and accomplishments of Benjamin Franklin. For this colonial history lesson, students research Benjamin Franklin's work as a printer, a writer, a statesman, and an inventor. Students determine what his most...
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Voicing Your Opinion
Ninth graders study the time period of Martin Luther. In this World History lesson, 9th graders create their own 95 Theses. Students compare their 95 Theses to that of Martin Luther.
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Cultural Comparisons Interview
Learners interview a family member and give an oral report. In this oral history lesson, students create interview questions relevant to an American historical period. Learners interview a family member and present an oral report to the...
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Deadly Dancing: Failure Proof Field Trips
Learners are given an opportunity to role play a particular period of American History. They engage in a field trip that is then reflected upon and further research is done in the class. Their final project is to act out a play they...
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To Compromise or Not to Compromise: The Missouri Question
Students evaluate the fairness of the Missouri Compromise. They read the Missouri Compromise and discuss how it reflected the North-South, anti-slavery and pro-slavery division in the country. They work in groups to debate the Missouri...
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Slavery, Manumission, and Freedom: Free Blacks in Charleston before the Civil War
Students explore the concept of slavery and manumission through a variety of activities. In this civil rights lesson, students gather information from primary sources, then analyze the politics and historical context of the time....
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Constitutional Resources
Students explore the Constitution, bill of rights, framers, Supreme court cases and educational games.
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Immigration Accounts: Vincenzo Iovine, an Italian Immigrant, and Lino Paul, a Sudanese Immigrant
Students compare immigration experiences in America in historical and modern times. In this immigration lesson, students read and discuss the accounts of an Italian immigrant to the United States in the past and an account from a...
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International Children's Rights Organizations
Distinguish specific historical aspects of international organizations and identify the role played by international organizations such as UNICEF, Amnesty International, International Labor Organization, Human Rights Watch and Child...
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Elizabethan England To Glorious Revolution
Students explore the development of England from 1500 to 1689 in this eight lessons unit. The various parts of history affected by both political and religious factors are synthesized in this unit.
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Finding Value in the Renaissance
Young scholars explore art during the Renaissance period through the use of math. They solve word problems based upon historic documents of Renaissance Italy which contain real life situations, currencies and formulas. Students...
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My Region Through Time
Students identify the region of state in which they live on a regional map. They read information about the time period assigned and identify significant historical events that occurred in the region.
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Michaelangelo Game
Students play the game, "Reading a Painting" to review social studies facts. They read a painting of a particular time period trying to determine clues to remember facts. They work in teams to identify the time, place, and important...