But for a fluke, 1862 could have gone differently during the Civil War. When Union troops found Robert E. Lee's battle plans for critical engagements in Maryland wrapped around cigars and tossed aside, history changed forever. Class...

Primary sources are valuable for understanding the context of historical events, but the diction and dialect in these documents can be difficult to understand. Middle and high schoolers participation in a transcription process in which...

The unit study of Angel Island Immigration Station concludes with scholars using information from the previous lessons to craft a news story about the Angel Island program.

Students explore South America. In this geography instructional activity, students research landmarks of historical or national significance and use their findings to create slideshows.

Was the medieval Black Death the same disease as the modern bubonic plague? Your class members become the top investigators in the case, examining a variety of exhibits (i.e. disease descriptions, sample historical letter, map, etc.) in...

The debate over slavery contributed to the Civil War, but it didn't stop African Americans from joining the military. Academics complete a series of worksheets, read original letters, and analyze a photo of an African American soldier to...

Discuss how political postcards affected everyday people's thoughts and beliefs. Pupils continue a unit on the Dreyfus Affair as they engage in class discussion, watch a video, view a PowerPoint presentation, and fill out worksheets to...

Should sanctuary cities receive federal funding, or do they defy federal laws? That is precisely the question scholars attempt to answer as they prepare for a class discussion or debate. After reading some brief background information,...

The gridline is not just for Friday. Created for the first year, the GridWorld case study was part of the Computer Science course, the resource provides suggestions for integrating it throughout the course. Four instructional components...

In this story map worksheet, students make a map of a tall tale they have read or heard to show they understand how the tales develop.

This is a strange question; but what kind of vessel would you be and why? After examining images of a large Inca jug, the class sets to writing a creative narrative that answers that very interesting question. They start by researching...

There is a grain of truth in myths. Young historians investigate the truths surrounding the popular beliefs about the First Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Massachusetts. After reading the information in a study guide, they use what they...

If you can't take your western civilization class to the Renaissance Faire, try this online resource to give them an idea of this era and others! While designed to accompany the Western Civilizations text, this tool can be utilized...

Chicago is one city, four neighborhoods, and countless nationalities. The instructional activity explores the ethnic division of Chicago in the early twentieth century. Academics read primary sources, analyze maps, and tour an online...

If America is a nation of immigrants, where are they from and why did they come? Demographic data and interactive maps help pupils consider answers to these questions by examining the statistics of foreign-born Americans. Features allow...

In need of lecture notes that will help you and your learners? Here you'll find a presentation that covers four major revolutions occurring in the 1800's; The French Revolution, The Industrial Revolution, the agricultural revolution, and...

Imagine being forced out of your home and walking over 1,000 miles with only the things you could carry. How would you survive? What would you eat? After reading about the Trail of Tears and Cherokee resilience, middle schoolers are...

Discover the stories behind each of the thirteen stripes on the American flag with this straightforward presentation. Complete with learning objectives, discussion questions, and solid information about each of the original thirteen...

The Electoral College's role in elections is sometimes confusing and controversial. Pupils use a debate topics website to research the pros and cons of the practice to debate whether the United States should still use the Electoral...

Here is a very short presentation focused on the goals of the Crusades. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are defined and the effects of the Crusades are outlined. I'm not fond of this presentation but the map and images could be useful.

Students map and describe a small area of the schoolyard.

From the home front to the middle of Europe, America's presence in World War II was forever transitioning with the strain of war. The variety of maps and charts offered in this presentation helps to contextualize the 1940's. The amount...

Use these worksheets to kick off a great lesson on The Crusades. Eighth graders will analyze a map and four short passages to answer six reading comprehension questions.

Of particular interest to a group of business and finance pupils, this lesson explores depreciation of automobile values by comparing the double declining balance to the straight line method. Mostly this is done through a slide...