Fourth graders study history though the exploration of artifacts. In this Civil War instructional activity, 4th graders examine artifacts such as sweet grass basket, spinning top, photos on tin, cast iron kettle, china"bone plate,"...

Seventh graders investigate the role of South Carolina in the Spanish American War. In this imperialism lesson, 7th graders analyze primary documents and photographs, in collaborative groups, to determine how the state was involved in...

Eighth graders explore the actions needed to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.  In this US History instructional activity, 8th graders analyze documents pertinent to the Congressional Medal of Honor.  Students examine...

High schoolers examine Japanese internment camps of World War II. In this World War II lesson, students use primary and secondary sources to research the evacuation process and life within the internment camps. High schoolers discuss the...

Students examine the happenings at the Battle of Antietam from all sides. In this American Civil War lesson, students analyze newspapers accounts from different perspectives regarding the battle and then write their own accounts of the...

Eighth graders study the Civil War. In this US history lesson, 8th graders discuss the causes for fighting for the North and the South showing that there was no good side or evil side just people believing in what they were fighting for....

Students explore how people viewed George Washington in the 19th Century.  In this U.S. History lesson, students create a timeline of events during the Civil War, including government and court decisions.  Following this...

Fifth graders explore world history by participating in a class game. For this propaganda lesson, 5th graders identify Madeline Beck and the role women played during World War II. Students create fictitious propaganda posters and...

Eleventh graders are introduced to the events between the years 1949 and 1989. They list and explain key events and people that contributed to the development of the Cold War. Students are asked "what do you think Billy Joel meant by...

Students examine the experiences of Japanese-Americans at the beginning of World War II in America. After watching an excerpt from "The War", they answer reflection questions about the Japanese being put into internment camps. In groups,...

Learners research the major events of the Vietnam War and construct a timeline. They do the same with the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson or the 1960's. They act as an advisor to President Johnson to recommend a course of action...

Learners consider the relocation of Japanese Americans during World War II. In this Japanese relocation lesson, students examine photographs by Dorothea Lange, the "Pledge of Allegiance," and a US government flyer from 1942. They use...

Students examine the clash between the North and the South. In this Civil War lesson plan, students watch segments of the Discovery video "The Civil War: A Nation Divided". Students conduct further research pertaining to the...

Students research the events and results of the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. As a class, they discuss the role of the military in the entire European theater and write a paper describing the situations and conditions the...

Students analyze the feelings of Americans regarding the Vietnam War. In this Vietnam War lesson, students collaborate to research Internet and print sources regarding the perspectives on U.S. involvement in the war....

Sixth graders play a game.  In this Civil War lesson plan, 6th graders discuss the beginnings of the Civil War and define vocabulary words associated with the war such as abolitionist and Emancipation Proclamation.  Students...

Students gain historical background on the Civil War era from textbooks, encyclopedias, or supplemental material. Assign at least two photographs for each student to analyze using the Photograph Analysis Worksheet which is imbedded in...

Eighth graders explore the Civil War by reading Irene Hunt's novel, Across Five Aprils. They take virtual field trips to these battle sites and answer questions that guides them in their study of the Civil War.

Students explore the power of political messages contained in visual artifacts and examine the political messages conveyed by the illustrations that appeared on personal stationery used during the Civil War. They create and describe a...

Learners synthesize the concepts of scarcity, supply, and demand, pertaining to the Civil War time period. In this economics instructional activity, students gain understanding of economic terms through read-alouds, Venn diagrams,...

Young scholars interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. For this research skills lesson, students research the job of reporting for new agencies during the American Civil War as they complete the...

Third graders explore important events leading up to the Revolutionary War. In this Revolutionary War lesson plan, 3rd graders work in pairs to research dates and important events prior to the Revolutionary War. Class discussion is...

Fifth graders research the Civil War through the use of primary documents. In this historical events of the Civil War lesson, 5th graders write about the information gotten from the primary document. Students answer critical thinking...

Students examine the domino theory. In this cold war activity, students watch a video about dominos and then get into groups that represent different nations. Students will then act out a mock simulation of the containment and domino...