Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

Should the Colonists Have Revolted Against Great Britain?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Should the Americans have taken the plunge and revolted against Great Britain? Using documents, including the famed Common Sense and a Loyalist response, pupils conduct a lengthy investigation of the question. The interesting resource...
Primary
Henry J. Sage

Sage American History: The Philosophy of John Locke

For Students 9th - 10th
Writings of philosopher John Locke on religious toleration, government and society from which students will gain an understanding of the underpinnings of American government.
Primary
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Epa History: Epa's Position on the Energy Crisis

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an EPA position paper written in January 1974 about the Environmental Protection Agency's position on the American energy crisis. The paper gives the roots of the problems of the energy crisis, the impact of the U.S.'s...
Primary
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: Nkrumah

For Students 9th - 10th
Kwame Nkrumah, a former leader in Ghana, writes his concept of a freedom in Africa following years of European rule on the continent.
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Presidents: George Washington

For Students 9th - 10th
Read George Washington's two inaugural speeches and his Annual Messages which give an interesting review of the beginning of the new United States. Included are links to some other writings of Washington and an 1808 biography.
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Presidents: James Madison

For Students 9th - 10th
Included are James Madison's two inaugural addresses, his State of the Nation speeches, as well as other writings related to the Constitution. Of particular interest is his speech of 1812.
Primary
CommonLit

Common Lit: "Manifest Destiny, I Do Believe" by Bird Brain History

For Students 5th - 7th
In this letter, Cordelia writes to her friend about her plans to become a pioneer, a common ambition during the "Manifest Destiny" era of western settlement in the 19th century. This site offers links to paired texts, questions and...
Primary
Other

Telecommunications History Group: h.b. Santee and Warren G. Harding

For Students 9th - 10th
Harding's train trip across the West and on to Alaska is told through the papers, photos, and writings of H.B. Santee, an engineer who accompanied him.
Primary
Curated OER

History Matters: Movie Going in the 1920s

For Students 9th - 10th
As part of a research study performed in the 1920s, individuals were asked to write about their experiences with movie-going. This is an excerpt from that study by a high school girl, who tells about what the movies mean to her.
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Presidents: Lincoln's Last Speech

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This American History site provides the text of Abraham Lincoln's last speech given on April 11, 1865.
Primary
History Tools

History Tools: Wm. Ellery Channing, Excerpts From Unitarian Christianity [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Historical writing by William Ellery Channing critiquing Calvinism and espousing the Unitarian Christianity Movement. Paragraph numbers have been added and some spelling has been modernized.
Primary
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine

For Students 9th - 10th
The complete text of the English edition of Thomas Paine's "The Rights of Man" in a series of links including an introductory letter to President Washington.
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: Thomas Paine's "The Rights of Man"

For Students 9th - 10th
The complete text of "The Rights of Man," a document Thomas Paine wrote to defend the French Revolution. Contains personal prefaces written to George Washington and to English and French readers; text of French preface has been...
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Presidents: Thomas Jefferson

For Students 9th - 10th
Included here are Thomas Jefferson's two inaugural addresses and his State of the Nation speeches. You can follow Jefferson's increased distress concerning the young nation's treatment by European nations. Fascinating reading.
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: Thomas Paine the Age of Reason (1794)

For Students 9th - 10th
Presented is the complete text of Thomas Paine's The Age of Reason written in 1794.
Primary
Other

Poetry.net: "The Chronicle of the Drum" by Thackeray

For Students 9th - 10th
The complete text of William Makepeace Thackeray's poem "The Chronicle of the Drum", a narrative of French military history. This ballad was written in Paris, in 1841, at the time of the second funeral of Napoleon.
Primary
Curated OER

History Matters: The Omaha Platform: Launching the Populist Party

For Students 9th - 10th
This History Matters website provides the Populist Party platform, as well as a brief write-up introducing this primary resource, which marked the formation of a new -- though short lived -- political party.
Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Battle of San Jacinto: Reuben M. Potter, Magazine of American History

For Students 9th - 10th
Texas soldier Reuben Potter writes his account of the Battle of San Jacinto, which was published in the Magazine of American History in May 1880. Artist Henry McArdle provides his notes, as he carried out research for his painting, "The...
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: The Articles of Confederation

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
At this site from the University of Groningen's page of "From Revolution to Reconstruction", you can read the Articles of Confederation, written in 1781. Authors listed with the states for which they were writing.
Primary
Aaron Shepherd

Savitri, a Tale of Ancient India (Reader's Theater)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A reader's theater version of a folktale from India has been adapted by children's book author Aaron Shepard from his picture book "Savitri." For ages 9-15, the story's female hero is full of determination, courage, and devotion....
Primary
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: Thomas Paine

For Students 9th - 10th
Some of Thomas Paine's essays on religion can be found at this site.
Primary
The History Place

The History Place: Patrick Henry

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides the full text of Patrick Henry's moving speech, "Give me Liberty, or Give me Death!" Content also includes background information on the circumstances facing the American colonists at the time.
Primary
Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies

Famsi: The Glyphic Corpus From Ek' Balam (2002)

For Students 9th - 10th
Offers translations of hieroglyphs, and therefore history, of the Mayan dynasties and rulers at Ek' Balum in Yucatan, Mexico.
Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: America in Class: America in the 1920s: Machine: Automobile

For Students 9th - 10th
The National Humanities Center presents collections of primary resources compatible with the Common Core State Standards - historical documents, literary texts, and works of art - thematically organized with notes and discussion...

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