Seventh graders continue their examination of World War I. In groups, they read a copy of the famous Zimmerman telegram and discuss its effect on Americans. To end the lesson, they discuss how public opinion changed after it became...

Students evaluate primary sources to develop their own opinions about Westward Expansion. In this Manifest Destiny lesson, students examine and respond to questions about Gast's painting titled American Progress Students research how...

Young scholars demonstrate understanding of the ideology of Manifest Destiny, the nation's expansion to Northwest, and the Mexican-American War. Students understand national foreign policy.

Seventh graders are introduced to the processes of cotton farming in the early 20th century. In groups, they examine the role of Mexican Americans on the farms and the impact of a boom and bust economy on cotton. They identify the...

Pupils study the territorial status of Texas in 1830, 1840, and 1846 and interpret an historical timeline. They develop a general statement of Mexican and American views of Texas.

Students examine five president's reasons for entering into a war. Using the text, they answer questions and discuss their answers with the class. They also examine President Bush's reasons for going to war in Iraq and how that...

What does it mean to be an American citizen? Lieutenant Colonel Commander William Barret Travis believed that it meant honor to country first—even above one's own life. Middle and high schoolers read his final letters from the Alamo that...

Students role play the characters and events which led to the holiday of Cinco de Mayo. In this Cinco de Mayo lesson, students dance the "La Raspa" dance. Students complete a Cinco de Mayo word search.

Need to know more about Texas's state history and how it gained independence from Mexico? Learn about Stephen Austin's visit with Santa Ana and the reasons Texas went to war with Mexico with an informative slideshow presentation.

Eleventh graders study the history of immigration from 1850 to the present.  In this American History lesson plan, 11th graders compare the 1924 and 1965 immigration acts and give a reasoned opinion on each.  Students research,...

Learners examine how Americans justified Westward Expansion. In this American history lesson, your historians will watch a Manifest Destiny Powerpoint presentation and discuss each slide then participate in a class...

Learners investigate the Cinco de Mayo holiday. They discuss the history of Cinco de Mayo, listen to the Legend of the Mexican flag, color a worksheet of the Mexican flag, and create a class coat of arms.

Reinforce conversational skills in your ELD class with this instructional activity. Pairs of partners ask questions about twelve famous movie star based on a given example (Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt). Questions address given names,...

Students explore the contributions of African Americans, Japanese Americans, and Mexican Americans in World War II. In this World War II lesson, students research Internet and print sources regarding the...

Young scholars analyze the art of Mexican artist Jose' Clemente Orozco and complete analysis activities. In this Mexican art analysis instructional activity, students read about Orozco's Zapatistas and answer discussion questions.

Third graders study how the United States declared war on Mexico and succeeded in gaining control of California. Several activities are included in the lesson. The lesson outline is included as a link.

Eleventh graders examine the denial of rights to individuals in the United States.  For this American Government lesson, 11th graders study President Roosevelt's Day of Infamy speech.  Students create a presentation on the...

Grab your feathers and your hat! And perhaps some macaroni! It's time to investigate the evolution of "Yankee Doodle Dandy." Groups do a close reading of sheet music covers, lyrics, and even YouTube videos to see how this political song...

Learners who have a grasp on the events of the Revolutionary war view clips from five different films as secondary sources. They take notes on each clip thinking about historic inaccuracies. They then view parts of the film The Patriot...

Eleventh graders identify some of the ways that the raid at Harper's Ferry influenced the Civil War. They articulate the different ways that people though about John Brown in the 1800's and how his persona may or may not have changed...

Eleventh graders study one of the selected images of John Brown and read an excerpt online that describes his role in the Civil War. They identify significant information about John Brown. They think about how this applies to current...

Joris Debeij's film, Making It in America, takes a look at Alma Velasco, a Salvadoran immigrant who was granted political asylum in the United States. The lesson gives a face to immigrants and their struggles to embrace the...

Class members investigate The Indian Removal Act of 1830, U.S. Theft of Mexican Territory Timeline, and President Abraham Lincoln’s letter to Horace Greeley, 1862, and then conduct a mock trial of each of these documents to determine...