Curated OER
Politics and Leadership
Young scholars research a historic leader and analyze how a philosopher's writings influenced the ruler in an essay. In this philosophy of government lesson plan, students view a video and participate in a class discussion on how great...
Curated OER
The Declaration of Independence: From Rough Draft to Proclamation
Students discover the purpose of the Declaration of Independence. In this colonial America lesson, students compare the original draft by Thomas Jefferson to the final draft of the Declaration of Independence.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Lesson 2: The Debate in Congress on the Sedition Act
Pupils research and discuss the provisions in the Constitution that supported the arguments for and against the Sedition Act. They articulate objections to and arguments in favor of the Sedition Act.
Curated OER
Thomas Jefferson Lesson
Students demonstrate reading comprehension skills, including reading strategies, inference, literal meaning, and critical analysis.
Stanford University
Declaration of Independence
Scholars work in pairs to decide whether leaders wrote the Declaration of Independence for the rich and powerful or for every man. To draw their conclusion, pairs read excerpts from two historians and complete a graphic organizer citing...
Curated OER
Journal Writing
Students investigate the life of Martha Wayles Jefferson. In this American history lesson, students examine excerpts of the journals kept by Thomas Jefferson's wife. Students infer what life at Monticello may have been like. Students...
Curated OER
Runaway Ad - Using Primary Documents
Students examine a runaway slave advertisement. In this American history lesson plan, students investigate a missing slave advertisement run by Thomas Jefferson in 1769. Students make inferences based on the advertisement.
Huntington Library
The Corps of Discovery: The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Don't miss this fantastic comprehensive lesson plan on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, packed with instructional guidance, worksheets, map work, informational texts, and secondary source materials.
Curated OER
The Declaration of Independence: From Rough Draft to Proclamation
High schoolers discover how the Declaration of Independence transformed from a draft to a treasured historical document. In this Declaration of Independence lesson, students discuss the context in which Jefferson wrote the document and...
Curated OER
Johnny Tremain for the 21st Century
Seventh graders complete a unit of lessons on the American Revolution based on the novel, 'Johnny Tremain.' They define key vocabulary terms, develop a timeline, write a report on a colonial craft, make a colonial flag, and create a...
Curated OER
Holding a Wolf by the Ears: Race, Economics, and the Complexity of Thomas Jefferson
Eleventh graders explore the era of slavery when Jefferson was President. In this United States History lesson, 11th graders participate in a class discussion that is led by the teacher. A PowerPoint presentation on the topic is...
Curated OER
The Embodied Presidency
Eighth graders discover details about Thomas Jefferson's life. In this early American history lesson, 8th graders view a PowerPoint presentation that outlines some aspects of Jefferson's life. Students research the life of slaves at...
Curated OER
Slavery by the Numbers
Students examine the role of slavery in the United States. In this American history instructional activity, students watch segments of the video "Slavery and the Making of America." Students conduct further research pertaining to Thomas...
Curated OER
A Wolf by the Ear
Students examine Thomas Jefferson's view of slavery. In this slavery instructional activity, students watch segments of the video "Slavery and the Making of America." Students respond to discussion questions as they watch the video and...
Curated OER
A President's Home and the President's House
Students identify specific examples demonstrating how present-day White House reflects duties, powers, and privileges of the office of President, and
compare and contrast Thomas Jefferson's Monticello with the White House.
Curated OER
The Role of a Plantation Mistress
Learners investigate the role of a plantation mistress. In this American history lesson, students examine the household accounts kept by Thomas Jefferson's wife. Learners decide what Martha Wayles Jefferson's responsibilities may have...
Curated OER
From the White House of Yesterday to the White House of Today: A President's Home and the President's House
Stduents look closely at what one President did at his home in contrast to what Presidents have done in the White House. They take a virtual tour of the White House and Monticello.
Curated OER
President Jefferson's Cipher: Cracking the Code
Learners examine the journey out west by Lewis and Clark. Using a cipher from President Jefferson, they solve a code he gave to the explorers before setting out on their exploration. They share his message with the class and state...
Curated OER
Portraits of Power: American Presidents
Ninth graders explore the presidency of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. In this US History lesson plan, 9th graders examine the life of Abraham Lincoln. students write an essay describing the presidency and the people's...
Curated OER
Declaration of Independence: Created Equal?
Students examine how Jefferson dealt with equality. In this activity on the Declaration of Independence, students use primary sources to analyze what the phrase, "All men are created equal" meant. They will compare what they think...
Curated OER
Foundations of American Government: Teacher’s Guide
Students explore the foundations of America. In this early American history lesson, students watch Discovery video segments regarding the Boston Massacre, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights....
Curated OER
Beyond Louisiana
Eleventh graders examine the challenges that faced United States as a new nation. In this American History lesson, 11th graders study the chronology of events leading up to the expedition of Lewis and Clark. Students organize...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan: Early Political Parties
Pupils examine the platforms of early political parties in the United States. For this political parties lesson, students discover details regarding the attributes and ideals of the federalists and the democratic-republicans. Pupils...
Curated OER
Variation and Heredity
Junior geneticists tally eye color and height in their lab groups. They examine certain traits in soybean and corn seedlings. For each activity, they gather data and learn about continuous and discontinuous genetic variation. In another...