Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Personal Stories and Primary Sources: Conversations with Elders

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students learn from their elders. In this oral and social histories lesson, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of the America in which their grandparents grew up. Students conduct interviews with elders in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vocab Grabbing the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students identify concrete and abstract nouns in the preamble to the Constitution, and complete Frayer Model graphic organizers using history and current events as examples of American values. In this preamble lesson plan, students use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Old Photographs: Windows to the Past

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Pupils examine several types of old photographs and compare them to photography today. Students search for historical photographs and draw conclusions about the time period from the subject matter. Pupils explain how a camera captures...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Segregation: From Jim Crow to Linda Brown

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the African American social, economic, and political conditions between 1896 and 1953. In this segregation lesson plan, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of the plight of African Americans'...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Orangeburg Massacre

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students study the Orangeburg Massacre. In this social studies lesson, students discuss the Civil Rights Movement and the protest movements that took place. Students examine the events that led up to the Orangeburg Massacre at South...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stand Up and Sing

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students locate historical references in songs. They create music/lyrics to illustrate an historical topic.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Independent - To Be or Not Top Be - Day 1, Lesson 2: Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research the thirteen significant events that lead to the start of the American Revolution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Indian Removal Act

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers use the Internet to research the Indian Removal Act and write a journalistic article showcasing their findings. They choose from a variety of viewpoints and topics to narrow their focus.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Ballot Box Battle

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students practice note taking skills, study the life of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and write a persuasive letter. They listen to the picture book biography of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and use the information from the biography to write a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Skepticism Toward Government

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain how the media portrays certain events and its effects on public opinion of government. They focus on Watergate, the Vietnam War, and the Clinton impeachment. They write essays about skepticism promoted by the media.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Constitution: Drafting a More Perfect Union

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars analyze the U.S. Constitution.  In this U.S. History lesson, students explore the purpose of the Constitution, as well as who was involved in its creation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bringing the Past to the Present

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders work in pairs and read a primary source artifact. They create a PowerPoint slide that will be part of a "museum" presentation for the rest of their class. Students select artifacts from a group of digitalized artifacts...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Challenges Faced by the New Nation's Presidents

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders, while in the computer lab utilizing the internet, locate primary sources to interpret and analyze the struggle of the new nation to gain the respect of European countries. They interact with a worksheet that organizes...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Twentieth Century Entertainment: When Work is Done

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students determine how Americans enjoy leisure time. In this 20th century America lesson, students research primary sources to study how Americans gained leisure time during the century and what they did with it.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Women's Suffrage: Their Rights and Nothing Less

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore women's rights. In this women's history lesson, students examine primary and secondary sources regarding the women's suffrage movement in the United States. Students compare and contrast the states' methods for achieving...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Not Just A Man's War

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students write 2 letters from a woman who may have lived during the Civil War and 2 letters from her relative which include factual information that they have research using the Internet and other resources, along with other activities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Immigration and Migration Today and During the Great Depression

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct oral history interviews and research primary resources to explain changes in immigration and migration over time.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Immigration and Oral History

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars examine immigration. In this oral and social histories lesson, students analyze primary sources to research immigration history in their community. In this year-long research project, young scholars participate in visual...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading A Historical Photograph

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine a historical photograph to gather information and draw conclusions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Immigration/Migration

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate the immigration into America by researching Ellis Island. In this United States History lesson plan, 6th graders research the Internet to view photographs and find information about the immigration to Ellis...
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Thomas Jefferson's Library Is Purchased

For Students 3rd - 8th
When the first Library of Congress was destroyed by the British, Thomas Jefferson offered his personal library as a replacement. This site presents a brief overview of these events, and includes photos and a portrait.
Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: Major Events in History: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

For Students 9th - 10th
A synopsis of the events preceding the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, plus great pictures and links to excellent maps of the area negotiated for and to the text of the actual document.
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: Religion and Founding of American Republic: Religion and the Congress of the Confederation

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Library of Congress offers descriptions of multiple events, people and beliefs that helped shape the government and culture of the U.S. Links to views of historical documents and pictures depicting the religious...
Article
Library of Congress

Loc: The World of 1898: The Spanish American War

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Library of Congress provides an excellent account on the highlights, the main characters, places, and events of the Spanish-American War. Includes links & photos.