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Explorations in American Environmental History
Ninth graders explore the historical perspective of nature and the environment. In this American History lesson, 9th graders examine materials in a variety of formats to understand the contexts of America's concern for the...
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Mark Twain's Hannibal
Students research life in Hannibal, Missouri. In this Mark Twain lesson, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of life in Hannibal in the late 19th century. This lesson may be used as an introduction to Twain's...
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The Minerva Mosaic of the Library of Congress
Students analyze the Minerva mosaic. In this Library of Congress lesson, students conduct primary source analysis of the mosaic as they interpret the symbolism and mythology featured in the mosaic.
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Natural Disasters: Nature's Fury
Students explore the human experience. In this business ethics instructional activity, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of the American natural disasters of the 19th and 20th centuries and the implications...
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Photographs from the Great Depression: Jacob Have I Loved 
Students research the Great Depression and World War II. In this Great Depression lesson, students analyze photographs of the depression era as they begin reading Katherine Paterson's Jacob Have I Loved.
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Child Labor and the Building of America
Students analyze the growth of America from the 1880's-1920's. In this Industrialization era lesson, students use primary resources from the time period to investigate child labor, and determine the contribution of children to the...
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Child Labor in America
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary sources. In this child labor instructional activity, students examine the issue of child labor and determine how citizen...
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Creating a Primary Source Archive: All History Is Local
Young scholars explore personal, local, state, and national history. For this historiography lesson, students search the Library of Congress digital collections for primary sources regarding their family histories framed in local,...
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Exploring Community Through Local History: Oral Stories, Landmarks and Traditions
Students explore the history of their local community. In this local history lesson, students analyze primary documents to develop an understanding of the local culture and traditions of their local community.
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Migration During the Great Depression: Living History
Students interview immigrants of Central Florida and photograph them to learn their oral history and life stories. In this immigration lesson plan, students discover where people come from, and write about the life story of this person.
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Thomas Edison, electricity and America
Students will examine Edison's application of electricity and the concept of the American Consumer Culture and what thay means. Students will evaluate how these ideas and concepts led to change.
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The American Dream
Students define the American dream. In this primary research lesson, students search the Library of Congress digital collections for primary sources regarding the ideal of the American dream. Students create presentation to...
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The American West: Images of Its People
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary resources. In this American West lesson, students examine photographs that reveal the cultural components of the West and then write narratives regarding the photographs.
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Family Customs Past and Present: Exploring Cultural Rituals
Students examine cultural traditions. For this cultural studies lesson, students conduct interviews and research online digital tools that allow them to discover their family's cultural traditions. Students prepare presentations using...
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Personal Stories and Primary Sources: Conversations with Elders
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...
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The Bill of Rights: Debating the Amendments
Learners interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students research 12 possible amendments that were considered for the Constitution in 1789....
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The Constitution: Counter Revolution or National Salvation?
Students take a close look at the foundations of American government. In this U.S. Constitution lesson, students analyze the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution. Students participate in a...
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Declaration of Independence: Created Equal?
High schoolers examine how Jefferson dealt with equality. In this lesson 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...
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The Great Depression and the 1990s
Students examine government-funded programs. In this government lesson, students research legislation from the Depressions era as well as current legislation regarding government-funded programs. Students evaluate the current need of...
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Baseball, Race and Ethnicity: Rounding the Bases
Students consider Race and Ethnicity in baseball. In this American history lesson, students examine primary source images of American baseball. They then develop an original argument, pose historical questions and conduct Internet research.
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Immigration and Oral History
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...
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Westward Expansion: Links to the Past
Pupils investigate the impact of Manifest Destiny. In this California history lesson plan, students conduct research on the settlement of the state between 1849 and 1900. Pupils use their findings to create scripts that link primary...
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Geography and Its Impact on Colonial Life
Young scholars interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this colonial America lesson plan, students conduct research to determine how geographic conditions dictated settlement...
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The Grapes of Wrath: Voices from the Great Depression
High schoolers research the Great Depression. In this Great Depression lesson, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of the plight of migrant farm workers during the Great Depression as they read Steinbeck's The...