National Endowment for the Humanities
Colonizing the Bay
Eleventh graders review the goals of John Winthrop. In this American History lesson, 11th graders read Winthrop's speech and summarize his key points. Students predict the possibilities for success and failure in the Massachusetts Bay...
Curated OER
Who was affected by North American Colonization and How?
Conduct research on various aspects of American Colonization and explore how different groups were affected, including those involved in the Salem Witch Trials. Your class will read books, write journals, participate in class discussion,...
Curated OER
The African and the Pequot in Colonial America
Learners determine that the lands the English settled on were owned and inhabited by 70,000 Indians. They consider that the London Company sold land charters to the English, which gave them illegal title to lndian land and that the...
Curated OER
Mapping Colonial New England: Looking at the Landscape of New England
High schoolers understand the similarities and differences between English and Native American conceptions of the land and town settlement. They understand how the colony of Massachusetts developed and expanded. Students understand the...
Curated OER
Which of You Is A Witch?
Students gain comprehensive background knowledge of the Salem witch trials in preparation for reading Arthur Miller's The Crucible. They participate in a role-play activity designed to simulate a modern day witch-hunt.
Curated OER
Religious Dissent
Students perform a readers theater about Anne Hutchinson and her religious dissent. In this religious dissent lesson plan, students re-enact her trial through the reader's theater.
Curated OER
Puritans Lesson Plan
Students determine if the Puritans were selfish or selfless. In this American history activity, students read two Puritans documents, answer guiding questions on a worksheet, and use evidence from the documents to write whether the...
Curated OER
Uncovering The Truth
Students investigate the social and religious contexts that surrounded the Salem Witch Trials. The research is guided using the worksheets included in the lesson plan. The culminating assignment is writing an editorial of personal...
Curated OER
Mapping Community Values
Students discuss the origin of various maps focusing on the values behind them. Students also explore how human needs and geography influence community settlement patterns. Students extend learning by creating and mapping their own ideal...
Curated OER
Early American Education and Horace Mann
Students analyze the contributions of Horace Mann. In this public education lesson, students research Internet and print sources regarding the history of American education, Mann.s life, the Morrill Act of 1862, and the Northwest Ordinance.
Curated OER
Understanding Freedom: Catching "The Spirit of '76"
Sixth graders complete activities about colonial history through an examination of art from the American Revolution period. In this history and art lesson, 6th graders define an iconic image, sing the song 'Yankee Doodle,' and analyze...
Curated OER
A Field of Beans
Beans, or legumes as they are sometimes called, are the topic for an integrated multi-subject lesson. Youngsters will read, write, observe, and research everything there is to know about beans. They read a bean story, conduct a bean...
Curated OER
Pilgrims: The First Americans
Fifth graders become familar with the pilgrims and first Thanksgiving through essays about important people of the time. For this Thanksgiving lesson, 5th graders choose an important figure from the time of the Pilgrims and write a two...
Curated OER
Visit The Orchard
Students investigate the technology that is used to harvest apples as a crop. They look at examples of past and present machines. The information is used as inspiration for creating their own device to pick and harvest apples for mass...
Curated OER
The Mayflower Compact
Middle schoolers use primary source documents to discuss the Mayflower Compact and the story of the first Thanksgiving. They discover how the Pilgrims were influenced in developing a community and American democracy.
Curated OER
What is the (No) Establishment Clause?
Students research and discuss the Establishment Clause.
Curated OER
The Trading Post with the Most: Colonial Dorchester's Settlement and Economy
Eighth graders explore the Dorchester settlement, In this American colonial history instructional activity, 8th graders examine primary resources and maps from the Dorchester trading post in order to learn about its contributions to the...