Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Most Dangerous Woman in America: Mary Harris "Mother" Jones

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover labor issues of the 1800's.  In this Pennsylvanian history lesson, students research the case of Mary Harris Jones and discover her work as a labor activist.  Students discuss the case together in class.
Interactive
Curated OER

The Gilded Age & the Progressive Era (1877–1917)

For Students 7th - 12th
In this online interactive philosophy worksheet, students respond to 7 short answer and essay questions about the Gilded Age and Progressive Era in the United States. Students may check some of their answers...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Labor Unions and Strikes

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Teens explore economics by listening to a labor history lecture and an excerpt from Looking Backward, by Edward Bellamy. A detailed outline is provided for the lecture, along with follow up and assessment questions. In groups, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Properties of Soil

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students use history to create knowledge of how soil has changed in the state of Ohio. The lesson is cross curricular in nature and uses Along the Ohio Trail as a source of literature for reflection.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cultural Exchange

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are introduced to the concept of cultural exchange and identify two examples of the concept. Individually, they research two specific examples of exchange and write about how it affected the two groups involved. They identify...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dust In The Distance

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students are introduced to the events of the Dust Bowl. Using a map, they locate and label all of the states surrounding and including Oklahoma. After also labeling the counties in Oklahoma, they use the internet to research the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History of Immigration From the 1850's to the Present

For Teachers 11th
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,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gold Mountain

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners read primary and secondary sources to find jobs as a Chinese immigrant. In groups they create a chart listing jobs for Chinese and write a letter about employment and living conditions to a Chinese friend.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Guilded Age

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the Gilded Age in American history. Using the internet, they research the innovations, business, and immigration during this time period. They create a PowerPoint presentation to share their information with the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bay Area: Race and Land

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learners examine the role that racism played in the growth of the Bay Area. They discover how turn-of-the-century boosters promoted a vision of the Bay Area. They study the American Indian Movement's takeover of Alcatraz Island in 1969,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analysis of Newspaper Articles

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students investigate journalism by researching a list of articles. In this story analysis lesson, students read several current event articles and answer a list of study questions as a group. Students summarize the article and share the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping the New World Lesson Plan

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Learners compare two maps of the same area from different time periods. In this American History lesson, students look at two maps of the English colonies from 1636 and 1651. They discuss why the maps changed and predict maps from the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Maps of Indian Territory, the Dawes Act, and Will Rogers' Enrollment Case File

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students, in groups, analyze one map at a time, first the 1885 map, then the 1891 map. After they have completed the analysis sheets, they compare the two maps and answer questions imbedded in the plan.
Website
University of California

The Bancroft Library: Images of Native Americans

For Students 9th - 10th
These artworks are visual interpretations of Native Americans through the eyes of American settlers. Follow a timeline from 1500-1900 to see the perceptions of Native Americans of the white settlers at that time.
Website
The Newberry Library

Newberry Library: Art of Conflict: Portraying American Indians, 1850 to 1900

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Lesson uses digitized primary source material to examine the portrayal of American Indians in art between 1850 and 1900. Classroom activities and questions for discussion included.
Handout
Nebraska Studies

Nebraska Studies: Native American Citizenship

For Students 9th - 10th
After invading the land long lived on by the Native Americans, the United States government only gave them the right to citizenship in 1924 as detailed here.
Primary
Calisphere: University of California Libraries

University of California: Calisphere: 1870 1900: The Transcontinental Railroad

For Students 9th - 10th
Original photos and images highlighting the impact that the Transcontinental Railroad had on the lives and perspectives of Americans and Native Americans.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: California as I Saw It: First Person Narratives, 1849 1900

For Students 9th - 10th
The Library of Congress makes available these eyewitness accounts of California's history from 1849 to 1900.
Handout
Henry J. Sage

Sage American History: 1865 1900: The Gilded Age

For Students 9th - 10th
Look in depth at the Gilded Age of history in the United States. Find resources enhancing lessons of immigration, industrialization, railroads, Native Americans, and politics.
Article
PBS

Pbs: American Roots Music: Historical Background

For Teachers 9th - 10th
What is American roots music? The term "American roots music" may not be a familiar one, and requires some explanation. At the beginning of the 20th Century, the term "folk music" was used by scholars to describe music made by whites of...
Article
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: Asa Whitney

For Students 9th - 10th
From a lengthy essay on the history of the railroad in the United States. This section describes what Asa Whitney did to promote the idea of a transcontinental railroad in the North. His efforts provoked the South into campaigning for...
Article
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: Manifest Destiny: Components of Manifest Destiny

For Students 9th - 10th
A discussion of the ideas that fueled Americans' belief in Manifest Destiny, including religious conviction and a sense of mission that they needed to dominate the land from coast to coast. This led to the drive to displace Native...
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: The History of the Upper Midwest

For Students 9th - 10th
Wonderful site that presents the history of the upper Midwest from the 1600s to around 1900, including Minnesota, Michigan, and Northwest Territories.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: America's History in the Making: Taming the American West

For Students 9th - 10th
Comprehensive teaching unit that explores the settling of the American West in the late 1800s and the challenges these settlers faced. Contains video and text materials, web interactives, student oriented activities, and a timeline of...