What fate befell the city of Berlin after World War II? The lesson shares two speeches from US presidents regarding the Berlin Wall and the Cold War. Pupils read primary sources, work in groups, and complete written activities to better...

Point of view, purpose, and tone: three concepts readers of primary and secondary source materials must take into account when examining documents. Class members view a PowerPoint presentation and use the SOAPS strategy to identify an...

Teams of Texas tourists gather into groups to analyze what they can do with $50 worth of an alternative fuel. They write checks, keep a balance sheet, and map out their sight-seeing route taking into consideration the location of...

Students differentiate between primary and secondary research sources before making a visual representation of their research into the colonist of Fort St. Louis. They write inquiry questions to guide their research.

Students examine information regarding the Protestant Reformation. In this primary source analysis lesson, students read teacher-selected primary sources that enable them to analyze the ideas and consequences of the Reformation.

Students discover details about the Underground Railroad. In this slavery lesson, students read primary documents about fugitive slaves and analyze the sources using the provided worksheets. 

Students explore and analyze primary documents from historical women's diaries. They conduct Internet research, develop conclusions about the primary documents, answer questions, and present their information to the class.

Eleventh graders examine Japanese-American internment. In this World War II lesson, 11th graders research primary sources that they locate to learn about the experiences of the interned Japanese-Americans. Students then complete a...

Pupils 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.

Eighth graders take a closer look at the Spanish influenza breakout of 1918. In this research skills activity, 8th graders examine primary sources gathered by their instructor and identify how communities prepared (or did not prepare...

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...

Students explore centennial America. In this American history lesson, students search the Library of Congress digital collections for primary sources regarding the lifestyles and values of Americans in 1876. Students design exhibits to...

Students examine primary source material of the Depression to correlate the fictional text "Out of the Dust" with actual visual, auditory, and manuscript accounts as found in the American Memory collections.

Students examine President Carter's stance on the energy crisis of the 1970s. In this energy crisis lesson, students analyze primary sources that feature the crisis during Carter's term. Students script and...

Students consider how the American Civil War affected Northerners and Southerners. In this primary source analysis lesson, students read the provided narratives of the war and respond to questions about both of the narratives.

Eleventh graders consider what life was like for American slaves. In this primary source analysis lesson, 11th graders read slave narratives from Unchained Memories and then participate in a discussion about the conditions in which...

Learners examine primary sources to discover information about life in the 20th century. In this propaganda lesson, students analyze posters from the time period and present their findings to their classmates. 

Eleventh graders take a closer look at living conditions during the Great Depression. In this Great Depression lesson, 11th graders analyze primary source packets that their teachers prepare and then record facts about life...

Young scholars examine the settlement patterns of the Kansas Territory. For this Kansas history lesson, students analyze primary documents from the pioneers in the territory. Young scholars write letters or perform skits that feature...

Students examine primary sources regarding American movement to the west. In this westward expansion instructional activity, students create broadside posters based on the Homestead Act primary sources they research.

Students research the War of 1812 as it affected Canadian history. They research primary source documents that are listed at the include websites. They answer the associated research questions.

Students examine photographs taken of immigrants during late 1800s and early 1990s in America, and identify factors involved in immigration through examination of primary documents that include statistics, trends, graphs, photographs,...

Students examine primary sources and perform historical analysis. In this Huexotzinco Codex lesson, students investigate the codex as they make inferences and draw conclusions

Pupils explore the history of the United States and slavery. In this slavery lesson plan, students view primary sources, complete journal writing, view videos, and answer short answer questions.