The New York Times
The Cold War: Crossword
This crossword puzzle focuses on clues related to The Cold War. It also has unrelated clues that would be a challenge to middle schoolers, but should be manageable to secondary students; particularly juniors taking US history. There are...
Curated OER
President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt
In this biography comprehension instructional activity, students read a 3 page selection on President Roosevelt and answer 8 multiple choice question about the selection. The selection is a
Curated OER
General Knowledge Quiz About the USA
In this facts about America worksheet, students complete a 14 question multiple choice on-line interactive quiz about the U.S.A. Included are historical facts, famous people, and landmarks.
Curated OER
Surrender at Yorktown
Eighth graders examine the start of the American Revolution. In this American History lesson plan, 8th graders analyze primary sources. Students prepare a narration of events leading up to the revolution.
Curated OER
Across Five Aprils/Civil War
Eighth graders study the Civil War novel, Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt. They review vocabulary and literary elements and write a "Brother Against Brother" essay about coming face to face with a brother in one of the battles of the...
New York Historical Society
The Vietnam War: 1945-1975
Do pupils know that the Vietnam War spanned a period of 30 years? A war that long is bound to leave devastating effects. Help young historians develop a comprehensive understanding of the war through multiple units on the subject that...
City University of New York
Jim Crow and Voting Rights
Class groups examine primary source documents to determine how the voting rights of African Americans were restricted after the failure of Reconstruction, and how African American participation in World War II lead to change.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
The Election of 1912
The Election of 1912: an election with four competitive opponents. Pupils get to know the candidates with informative reading passages that provide context to the election. Then, the class engages in a debate and answers questions as one...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Ellis Island—The “Golden Door” to America
Are you one of the 100 million Americans whose ancestors passed through the doors of Ellis Island? Learn about the historic entry point for immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with an informative reading passage. After...
Penguin Books
An Educator's Guide to The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Jack the Ripper terrorized London in the late 1800s. An educator's guide for the novel The Name of the Star places the historical figure in a modern context. Readers complete a pre-reading activity before answering a series of discussion...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Chief Executives Compared: The Federalist Papers
Delve into the responsibilities of the president by looking at President Hamilton's opinion of the presidential office in his own words. The second in a three-part series, the resource also offers an interesting compare-and-contrast...
Curated OER
Key Ingredients: America by Food
Students participate in a series of activities to explore the types of food Americans eat, how food choices differ in various parts of the country, and how the availability of various foods has changed over time.
K12 Reader
African American Inventors: Patricia Bath
Young readers practice their comprehension skills by responding to a series of text-based questions on a passage about Patricia Bath, the first black woman medical doctor to receive a patent.
Curated OER
Stamp Act: Virtual Representation vs. Actual Representation
Eleventh graders research and discuss the different points of view of colonists in terms of taxation, as well as how these viewpoints helped lead to the revolution.
Curated OER
History: I'm Watching You 24/7
Learners examine the growth of authoritarian societies. Focusing on North Korea, they watch video clips looking for examples of totalitarianism and identify the problems there. They write letters to the editors of local newspapers...
Curated OER
Three Wars Equal One New Country: Part 3
Students explore the many reasons why and how Germany became a country.
Curated OER
Documenting History: Photographs as Social Commentaries
Students examine photographs that make social statements. They examine content, symbolism, and their personal reactions to works of art that make expressive statements about social issues.
Curated OER
History Repeats Itself
Students read about an event that occurred 140 years ago to ascertain
information (who? what? when? where? why?) and to compare this event to Rosa Parks arrest almost 50 years ago. They retell the story from your point of view.
Curated OER
Three Wars Equal One New Country: Part 1
Students explore how and why Germany became a nation.
Curated OER
Tabloid Traditions
Students explore the role the supermarket tabloids play in the United States. They review United States history and explore how some events have been transformed into popular culture.
Curated OER
Discovery Channels
Young scholars read a New York Times article in order to explore issues about the celebration of Columbus Day. They, working in groups, research the legacy of exploration and colonization. They use the research to create a first person...
Curated OER
United We Stand?
Students consider the consolidation that led to the creation of greater New York City in 1898, and what would happen if their own class, school, or community united with its neighbor or neighbors.
Curated OER
Ratification of the Constitution
Eighth graders view two resources from the ratification debates and infer the motives and concerns of people in the two states involved. They write a newspaper editorial in favor or opposed to ratifying the Constitution.