Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Age of Exploration

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners investigate U.S. history by examining North American timelines. In this American exploration lesson, students research the events that led to Columbus finding America and participate in a jeopardy game regarding his adventure....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American History Review

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine how people have contributed to American history, regardless of culture, race or religion. They develop a sense of pride for their own efforts, as well as for the efforts of others. They also study how to work both...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Pray, Why Speakest Thou Thusly?"

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Examine popular language and slang and how they have changed over the course of American history. Conduct Internet research, use an online interactive Colonial House website to translate 17th century language into 21st century language,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Views of the American West: True or False?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explain that a landscape painting may or may not accurately represent a specific place. They identify techniques that create the illusion of three-dimensional space on a flat surface.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analyzing the economic, political, social, and cultural transformation of the United States since World War II

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine political issues in the United States between 1936 and 2000. In this American history lesson, 11th graders study the economy, education, government, civil rights, and sports of this time period. Students compare...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

P.O.W.: Products of War

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders are introduced to concepts of war through musical lyrics. They demonstrate and understanding of the role of segregation in US military policy and practice.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Siege and Battle of Corinth

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Learners complete a variety of activities that go along with the study of and possible fieldtrip to thesite of the Siege and Battle of Corinth in Mississippi. They examine the role transportation routes played in the formation of their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Manassas National Battlefield Park

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students complete a variety of activities that go along with the study of and possible fieldtrip to Manassas National Battlefield Park in Virginia.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Memorial Day Fun

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students research Memorial Day and complete activities about the day. In this Memorial Day lesson, students discuss the definition of the word 'memorial' to understand its meaning. Students create flags for the day and listen to a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heart Mountain Relocation Center

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine several primary source documents related to the Japanese internment camp at Heart Mountain, Wyoming. They write an essay about Heart Mountain and explore the concept of restitution to Japanese-Americans.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gettysburg 360

For Teachers 9th - 12th
An interactive site allows scholars to explore the Gettysburg battlefield up close, read soldiers' accounts, and view images of the event. In addition, enrichment activities enhance young historians' experience with Gettysburg...
Lesson Plan
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Anti-Defamation League

The Road to Brown

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
As part of the study of segregation in U.S. schools, scholars research and create a timeline of events that led to the historic Supreme Court case, Brown V. Board of Education. Groups research a topic or event that led to the decision,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Veterans Day Newspaper

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the reasons for and origins of the Veterans Day holiday. They define key vocabulary terms, read and discuss the article "The Origins of Veterans Day," conduct research and complete a worksheet, and create a class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Participating in Democracy

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students analyze film clips in class. In this democracy lesson, students identify the differences between civil liberties, democracy and freedom. Students view a video regarding Japanese internment and answer study questions as well as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westward Expansion and the Frontier

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore U.S. history by researching a historic map. In this westward expansion instructional activity, students discuss the mystery of the western U.S. in the early 1800's and the impact expansion had on Native Americans and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Letters from the Japanese American Internment

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students make deductions about life in an internment camp by reading and comparing letters written to Clara Breed. Along the way, they consider the advantages of looking at a historical event from the multiple points of view of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reconstruction and the 1868 South Carolina Constitution

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students, through lecture and group discussion, explore the American Civil War Reconstruction and how it affected the development of the 1868 Constitution of South Carolina. They discuss its impact on South Carolina even today.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Move or Not to Move? Decision Making and Sacrifice

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars examine the motivations that prompted people to move westward during the 19th century. They take on the role of an average citizen and weigh the costs and benefits of making such a move and decide if they would have...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Windows of Wisconsin (History)

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research the history of Wisconsin. They explore Wisconsin's culture, sovereignty and environment. Using multiple computer technology resources (computer, scanner, camera, internet), 4th graders develop a book on the...
Lesson Plan
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media

What Brought Settlers to the Midwest?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Drawn by promises of fertile land, thousands of settlers poured West because of the Homestead Act of 1862. By examining images of the ads that drew them westward, learners consider the motivations for movement. They also consider how the...
Lesson Plan
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum

Analyzing the Inaugural Address

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Get high school historians to step outside their own shoes by responding to JFK's inaugural address from the perspective of a civil rights activist, a soviet diplomat, or a Cuban exile. After a class discussion about the address,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oh, Could They But Speak! The MGTV Civil War Battle Flags Project: Lesson 9, Whatever Happened to Those Flags?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students view the second half of the MGTV video. Students name the stages that battle flags went through. They share their thoughts with the class. Students complete a journal write about their life and something they would like to lobby...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Southern Patriotism

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify and assess the role patriotism had in southern seccession. They evaluate the effect of Southerners' feelings of national pride in determining their entrance into the Civil War.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing Opinions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare their preconceptions of Native American movement with their current perceptions. They identify why they have changed. Students conclude with a final reflection addressing how they define the Native American experience in...