Eleventh graders discover how Northern philanthropists fought against Jim Crow laws in the South. In this Reconstruction activity, 11th graders analyze 2 letters written by John Fox Slater and determine what his motivations were in...

Learners apply information found in Lincoln's speeches, especially The Gettysburg Address, to create a persuasive speech on a current topic.

Students evaluate the fairness of the Missouri Compromise. They read the Missouri Compromise and discuss how it reflected the North-South, anti-slavery and pro-slavery division in the country. They work in groups to debate the Missouri...

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

High schoolers examine working conditions during the Industrial boom. In this Industrialization lesson, students analyze primary sources in order to chart the responsibilities of workers in industrial jobs.

Students move from fact finding to interpretation as they examine paper money from the time of the American Revolution. In the final exercise, they use the issue dates of the bills to construct a chronology of political changes during...

Students discover what it was like to cross into freedom. In this slavery lesson, students read the "Emancipation Proclamation," and letters written by Abraham Lincoln and John Washington (a former slave). Students identify the key ideas...

Students investigate themes of justice and rights while reading the novel Farewell to Manzanar. They research contemporary civil rights issues and write reports. They also research the background of internment camps during World War II.

This lesson enables teachers to use blues music to explore the history of African Americans in the 20th century. By studying the content of blues songs, students can learn about the experiences and struggles of the working-class...

Students, after viewing several segments of the video, "Stories Under the Stones," discuss the pros/cons of separate burial areas for different groups of people. They analyze a series of documents regarding the burial policy of one...

High schoolers examine extension ideas concerning 9/11, Defining Moments. They analyze a variety of Supreme Court cases, the U.S. Constitution, Mass Media Interpretations, Racism, Immigrant groups and U.S. geography. Many questions are...

Learners simulate a Commission hearing in which the class attempt to arrive at an immigration policy; individual essays by each student; and, if time permits, individual or group projects based on some aspect of America's immigration...

Students explore the life and times of a coal miner in Illinois through the analysis of primary source documents and images.

Young scholars examine the image of George Washington. In this Washington presidency lesson plan, students use the provided analysis handout to analyze the character of Washington conveyed in several pieces of art and speeches. Young...

Students examine the economic, health, and environmental risks of a one-crop economy in the developing world. They explain how or why it can be challenging for people of one culture to understand the lifestyle of a different society.

Students analyze agricultural data and make predictions about events in history. For this history lesson, students correlate the relationship between historic events and issues in agriculture to see if there is a correlation. They...

High schoolers study the image of Andrew Jackson. In this presidential history lesson students investigate the political image that was groomed by Jackson as they examine advertisements. High schoolers compose essays regarding the topic.

Eighth graders examine the lives of the Gullah-Geechee people. In this unique cultures lesson, 8th graders explore music, language, and slavery of the Gullah-Geechee people from the southern low-country in the United States. Students...

Though this resource was designed in 2005, US tension with North Korea remains a relevant topic for exploration and understanding. Unfortunately, this lecture and reading-based lesson plan is unlikely to engage the class. The end product...

Students identify various regions of early Arkansas as these regions relate to African American colonies that settled in Arkansas after the Civil War.

Ninth graders explore various time-periods in American history. They select important events, people, places, and artifacts to explore. Students present their information to the class using PowerPoint.

Pupils 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 own...

Students complete a variety of activities that go along with the study of and possible fieldtrip to Manassas National Battlefield Park in Virginia.

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...