Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Women and the Law Ladies of the 80's: 1780's, 1880's, 1980's

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine laws that have affected women in history: the 1780's, following the United States independence from England; the 1880's, the time of westward expansion, the silver/gold era, and the coming of the Industrial Revolution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stamp Act: Virtual Representation vs. Actual Representation

For Teachers 11th
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.
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Colonial America: The Original 13

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers work in small groups to research the initial history of two colonies and answering a list of questions. They then prepare a PowerPoint presentation or poster that includes all the findings of the questions and share...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Making of Our First President

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate George Washington's military career. In this George Washington lesson, students research the contributions of Washington the colonial military and then write editorials about his accomplishments for a mock colonial...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History In The Making

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students visit Colonial America in a Time Machine to discover the process that a citizen today must follow in order to make or change a law. Students research the Colonial Era in their Time Machines. Students encounter various government...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. History: The Progressive Era

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the Colonial Revival Movement as a response to industrialization and immigration. focusing on Deerfield, Connecticut, they create a documentary artifact reflecting the period.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New England Colonies

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students study the New England colonies. In this colonies lesson, students use a directed reading-thinking method to learn about the New England colonies. Students follow the method to make predictions, read the text, and analyze the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Johnny Tremain for the 21st Century

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders complete a unit of lessons on the American Revolution based on the novel, 'Johnny Tremain.' They define key vocabulary terms, develop a timeline, write a report on a colonial craft, make a colonial flag, and create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Unit on Gandhi and Ahimsa

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Young scholars explore the history of Gandhi and his viewpoint and example of nonviolence.  In this World History lesson, students complete numerous research assignments and activities over the course of nine lessons to expand their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cooking Cranberry Pudding

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore colonial cooking.  In this cross curriculum George Washington and colonial America history lesson, students follow a recipe for cranberry pudding, a possible favorite of George and Martha Washington. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Multas

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Combine history and Spanish instruction with an exploration of descriptions of fines given in Florida in 1790. Partners read the brief text, fill out a graphic organizer about the crimes described, and interview each other about fines....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taxed Tempers Toss Tea To Tides

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Engage learners in persuasive writing, research, and creative thinking. They research the series of events that led to the Boston Tea Party and create brochures that include propaganda intended to rally Patriot support or dissuade...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Do You Really Know What Wealth Is?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore what it means to have wealth in Mali and in the United States. In this economics lesson, students read "Music in the Fields." Student groups answer discussion questions.  Students reflect on the purpose music serves...
Lesson Plan
Heritage Foundation

Procedural Amendments: Amendments III, IV, and V

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
So many US Constitution clauses, so little time. The 17th installment in a 20-part series teaches pupils about the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments. Learning through activities such as group work, connecting to current events, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colonization

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders discover where and why groups of people colonized and settled in the United States by building their own colonies. Using Kidpix, have students make a poster persuading all the other students to come live in their colony.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fight For Your Right - Leading A Revolution of Change

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine civil rights. For this civil rights lesson, students research human rights issues of United States history. High schoolers then discuss their research findings and write Bill of Rights statements for the topics...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thomas Jefferson

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the accomplishments of world leaders. In this Thomas Jefferson lesson plan, students list the accomplishments achieved by Jefferson and read his epitaph. Students then write epitaphs for recent world leaders or celebrities.
Lesson Plan
Heritage Foundation

Crime and Punishment

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
You wouldn't give someone a 10-day timeout for eating a piece of candy. The US government, too, does not believe in unreasonable punishment. A variety of exercises exploring the clauses of the US Constitution prompts class members to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Will the Real Ben Franklin Please Stand Up?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the life and accomplishments of Benjamin Franklin. For this colonial history lesson, students research Benjamin Franklin's work as a printer, a writer, a statesman, and an inventor. Students determine what his most...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Past Imperfect: Examining Secondary Sources of the American Revolution

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders respond in essay form to the following writing prompt. Mel Gibson, star of The Patriot, is quoted as stating, "If one were to adhere to historical accuracy all the way, you'd probably have the most boring two hours on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Policies that Relate to American Indians

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders demonstrate an understanding of the impact of the western settlement patterns on American Indians. They analyze the growth and division of the United States from 1820 through 1877 and examine the non-Indian concept of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing Attitudes: Aging in America Lesson Plan

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss how the elder members of the community are viewed. Using the internet, they research how this view has changed since colonial times. They also identify ways in which this attitude keeps changing in modern America.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Muses of Independence

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the entertainment options in colonial America. In this colonial life lesson, 8th graders watch a movie about colonial music and arts. Students then respond to questions regarding the movie and also respond to 1...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building a Nation

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the main ideas of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. They read and discuss text, read and summarize a section of the Declaration of Independence in small groups, and write a paper on why the colonists felt it...