Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fort Life in the Green Bay Area, 1816-1841

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine from the perspectives of military personnel, Native Americans, families of soldiers, and civilians who lived and worked in the region during the era. They create a 2-page scrapbook layout from at least two of the...
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

Who Was Contraband?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the role of African-Americans in the Civil War. Using primary sources, they analyze the material and formulate their own opinions about the past. They write journal entries to share their opinions on photographs from the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Manhattan Project

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discover the technological and scientific requirements for making the atomic bomb, the immediate effects of an atomic bomb, and the social and political changes that have resulted from the Manhattan Project.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Preservation of Civil War Battlefields

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the importance of battlefield preservation.  In this US History lesson, 8th graders participate in a virtual tour of battle sites.  Students create a map of Gettysburg to see the topography of the battle...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Combat Credentials

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the connection between military experiences and presidential campaigns, reading "A War is Nice on the Resume, But It May Not Get You the Job." students research an American president's background and create a...
Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

Who Fired the Shot Heard Round the World?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Take a closer look. Young academics become detectives in an engaging lesson on the American Revolution. Scholars work in groups to analyze documents to uncover whether the American colonists or British soldiers fired the first shot at...
Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

The Cuban Missile Crisis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Cold War tensions led to hostile actions. Scholars use primary sources to understand the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis during President Kennedy's administration. The lesson provides primary sources and a graphic organizer to...
Lesson Plan
American Battlefield Trust

Jeremiah Handley

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Designed for middle school scholars, a instructional activity explores the life of Jeremiah Handley, a young man when the Civil War broke out. Pupils read Handley's personal story, accounts of battles, and view images to understand what...
Lesson Plan
American Battlefield Trust

The Common Civil War Soldier

For Teachers 4th - 7th Standards
If it were possible to step back in time, what would learners want to know about the Civil War? With the aid of discussion prompts, they now have that chance. Invite a Civil War re-enactor to your classroom and have all their questions...
Lesson Plan
American Battlefield Trust

Experiencing the Battle of Franklin

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Scholars watch videos, study an animated map, and read a firsthand written account to explore the impact of the Battle of Franklin during the Civil War. Academics analyze images, complete worksheets, and create journal entries to...
Lesson Plan
American Battlefield Trust

Life At War

For Teachers 9th - 12th
A thought-provoking lesson plan explores what life was like for Civil War soldiers. With a presentation, group discussion, and writing activity, academics learn about camp living conditions, what soldiers ate, and how they dressed. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chancellorsville 360

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Experience a Civil War battlefield up close. Chancellorsville 360 allows scholars to explore the battlefield in an interactive format. The site demonstrates the layout of the battlefield, strategies, and key events. Created for high...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

1863: Shifting Tides

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The victory at Gettysburg is forever immortalized in the famous speech given by Present Abraham Lincoln. Designed for secondary pupils, an interesting lesson plan explains how 1863 was a pivotal year for the Union. Academics explore the...
Lesson Plan
American Battlefield Trust

Preserving Battlefields

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
Save that site! Budding historians go on a rescue mission to save important Civil War battle sites using a project-based lesson. After carefully researching the importance of critical engagements and evaluating current threats, learners...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Takejiro Higa - Military Intelligence Service

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders study the contribution of Takejiro Higa in the invasion of Okinawa.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Civil War Essay Writing

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students, in groups of three, research a topic about the Civil War. They present thier research to the class in an orally.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Led the South?

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the role of Jefferson Davis and his leadership of the Confederacy during the Civil War. They examine the command system used in the Confederacy and analyze the effectiveness of the command system.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Gettysburg": Soldier Motivation in 1863

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders watch and discuss various clips from the movie "Gettysburg". Using the video, they identify the main motivation for the Union and Confederate soldiers. They describe how soldiers motivation changed from 1861 and 1863.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Battle Flags: Michigan and the Civil War Lesson 5 Letters from the War

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the letters written my Michigan soldiers during the Civil War. They examine the letters for clues about the life and attitudes of these soldiers.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The American Presidents (Middle, History)

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders get a firm understanding of the major contributions and defining characteristics of the American Presidents.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Journalists Under Fire

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research current events in relation to the United States military. In this current event instructional activity, students find out what is going on in the war and use what they find to explain and debate their stance on current...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Fog of War

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students view the film Fog of War and discuss the most striking elements of the film. They focus on chosen lessons from robert McNamara's life such as: empathy, rationality and proportionality.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

They Also Serve

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore the roles women played during World War II. They design a recruiting poster telling women of the ways in which they can serve their country today and present their posters to the class.