Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Benjamin Franklin and the Long Struggle for Independence
Students explore U.S. history by reading biographical material in class. In this Benjamin Franklin lesson, students identify the life of Franklin and the events that led him to become one of America's first heroes. Students complete an...
DocsTeach
Analyzing a Letter from Jackie Robinson: "Fair Play and Justice"
Jackie Robinson was more than a baseball legend; he was an activist, too. An interesting resource explores Robinson's time in the military using primary sources. Scholars examine the racially inspired event that led to a court martial...
TED-Ed
History vs. Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Lenin is on trial in an engaging, animated video where the merits and consequences of the formation of the Soviet Union and Lenin's actions are reviewed. This is a great way to illustrate how to establish and argue unique...
Smithsonian Institution
The Music of the Mardi Gras Indians
The traditions, costumes, and the music of the Mardi Gras Indians, African-Americans and those with African American or Native American Heritage are the focus of a unit that introduces class members to a little-known group that plays a...
Curated OER
North and South
Young scholars study the Civil War and the changes it brought to our country. They examine some of Robert E. Lee's accomplishments and the contributions he made as president to Washington and Lee University. They make a map showing which...
Curated OER
American Revolution: Who Am I
For this American Revolution worksheet, students read 5 paragraphs, each giving clues about a famous person in the Revolutionary War. Students use a word bank to find the answer.
Curated OER
Historical Perspective
Students research the different perspectives of important groups and figures involved in the American Revolution and apply their findings to write and perform monologues depicting this pivotal time in history.
Curated OER
Japanese Empire and Culture in World War II
Students analyze examples of major empires, summarize effects of imperialism on selected societies, identify examples of art and architecture that demonstrate artistic ideal or visual principle from selected cultures and/or describe an...
Curated OER
John Paul Jones: Captain of the High Seas
Students explore John Paul Jones. His sense of adventure brought him to America. His bravery made him the country's greatest naval hero.
Curated OER
Milestones in the Space Program
Students brainstorm names of astronauts from NASA space missions. They are explained that the Cold War was not actually a war but pervasive tension that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union for several decades...
Curated OER
The Odyssey Lesson 2
Ninth graders read and discuss part 1 of The Odyssey and create a mind map and visual images to represent vocabulary. In this reading lesson plan, 9th graders are introduced to poetry, and the Hero Cycle.
Curated OER
The Red Badge of Courage: A New Kind of Courage
High schoolers provide examples of Crane's treatment of the "manly virtues" associated with war using support from the text of The Red Badge of Courage. They describe the three published endings of The Red Badge of Courage and the...
Curated OER
Women In Aviation
In this aviation activity, high schoolers take an electronic field trip to the Aviation Museum of Kentucjy. In the process the activity looks at women in aviation history. The focus is upon how they could be considered heroes or role...
Curated OER
Chiune Sugihara
Students read a story about a Japanese man wanting to save the Jews from Germany, Japan's allies at the beginning of the war. Reading various texts, they examine the life of Chiune Sugihara and how he saved many Jews from death. They...
Curated OER
Nicholas and the Dragon
In this reading worksheet, students read a five-page fairy tale about a boy named Nicholas, a princess named Penelope, and a dragon. At the end, Nicholas is hailed a hero and marries the princess.
Curated OER
History of the Americas – Mexican Revolution Essay Test Questions
In this Mexican Revolution worksheet, students respond to 9 essay questions that require them to describe the details and impact of the war.
Curated OER
Harriet Tubman Puzzle
Harriet Tubman's life is revealed in this presentation puzzle. Portions of a covered picture with related clues about Harriet Tubman are given as students predict the subject matter as each factual clue is given until the entire picture...
Curated OER
Holocaust Research Project
Students research multiple aspects of WWII. In this Holocaust lesson, students will use several primary source documents to write a 3 page pater on subjects concerning WWII, such as Kristallnacht, Ethnic Cleansing and the Holocaust.
Curated OER
Anne Frank: Rescuers
Students discuss heroic behavior of individuals from the Holocaust. They examine early civilizations and their contributions to the foundations of human culture. They
recognize that heroic behavior (just like discrimination) is done...
Curated OER
Historic Takes
Students examine photographs of memorials for veterans. They identify who is being honored and why. They research one hero they find interesting and create a memorial for them. They share their hero with the class.
Curated OER
Decatur House
Students investigate the life of Stephen Decatur, how he acquired his wealth and his influence to become a hero in his own time. The practice of dueling in the early 19th century America is examined.
Curated OER
The Lily Cupboard by Shulamith Ley Oppenheim
Students demonstrate knowledge of what a hero does, discuss concepts of persecution and hiding, identify ways Nazis persecuted Jews, and analyze reasons and motivations that caused people to take a stand.
Curated OER
The Home Front
Students describe the effects of World War II on the Home Front, including rationing, female employment, and the end of the Great Depression. This is done after performing intentional research into the subject.
Association for Library Service to Children
Summer Reading List Grades 6-8
What better activity is there for summer than reading? Provide your pupils with 25 book ideas for their summer reading pursuits. A variety of different genres are represented on this list, and each book is paired with publication...