The Needs of a Soldier

To broaden their understanding of both the short term and long terms effects of the Civil War, class groups examine primary source materials and then assume the role of a family member and draft a letter to a soldier describing life at...

Do governments have the right to authorize individuals to perform illegal acts during times of war? Did the US government really employ pirates? Use the War of 1812 as your vessel to answering these questions through class discussion and...

Students investigate the history of civil rights by viewing historical photographs.  In this U.S. history lesson plan, students discuss why Black Soldiers fought for their rights by joining the Union Army in the 1800's.  Students...

Students identify the exploitations of child soldiers. In this global issues lesson plan, students listen to a story that puts them in the shoes a 16 year old child soldier. Students discuss the plight of the teenager and then write...

Students analyze letters written by World War II soldiers. In this World War I lesson, students read letters written by World War I soldiers and research the events that the soldiers make reference to. Students write their own letters to...

Personal letters give authenticity to a study of the WWII American soldiers' experience. Through primary source analysis, historians examine soldiers' roles and unique contributions by groups like the Tuskegee Airmen. A pre-test is...

If your historians are watching the History Channel documentary, Foot Soldiers during their WWI unit, this plan has some simple recall questions and one referential/debate question ("What was the worst part of the war?") to ask after...

Private John G. Burnett was one of the American soldiers involved in the forced removal of the Cherokee from their lands in the south to Oklahoma. His account of this experience, “A Soldier Recalls the Trail of Tears” provides the text...

Students talk about and grow in their understanding of the important role our troops play, and the important role citizens play in keeping up our troops' morale. They involve themselves in community service by writing letters for, or...

Wars have profound and lasting effects, not only on soldiers and their families, but also on their countries. As part of a study of World War I, class members read the letters of Paul Green, a soldier from North Carolina, who served in...