Eras in American History Teacher Resources
Find Eras in American History lesson plans and worksheets
Showing 1 - 200 of 1,312 resources
Lesson Planet
The Reconstruction Era and The Fragility of Democracy
Seven lessons examine the Reconstruction Era that followed the United States Civil War. The series of detailed lessons provide background information on the era, teaching strategies, videos, and primary source materials.
Lesson Planet
Middle School World History
A 22-lesson Middle School World History unit uses a unique problem-solving approach to teach tweens economic history. After reading articles that provide background information, pupils engage in activities and simulations that require...
Lesson Planet
Black Americans in Congress
Seven lessons make up a unit on African-Americans who served in the United States Congress from 1870 to 2007. Young historians read contextual essays, engage in activities, examine primary source images, and artifacts to gain an...
Lesson Planet
Center for Civic Education: Black History Month
Six lesson plans in the Black History Month collection introduce middle and high schoolers to nonviolent actions as a means to resist oppression and encourage reform. Lessons look at the Children’s March, music, and citizenship schools...
Lesson Planet
History Blueprint: The Civil War
Northerners, Southerners, and abolitionists all had a different perspective on the American Civil War. To understand these different points of view, class members analyze primary documents including speeches by Abraham Lincoln, the...
Lesson Planet
Reconstruction: America After the Civil War
Excerpts from Reconstruction: America After the Civil War, Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s documentary series provide young historians with insight into the struggles the country faced in the years after the Civil war. Viewers learn about the...
Lesson Planet
C-SPAN Classroom: Middle School Civics
Introduce middle schoolers to the roles and powers of the three branches of the United States government, with the 21 resources in the C-SPAN Civics collection. Sorted into the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial...
Lesson Planet
The Civil Rights Movement: Grades 6-8
From Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X to Rosa Parks and Muhammad Ali, the Civil Rights Movement united African Americans in a struggle for quality. Including an array of lesson plans, presentations, videos, activities, and...
Lesson Planet
Hidden Stories: A Three-Part Lesson in African-American History, Research, and Children’s Literature
Groups of high school learners conduct research on a particular era of African-American history, focusing on events, people, and places important to that era. Next, they review children's literature in four different genres. As a...
Lesson Planet
The Fabric of History
African-American history is an integral part of what America is. Learners examine important events, read informational texts, and create quilts depicting specific eras in African-American history. Each image created for the quilt will be...
Lesson Planet
US History Overview 2 - Reconstruction to the Great Depression
Ambitiously spanning American history from 1865 to 1941, this video discusses and clarifies topics such as women's suffrage, the sinking of the Maine, and the development of America as a world empire. Maps and photographs will engage...
Lesson Planet
The Federalist Era ( 1789-1800)
Focus on early American history with this set of 14 short answer questions, all related to the Federalist Era. George Washington, James Madison, and the US Constitution, what could be better than that?
Lesson Planet
The Jim Crow Era
High schoolers examine how African-Americans were affected by the Great Depression. In this African-American history lesson, students conduct independent research on the social conditions of the time period using the suggested resources....
Lesson Planet
After Reconstruction: Problems of African Americans
Students describe issues or problems facing African Americans following Reconstruction. They explain possible solutions to these problems suggested in the sources you find, and cite arguments for and against these solutions.
Lesson Planet
Reliving History through Slave Narratives
Helpful for an American literature or history unit, this lesson prompts middle schoolers to examine slavery in the United States. They read slave narratives that were part of the Federal Writers' Project and then conduct their own...
Lesson Planet
America's History in the Making: Classroom Applications Three
How can primary sources bring history to life? Scholars create detailed lesson plans on the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in American history. The 17th installment of a 22-part program exploring American history examines...
Lesson Planet
US History Summer Instructional Packet
Can you boil the historical, cultural, and political events and movements from the last 150 years into a descriptive study guide? You don't have to—it's right here! A thorough resource includes informative text, discussion questions,...
Lesson Planet
African American History: Climbing the Wall
Imagine the challenge of trying to trace your family genealogy if no records were kept of births and deaths. Where would you look for information? What types of documents could provide you with the information you seek? History...
Lesson Planet
History Review: Colonial America
Explore key moments in American history with the click of a mouse! Learners read 50 questions from different eras in early America, and watch the rest of the presentation to find more questions to answer.
Lesson Planet
Reconstruction: The 15th Amendment and African American Men in Congress
To escape to freedom, Robert Smalls had to steal a Confederate ship and sail to Union lines. He continued that fight for freedom as one of the first African American representatives in Congress during the Reconstruction era. Learners...
Lesson Planet
Practice Test: Colonialism and the Foundations of American Democracy
Which document introduced the idea of limited government? What is the official beginning of the American Revolution? From the colonial period to the establishment of the Constitution, this assessment includes 40 multiple choice questions...
Lesson Planet
African Americans in the United States Congress During Reconstruction
The Civil Rights Act of 1866, which granted citizenship to all males in the U.S., resulted in the first African Americans to be elected to Congress. Class members research 11 of these men, the challenges they faced, and craft...
Lesson Planet
Billie Holiday's Song "Strange Fruit"
Pupils analyze a variety of primary source materials related to lynching (news articles, letters written to or written by prominent Americans, pamphlets, broadsides, etc.) in order to assess the effectiveness of the anti-lynching...
Lesson Planet
From Jim Crow to Linda Brown: A Retrospective of the African-American Experience from 1897 to 1953.
Students research the American Memory collection to explore the African-American experience from 1897 to 1953.
Lesson Planet
The Great "What If" Question. How might American history have been different had Lincoln lived?
Eleventh graders study the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln. For this American History lesson, 11th graders analyze documents related to Reconstruction. Students participate in a debate on Reconstruction.
Lesson Planet
Progressive Era Lesson Plan
The women working for equal rights in the early 20th century weren't a part of one large group; rather, they were members of dozens of small groups focused on social reform. Explore the ways groups in the Progressive Era like National...
Lesson Planet
This Isn't Right: A History of Women in Industry
Women were in the workplace long before Rosie the Riveter pushed up her sleeve. Learn about the working options available to women during the Industrial Revolution, the Progressive Era, and the Great Depression with a lesson that prompts...
Lesson Planet
Curriculum Guide For Teaching Texas History
Follow Texas history from Native Americans all the way to the 21st Century. Teachers analyze the creation of a year-long course on Texas history and use a wide range of teaching subjects and materials to guide them through the state's...
Lesson Planet
From Jim Crow To Linda Brown: A Retrospective of the African-American Experience from 1897 to 1953
Students examine African American issue between the years 1897 and 1953. In this African American history lesson, students research the social, economic, and political conditions of African Americans during the aforementioned time span...
Lesson Planet
American History Impact of the Women’s Movement
Take a look at important images that depict the women's suffrage movement, the support for the Equal Rights Amendment, and wage equity for women over the last two centuries. As class members work through a lesson on primary source...
Lesson Planet
US History and Government Examination: January 2010
From the trade of the colonial era to the Clean Water Act, water has shaped American history. Class members unpack how water affected the American story using primary sources that span events including the Lewis and Clark expedition to...
Lesson Planet
Taming the American West
Have you ever seen a movie about the romance of the American West with its buffalo, horses, cowboys, and endless frontier? The 13th installment of a 22-part series on American history presents the myths associated with the American West....
Lesson Planet
The Rise and Fall of the Jim Crow Era
Students explore African American history by researching the Jim Crow laws. In this Civil Rights lesson, students define the Jim Crow laws, the reasons they were put into place, and how they were ultimately defeated. Students write a...
Lesson Planet
The AME Church in U.S. History
Ninth graders explore the history of the African Methodist Church in the United States. In this African American history instructional activity, 9th graders discover why the church was founded and research its history and noteworthy...
Lesson Planet
American Colonists Protest Song
Middle schoolers explore the role of protest songs. In this early American history lesson plan, students research the acts passed by the British that angered colonists. Middle schoolers then listen to protest songs from contemporary...
Lesson Planet
African Americans After the Civil War
Young historians learn what life was like in the South during the Reconstruction era. They complete hands-on-activities and participate in group discussion to understand how experiences varied between African Americans and white...
Lesson Planet
Events leading to the American Revolution
The Stamp Act, Paul Revere's ride, and the Boston Tea Party pushed American colonists to the tipping point that led to the American Revolution. Fifth graders research the key figures of the war, study the Declaration of Independence, and...
Lesson Planet
Three Visions for African Americans
Students consider the plight of African Americans in post-Reconstruction America. In this African American history lesson, students discover the visions of African American leaders Booker T. Washington, W. E. B. Du Bois, and Marcus...
Lesson Planet
History of Immigration Through the 1850s
Everyone living in the United States today is a descendant from an immigrant—even Native Americans. Learn about the tumultuous history of American immigration with a reading passage that discusses the ancient migration over the Bering...
Lesson Planet
Antebellum Era: Daily Lives of Slaves
Learners evaluate primary sources from the antebellum era to determine the accuracy of textbooks. They examine narratives from enslaved people, then compare them to their own text. Extension activities include the opportunity to write a...
Lesson Planet
American Revolution Project
Here you will find three simple and engaging American Revolution projects that will allow your learners to not only express their comprehension of major events and key terms during the war, but also offer the opportunity for great...
Lesson Planet
Zoom-In: Depression Era
Primary scholars investigate economics by analyzing images of the Great Depression. They will view a photograph from the era and discuss the imagery with a partner. In addition, they answer study questions about their photograph and...
Lesson Planet
“The Fifteenth Amendment in Flesh and Blood,” The Symbolic Generation of Black Americans in Congress, 1870–1887
New ReviewThe reading of a contextual essay launches a study of Black Americans who served in Congress from 1870 through 1887. Young historians identify the African Americans who served during this period, investigate the ways they won national...
Lesson Planet
An African American Represents Alabama during Reconstruction
The era after the Civil War saw a flourishing of African Americans exercising their rights. Using graphic organizers and Internet research, pupils consider the legacy of Benjamin Sterling Turner, who sat in Congress. Afterward, they...
Lesson Planet
20th Century American Art
See the changes, controversy, and innovations that define postwar American art. The onset of the modern art era in American history is well-defined in this slide-show. You'll see how Abstract Expressionism shifted into conceptual, pop,...
Lesson Planet
Black Americans in Congress Speak Their Mind
New ReviewTo conclude their study of Black Americans in Congress, groups select a statement made by one of the Members, examine the Member's profile on the provided link, and create a display that includes state represented, years of service, an...
Lesson Planet
What if YOU Lived During Jim Crow?
Young historians envision what life was like for African Americans living in the Jim Crow South through hands-on, experiential activities.
Lesson Planet
Hispanic Congressional Representation in the Era of U.S. Continental Expansion, 1822–1898
New ReviewFrom the Louisiana Purchase to the Spanish American War, the history of the United States is intertwined with the story of Hispanic Americans. Using an article about Hispanics in Congress during the 1800s, learners research their lives...
Lesson Planet
The Two-Party System in American History: Ch 5
Five matching and 5 multiple choice questions to challenge your class. Their answers will test their knowledge of early American government. Party systems, Electorate, and major constituents of the time are the topics included.
Lesson Planet
A Contested History
Memories of and interpretations of history change—that's the key takeaway from a lesson that has young historians compare the story of the Reconstruction Era as told by the historians of the Dunning School to the view of scholars today...
Lesson Planet
2017 AP® United States History Free-Response Questions
Were unfair taxes really the cause of the American Revolution? Learners explore the complicated historiography behind the revolutionary period using authentic College Board prompts. The free-response questions from the exam feature...
Lesson Planet
History of African-American Music
Learners are introduced to African-American music history through this lesson. They begin their study by taking a look at the slave work song and work their way through to modern rap and hip-hop. Students also take a closer look at...
Lesson Planet
After Reconstruction: Problems of African Americans in the South
Lynchings, race riots, and Jim Crow laws were just a few examples of antagonism that African Americans faced after Emancipation. Class groups investigate these and other events, and prepare a presentation to inform the class about the...
Lesson Planet
Chapter 18: The Reconstruction Era (Test)
Six pages and 41 questions await your class, as they show what they know about the era of Reconstruction. Each question asks who, what, where, when, or why, regarding the people, places, laws, and events related to Reconstruction. You...
Lesson Planet
Reconstruction: The Birth of a Nation - Rewriting History through Propaganda
How historically accurate was the film The Birth of a Nation? Using a video that features clips from the film and analysis from historians, young scholars explore the connection between art and history. Additional activities include...
Lesson Planet
On This Day: OPEC Declares Oil Embargo
The memories of gas lines from the OPEC Oil Embargo linger in the memories of many Americans. A series of video clips—including those from experts on the subject of oil importation, Jimmy Carter addressing the country, and Congress...
Lesson Planet
Modern Interpretations
To conclude an eight-lesson study of the events that occurred in the early colonial period in Deerfield, Massachussetss, class members evaluate the point of view and bias found in late 19th and early 20th century retellings.
Lesson Planet
American History Games
Introduce your class members to the essential questions and information they will be learning in an American history unit with a game app that can also be used again as a review at the end of the study.
Lesson Planet
Texts and Era Introduction
Make text-to-world connections between 1920s American history and The Great Gatsby. Upper graders share facts they researched about the 1920s the evening prior, view two video clips about F. Scott Fitzgerald, and then choose a book to...
Lesson Planet
Progressive Era Women
The National Women's History Museum provides this interactive resource that permits users to explore women who played key roles during the Progressive Era in the quest for workers' rights, the Settlement House Movement, the Suffrage...
Lesson Planet
World War II
December 7th is remembered as a tragic time in American history, but some scholars may not know why. The resource explains the significance of the bombing of Pearl Harbor as well as how World War II relates to American history. The...
Lesson Planet
2016 AP® United States History Free-Response Questions
The British and Spanish both had footholds in the New World, yet they had different approaches. Scholars explore the dynamics, along with the reasons behind immigration to the United States and business practices of the Gilded Age in a...
Lesson Planet
To Kill A Mockingbird: A Historical Perspective
Learners study the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Through studying primary source materials from American Memory and other online resources, students of all backgrounds study the relationships between blacks and whites.
Lesson Planet
Not Only Paul Revere: Other Riders of the American Revolution
Learners examine circumstances surrounding rides of the American Revolution other than Paul Revere's, explore why posterity treated them differently than Revere's ride, and create original poems based on historical fact.
Lesson Planet
The Impact of the Jim Crow Era on Education, 1877–1930s
Even though American slaves were officially emancipated in 1865, the effects of slavery perpetuated throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Middle and high schoolers learn about the ways that discrimination and the Jim Crow laws...
Lesson Planet
Cold War Conflict in Vietnam: The Vietnam-Era Presidency
Comparing and evaluating various media types is a great way to build critical analysis skills. Learners read about the Vietnam era presidency, specifically the foreign policy established by Johnson and Nixon. Then they compare several...
Lesson Planet
Keeping the Faith: African Americans Return to Congress, 1929–1970
New ReviewThe third lesson in a unit that traces the history of African Americans serving in the US Congress examines the period from 1929 through 1970. After reading a contextual essay that details the few African Americans elected to Congress...
Lesson Planet
Mercantilism and The Colonial American Economy
The invisible hand of trade. Viewers use the AP review video to learn the impact of mercantilism on the American Colonies. They examine the question of taxation without representation as the colonists get more and more upset with the...
Lesson Planet
US History and Government Examination: June 2016
A comprehension check uses multiple-choice and essay questions for a balanced examination concepts in both US History and government. The test covers a variety of topics, including British mercantilism, the Monroe Doctrine, and the...
Lesson Planet
Permanent Interests: The Expansion, Organization, and Rising Influence of African Americans in Congress, 1971–2007
New ReviewThe fourth installment of the seven-lesson plan unit focused on African Americans elected to and serving in the US Congress looks at the period from 1971 through 2007. Class members read a contextual essay that provides background...
Lesson Planet
Ben Franklin and the Origins of American Diplomacy
Students study the origins of American diplomacy. In this early American history activity, students research Ambassador Ben Franklin's missions to England and France on behalf of the United States. Students share their research results...
Lesson Planet
Enslaved African Americans and Expressions of Freedom
Students analyze a painting from African-American culture to determine its meaning. Reading slave spirituals, they discover what live was like for African-Americans who were enslaved in the South. They draw conclusions about their desire...
Lesson Planet
American History Review
Students review American History. In this American History lesson, students create a timeline that lists major events in American history. Students write a speech about their favorite American and create a diorama to model a scene or era...
Lesson Planet
“‘The Negroes’ Temporary Farewell,” Jim Crow and the Exclusion of African Americans from Congress, 1887–1929
New ReviewDespite some advances made during the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War, the period from 1887 through 1929, African Americans serving in Congress suffered severe setbacks due to Jim Crow Laws and voter suppression. Class members...
Lesson Planet
History of Immigration From the 1850s to the Present
The Statue of Liberty may embrace the huddled masses of the world, but has American society always joined in? After young historians read a passage about the history of American immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries, focusing on...
Lesson Planet
The Pre-Civil War Era (1815–1850)
In this online interactive U.S. history activity, students respond to 9 short answer and essay questions about 19th century America. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive activity.
Lesson Planet
America's History in the Making: Classroom Applications Four
The final installment of a 22-part American history series examines the many faces that make up the country's story. From Henry Ford to Tulio Serrano, scholars use biographical evidence and Internet research to uncover the people behind...
Lesson Planet
African-American Soldiers in World War I: The 92nd and 93rd Divisions
Students research the role played and contributions made by African American soldiers during World War I. They discuss the evolution of civil rights in America's history, and the progress that has been made in the last 100 years.
Lesson Planet
Native American Policy
Students examine federal policies regarding Native Americans. In this Native American assimilation and removal policies lesson plan, students conduct research to compare the changes in federal policy regarding Native Americans between...
Lesson Planet
What Else Was Happening During the Civil War Era?
New ReviewExamine a time of political division and upheaval— not unlike our own—using firsthand accounts. While study of the Civil War often takes center stage in the classroom, the 1850s and 1860s were a period of profound change in other areas...
Lesson Planet
Rosie the Riveter: The Embodiment of the American Woman’s Economic and Social Awakening
Critical events force change. World War II forced a change in perceptions of and attitudes toward women. When thousands of men joined the military American factories were left shorthanded. Young historians investigate how media was used...
Lesson Planet
American Revolution Multimedia Project
Students create multimedia projects based on the American Revolution Era. In this American History lesson, students combine photographs, slides, and video to present the time line of the American Revolution to the rest of their class.
Lesson Planet
American Revolution or Civil War?
Sixth graders analyze images of American history. In this research skills lesson, 6th graders examine primary document images from the Library of Congress website. Students compare the images to determine whether they represent the...
Lesson Planet
Assessing Change: Women's Lives in the American Revolutionary Era
Students examine the state of women's rights in Revolutionary America. In this women's history lesson, students research Internet and print sources regarding the evolution of women's right, or lack thereof, from colonial times to the...
Lesson Planet
Revolutionary War Era Research Project
Young historians interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources in this American Revolution instructional activity. They select topics from the time era that they are interested in researching. Additionally,...
Lesson Planet
Lewis and Clark and the Native Americans
Students practice using maps and identifying landmarks on the Lewis and Clark expedition. They research Lewis and Clark's relationship with the Native Americans and report their findings to the class. They identify the impact of the...
Lesson Planet
Hunters to Herders
Young historians discover the many ways that the lives of the Native Americans in Colorado changed over time. Learners research and trace the various events that led to their lifestyle being primarily nomadic, to a lifestyle of permanent...
Lesson Planet
Black History Month - Past to Present, Grades 4-6
Young scholars complete a unit on Black History Month. They explore various websites, develop a diagram of the Underground Railroad, create a postage stamp for an African American, and develop a resume for an African American scientist.
Lesson Planet
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
New ReviewGroups select a photograph from one of the four eras of African Americans in Congress and develop a five-minute presentation that provides background information about the image as well as its historical significance. The class compares...
Lesson Planet
Slave Narratives: Constructing U.S. History Through Analyzing Primary Sources
Learners access oral histories that contain slave narratives from the Library of Congress. They describe the lives of former slaves, sample varied individual experiences and make generalizations about their research in journal entries.
Lesson Planet
14th Amendment Discussion Starter: The Black Codes
The Black Codes and Jim Crow Laws were rules that served the same purpose: to restrict the rights of African Americans. Young historians watch performers read Black Code laws from different states to explain how African Americans were...
Lesson Planet
African Americans in California’s Heartland – The Civil Rights Era
Events related to the Civil Rights Movement in Sacramento, California during the 1960s offer class members an opportunity to compare the nonviolent resistance approach favored by Dr. Martin Luther King and the NAACP with those of the...
Lesson Planet
Letters from the Japanese American Internment
Students explore the concept of Japanese internment. In this Japanese internment lesson, students examine primary sources that enable them to discover what internment camp life was like and its implications, Students write their own...
Lesson Planet
Learn about BCE and CE through Events in Afghanistan
BCE and CE? Class members create a timeline of key events in the history of Afghanistan before and after the Christian Era using the provided list. They then add their own birth dates and events in American history as well.
Lesson Planet
Teaching Hard History: A Framework for Teaching American Slavery
Pupils investigate American slavery from colonial times through the Civil War. They incorporate primary sources, video clips, and firsthand accounts to understand how the slavery issue gripped the nation. Essays, presentations, and...
Lesson Planet
African American Women Before and After the Civil War: Slavery and Freedom
Students listen to data on African American women in Texas before the Civil War. In this Civil War lesson plan, students compare and contrast the lives of slave and free women, and discuss case studies, locating areas on a map. Students...
Lesson Planet
Alabama BEFORE the American Revolution
Did you know that prior to the American Revolution, Alabama was a part of the British empire and called New West Florida? Class members research the economic, political, and social realities of this territory and compare them to those of...
Lesson Planet
The Supreme Court: The Civil Rights Cases
The relationships between civil rights and the Supreme Court is a long, complicated chapter from American history. Pupils view a video, engage in discussion, and read background information to learn about the steps the highest court in...
Lesson Planet
Fights, Freedom, and Fraud: Voting Rights in the Reconstruction Era
As part of a study of post Civil War era, young historians investigate the changes in voting rights during the Reconstruction Era (1863-1876), the fraud involved in the Hayes-Tilden presidential election of 1876, and efforts by Pap...
Lesson Planet
Writing American Diaries
Young scholars examine the concept of historical perspective in writing. They read the diary of Sally Wister, a young Patriot from Philadelphia during the Revolutionary Era. Additionally, they must include different points of view in...
Lesson Planet
The Living Museum: George Washington, the Slave Owner
Eighth graders bring early America to life. In this George Washington lesson, 8th graders listen to a lecture about the first president, explore the relationships he had with his slaves, and research the backgrounds of some of his...
Lesson Planet
Introduce Vocabulary: Rap a Tap Tap (Dillon)
Explore the dancing prodigy and Depression-era African-American icon Bill Robinson as scholars learn new vocabulary words in context. As you read Leo Dillon's Rap a Tap Tap they listen for six new words: clatter, greet, passion, pause,...
Lesson Planet
Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraits
Students explore the contributions of African Americans of the 20th century. In this African American history lesson, students examine portraits of Muhammad Ali, Romare Bearden, Lorraine Hansberry, Judith Jamison, and Leontyne Price in...
Lesson Planet
American Indian Civil Rights
Students examine social justice issues regarding American Indians. In this civil rights lesson, students investigate the Red Power Movement of the 1960's and 1970's. Students then roleplay interviewing Native American protesters.
Lesson Planet
Colonists or Native Americans
Students investigate the Colonial era by researching documents and images from the time. In this information analysis lesson, students view images of people, places and documents from the colonial era while sorting them based on whether...
Lesson Planet
Road to the Revolution
Historians explore U.S. History by creating a poster presentation in class. They utilize the Internet to research the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Massacre and other moments in American History. They create posters based on an individual...
Lesson Planet
American History: The United Farm Workers (UFW) and Pesticides
High schoolers are able to answer research questions through internet research. They write a bridf history of the UFW using research. Students are able to create resumes of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta by researching their biography.
Lesson Planet
The Gilded Age & the Progressive Era (1877–1917)
In this online interactive history quiz worksheet, students respond to 50 multiple choice questions about the Gilded Age and Progressive Era in the United States. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Lesson Planet
Say It Loud!: A Celebration Of Black Music In America
Young scholars watch a video that highlights the role of artists' images throughout the history of Black music in the United States and describe the influences of the civil rights movement on Black culture.
Lesson Planet
Stroking the Senses: The Literature, Music, and Art of the Harlem Renaissance
Young scholars investigate the history of African Americans by researching Harlem. In this culture lesson, students examine a slide-show of images and identify the great African American singers and performers of the 20th century. ...
Lesson Planet
Blues and Langston Hughes 6–8
The lesson focuses on Langston Hughes, an African American poet, and teaches scholars about blues music and its creation. Academics listen to blues music, write poems, and compare the differences in the types of blues music to gain an...
Lesson Planet
Reconstruction
When slavery ended, what did the government do to help African American during Reconstruction? An interesting instructional activity uses primary sources such as newspaper articles to help scholars analyze Reconstruction policies and how...
Lesson Planet
History of Money and Banking in the U.S.
Why was there a lack of confidence in the money and banking system of the early United States government? What historical events led to the establishment of the Federal Reserve System? Here you'll find reading materials and worksheets to...
Lesson Planet
Triangular Trade
This lesson has it all, primary source documents, an interactive trade game, clear teacher background information, and sailing to the West Indies chance cards. You will play, trade, and live out the experiences of early colonists in...
Lesson Planet
What is History and Why Do We Study It?
Students examine why it is important to study American history. In this American history lesson, students discuss why it is necessary to study history, arrange an outline of American history events in chronological order, and write an...
Lesson Planet
African American Identity in the Gilded Age
Ninth graders examine the tension experienced by African-Americans as they struggled to establish a vibrant and meaningful identity based on the promises of liberty and equality in the midst of a society. In this American History lesson...
Lesson Planet
U.S. History I Final Exam Questions
In this American history final exam worksheet, students respond to 10 essay questions regarding Industrialization, Reconstruction, American Imperialism, World War I, and the Great Depression.
Lesson Planet
Perspectives on Indian Removal Policies
Students investigate the role of the U.S. government in Indian removal. In this Native American history lesson, students examine primary and secondary sources about the Jackson's policies to move the Cherokee Nation. Students complete a...
Lesson Planet
African American Soldiers in World War I
Eleventh graders analyze the fight of African Americans. For this American History lesson, 11th graders analyze the attitudes towards blacks in the military during WWI. Students debate the performance of the 92nd division.
Lesson Planet
The Progressive Era
In this history worksheet, students study a chart with information about 4 organizations: National Woman Suffrage Association, National Child Labor Committee, Charity Organization Society, National Association of Colored Women. Using the...
Lesson Planet
American Civil Rights Tour
Learners construct a virtual tour of the civil rights movement. In this United States history lesson, students research various websites to find out more information about the events that took place in the specified cities. Learners...
Lesson Planet
Roles of Virginians During Revolutionary War Era
Students examine the various roles Virginians played during the Revolutionary War era. They participate in a jigsaw activity, reading an article and presenting information to their group. Students then complete a Venn diagram comparing...
Lesson Planet
European Expansion in America
Students explore human settlement in America - from the 1500s to about the turn of the 20th Century. They follow the relationships and changes beginning in the east, then head west to witness the final battles of this era.
Lesson Planet
Exploring the Harlem Renaissance Through Primary Sources
Young scholars investigate the history of African Americans by researching art and culture. In this Harlem Renaissance lesson plan, students complete a graphic organizer based on the artistic and musical history of Harlem in the early...
Lesson Planet
Gatsby and the American Twenties Newspaper
Students research 1920's US History. For this historical literature lesson, students use the novel The Great Gatsby as a tool to examine the era. They work in individually to create newspaper articles based on different historical and...
Lesson Planet
Female Movers and Shakers in History
Students research famous women in history. In this history activity, students explore women that made an impression in the world and create a timeline of what they did that was important and when they did it.
Lesson Planet
Famous Firsts Vocabulary
In this vocabulary worksheet, students read the statements about famous firsts celebrated in Black history month. Students write the 10 names to complete the statements.
Lesson Planet
From Slavery To Civil Rights
Students investigate the lifelong fight for equality by researching U.S. History. In this African American history lesson, students discuss the effects of slavery and the beginning of the United States. Students view a slide show of...
Lesson Planet
Colonization Effects From First Encounter through US Federal Policy
Students examine American policies. In this Native American history activity, students compare and contrast life in America prior to colonization and following it. Students discuss policies that displaced Native Americans.
Lesson Planet
Utilizing Art, Literature and Film to Teach Black History
Fifth graders are introduced to different aspects of African-American history through literature, art, and films. As a class, they are read a story about the Underground Railroad, identify the main characters and put the events into...
Lesson Planet
The Progressive Era
The purpose of this resource—to help increase understanding of the Progressive Era—is excellent, as are the numerous available resources. However, the instructions are somewhat unclear, so be prepared to fill in a number of blanks. After...
Lesson Planet
Prelude to the Revolutionary War
Work on analyzing primary source documents and informational text with a set of reference material about the American Revolution. Middle schoolers read about the precursors and significant events of the Revolutionary War, and demonstrate...
Lesson Planet
On This Day: Prohibition
Before Prohibition, America was literally awash in alcohol, according to one historian of the topic. When the Eighteenth Amendment was enacted, loopholes allowed Americans workarounds, such as the ability to make up to 250 gallons of...
Lesson Planet
Discover the Mary Ann Shadd Cary House
New ReviewMary Ann Shadd Cary was an extraordinary woman, no matter the time period. Academics research the life and achievements of Mrs. Cary, who was born a free African American in 1823. The lesson uses primary sources, worksheets, written...
Lesson Planet
Kentuckians in the Civil War Era: Constructed Response Essay
What part did Kentucky play in the Civil War? A constructed response essay assignment tests to ensure scholars understand the concepts and the arguments for the causes of the Civil War. Learners must read a primary source quote and then...
Lesson Planet
On This Day: The Freedman's Bureau
The Civil War ended slavery, but how did the government enforce the Thirteenth Amendment? Scholars learn about the creation of the Freedman's Bureau, the department's responsibilities, and experiences of African Americans who the program...
Lesson Planet
Voting Rights since the Fifteenth Amendment
What does it mean to have the right to vote? To what extent have interpretations of the Fifteenth Amendment changed over time? Young historians examine and analyze primary source documents, an interactive website, and historical analysis...
Lesson Planet
Simple Machines, Ben Franklin and the Technology of the 1700s
Benjamin Franklin was an inventor, and he was fascinated by the mechanics of machinery. Using a fun exploration, pupils examine simple machines from the pre-Industrial era. Then, they must identify and build their own using common objects.
Lesson Planet
Chronology: Civil Rights in the 20th Century
Test pupils' knowlege of history and the way civil rights movements unfolded using a series of images. With a primary source analysis activity, scholars practice their chronology and deductive reasoning skills. They use their knowledge...
Lesson Planet
How Did the Progressive Party affect American Society
Ninth graders explore the political views of the Progressive Party. In this U.S. History instructional activity, 9th graders read the "LaFollette Platform," then share their thoughts of the reading in a class discussion. To conclude the...
Lesson Planet
Middle and Recent Earth History
In this middle and recent Earth history instructional activity, students are given 20 statements about the changes in the Earth and life on Earth and they determine if they are true or false. If the statements are false, students change...
Lesson Planet
The American Revolution and Its Heroes
Students, through a variety of activities, discover historical aspects of the American Revolution. They make maps and create timelines to track significant events. They create a book about the American Revolution and re-enact Paul...
Lesson Planet
American Revolution and You!
Seventh graders have a choice of a variety of activities that show their understanding of the causes of the American Revolution. They choose their topic, then create a report, which they give to the entire class.
Lesson Planet
African Americans after the Civil War
Students explore the events of Reconstruction after the Civil War. In this US History lesson, students complete several activities and worksheets that reinforce challenges and social upheaval experienced in the South after the Civil War.
Lesson Planet
The American Currency Exhibit
Examine the historical structure, the purposes, and functions of the United States monetary system. Your class engages in a scavenger hunt to compare U.S. currency notes from specific eras throughout U.S. history. They work to identify...
Lesson Planet
World War I Propaganda: Targeting all Americans to Join the War Effort
Is propaganda from World War I any different than the propaganda of today? Class members learn about the effectiveness of advertising and its influence on American's behavior. Activities include a propaganda think sheet, assessments of...
Lesson Planet
1920s Variety Show
To better understand the cultural achievements of the Harlem Renaissance and become familiar with its major figures, class members examine a painting by Aaron Douglas and a poem by Langston Hughes and compare how the artists develop...
Lesson Planet
Music of the Civil Rights Era, 1954-1968
Students experience the aesthetics of music and learn about freedom songs that motivated the Civil Rights activists. In this music history lesson plan, students learn how music can motivate and move listeners. Students then describe how...
Lesson Planet
Westward Expansion: The American Indian Experience
Students complete a brief presentation documenting the life of an American Indian. In class, students discuss the pros and cons of placing American Indians on a reservation. After their discussion, students choose a issue in Native...
Lesson Planet
American History Review
Students examine how people have contributed to American history, regardless of culture, race or religion. They develop a sense of pride for their own efforts, as well as for the efforts of others. They also study how to work both...
Lesson Planet
Examining Women's Roles through Primary Sources and Literature
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary resources. For this women's history lesson, students examine the role of women prior to and following the suffrage movement. Students also read selected pieces of women's...
Lesson Planet
A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words: Exploring an Era through Visual Culture
Ninth graders examine the role of culture in society. After viewing a painting, they expand their knowledge of the Civil Rights movement. They analyze the era by reading poetry and listening to music. They create a visual image to...
Lesson Planet
Review of our Presidents from the Progressive Era to Cold War
Covering the main events of the Cold War, this (mistitled) presentation includes photographs, political cartoons, and amusing graphics to illustrate its points. The information on the slides is helpful for an overview of the Cold War,...
Lesson Planet
U.S. History: Chapter 11, Sections 1 & 2
Reviewing American history from 1818 - 1832 (chapter 11 of an unspecified textbook), this presentation includes key terms and ideas about the era of Jeffersonian politics and the election of John Adams. The slides are in all caps, making...
Lesson Planet
Slave Narratives: Frederick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs, and the Columbian Orator
Young historians practice in-depth, quality analysis of primary source texts in this three-lesson unit, which examines excerpts from the slave narratives of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs, and Caleb Bingham.
Lesson Planet
Ragtime: 1880-1920
Build an understanding of the social, economic, and cultural changes that were incited by the American Industrial Revolution. Learners will research the historical context of the Ragtime Era, and compose an oral presentation in the voice...
Lesson Planet
Two Different African-American Visions: W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington
The strategies civil rights activists Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois proposed for blacks to achieve racial progress is the focus of an activity in which class groups identify the strategies as well as the benefits and drawbacks...
Lesson Planet
The Progressives
The Progressive Era brought about a word that often leads to turmoil—change! Learners research the late 1800s in American history to uncover societal issues gripping the nation back in the day. The 15th lesson of a 22-part series...
Lesson Planet
Role Playing in North America: Mid 1600s-Mid 1700s
Eighth graders apply their knowledge of North American history from the mid 1600's through the mid 1700's to a role-playing scenario. In small groups they plan, write, and perform a dramatic skit of a group that was affected by events in...
Lesson Planet
Reconstructing a Nation
Think back to the aftermath of an family dispute. The awkwardness of having to make up, get along, and move forward can be very difficult. The tenth lesson of a 22-part series on American history examines the Reconstruction Era following...
Lesson Planet
American Indian Art History Detectives
An art history detective; I want to be one of those! The class puts their heads together to hone their deductive and critical thinking skills in order to determine which Native American tribe created and used parfleche boxes. They'll use...
Lesson Planet
Egalitarian America
What does a true American represent? Scholars investigate the equal rights era of the 1960s and 1970s in the 20th installment of a 22-part series on American history. Using photographic, magazine, written, and video evidence, groups...
Lesson Planet
The Education of Women in Colonial America
What educational opportunities were available to women during the colonial era in American history? How did the opportunities available to women differ from those for men? To answer this question, class members examine a series of...
Lesson Planet
Postwar Tension and Triumph
Go get the American Dream lifestyle! The 19th lesson in a 22-part series exploring American history shows learners the post-WWII economic boom. Using primary sources, photographs, and cartoons, groups discuss their findings and present...
Lesson Planet
Founding of the Laurel Grove School and Other "Colored" Schools in Fairfax County, 1860–1890
The right to public education was not always so clear in American history. Readers study several primary and secondary source documents, including property deeds, maps, and photographs, about the founding of local schools during the...
Lesson Planet
14th Amendment with Jeffrey Rosen
What makes the Fourteenth Amendment relevant to today's America? Jeffrey Rosen, president of the National Constitution Center, attempts to answer the question by walking through the clauses of the Reconstruction-era amendment. Due...
Lesson Planet
Step into the Painting: Social Studies, Literature, and Art
Travel back in American history to the era of slavery and abolition. After reading about the Underground Railroad, young historians examine a painting depicting the event, and write a narrative from the point of view of a person in the...
Lesson Planet
Differing Views of Pilgrims and Native Americans in Seventeenth Century New England
Students complete a graphic organizer comparing differing views. For this compare and contrast lesson, students work in groups and read about the differing views of the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians. Students use a graphic...
Lesson Planet
Roots of Women’s Rights Advocacy: Pre and Post Revolutionary War Eras
Students consider the role of women in Revolutionary War America. In this women's rights lesson, students examine photographs, letters, and documents that reveal the role of women at the time. Students create political cartoons or...
Lesson Planet
Black History Month - - Mary Seacole CV
Students commemorate black history month. Using the Internet, information books and printed web pages, students research the events of Mary Seacole's life. Students role play Mary Seacole being interviewed for a job.
Lesson Planet
"I Cannot Tell a Lie"
Students examine and debunk historical myths, using the American Revolution as a starting point. They create and play a game of "American History: Fact or Fiction?"
Lesson Planet
Letters from the Japanese American Internment
Students examine life in an internment camp. In this civil liberties activity, students discuss the advantages of looking at a historical event from the points of view of multiple eyewitnesses. Students read letters from young Japanese...
Lesson Planet
Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBois: The Problem of Negro Leadership
Students focus on the problem of African American leadership throughout American history. In groups, they research the life and works of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois and how they worked to promote the need for African American...
Lesson Planet
The Progressive Era
How did citizens in the United States work to solve problems associated with development of American industrial capitalism during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century? Discover the progressive era with an engaging and...
Lesson Planet
La Leyenda de Betsy Ross
Is your native Spanish-speaking class learning about American legends and the history of the United States? Introduce them to Betsy Ross, the woman often credited for the making of the first American flag! After reading the short...
Lesson Planet
The Vietnam War & its Impact on American Society
Foster discussion in your advanced high school history class with primary sources from the Vietnam War era. After a timeline activity involving manipulatives, pupils get down to business analyzing and categorizing the document set. All...
Lesson Planet
School Segregation
Young historians explore monumental events in the history of school segregation in the United States, such as Brown v. Board of Education and the Little Rock Nine. They conclude with an experiential activity by delivering an argument in...
Lesson Planet
Westward Expansion Project Choices
What a great list of brief research projects for reviewing the era of westward expansion in the United States! Learners are directed to choose and complete three of the projects on the given list, which includes opportunities to design...
Lesson Planet
Antebellum Freedom
From indentured servitude to involuntary race-based servitude, slavery has taken many forms in American history. Class members examine three manumission petitions that reveal how the rights of African Americans and African American...
Lesson Planet
Underground Railroad Mini-Unit
Students watch a film about slavery. Students view a PowerPoint about the Underground Railroad and use various resources to make a timeline for the topic. Students research a historical figure from the Underground Railroad era and give a...
Lesson Planet
Dominion of War: With Liberty and Justice (not) for All
Pupils investigate the Revolutionary War by viewing PowerPoint presentations. They analyze photographs from a slide show and discuss why African Americans were treated differently during the Revolutionary War. They also complete a...
Lesson Planet
African Americans and the Vietnam War
No need to look any further. This resource has everything for a solid exploration of the role of African Americans in the Vietnam War. Class members read primary sources, including a Martin Luther King speech, political cartoons of the...
Lesson Planet
US Civil Rights Movement: Beginnings through the 60s
A real find for a U.S. History teacher, this presentation could supplement many class sessions about the Civil Rights Movement. Pictures of events, major figures, and "Whites Only" signs are striking and effective for even your most...
Lesson Planet
The Father of Our Country
Explore United States history with this instructional activity on George Washington and the Revolutionary War. After reading biographical information about George Washington, learners make a list of ten reasons for the revolution. They...
Lesson Planet
Impact of The Cold War: Are We Mad?
Mutually assured destruction and the fear of the atomic bomb: what was life really like during the Cold War? Scholars find out with multiple activities, such as group discussions, worksheets, games, and an argumentative writing activity....
Lesson Planet
Indian Film Music
Music has been used with many different art forms, but none more obvious than film. Explore the history, cultural influences, and music found in Indian Film. Text in this presentation is bulleted, making it great for taking notes. Tip:...
Lesson Planet
Perspectives on the Civil War: Blue or Gray?
Using primary and secondary sources, such as letters and diaries from soldiers and civilians, learners consider why people fought in the Civil War. A role-playing Historical Mingle activity as well as discussion questions and two-voice...
Lesson Planet
HOW ABOUT A T-BONE?
Students investigate the events that created the historical context for the Progressive Era in the United States. They evaluate the conflicts of business and common people of the time. The research is done using primary and secondary...
Lesson Planet
The Pre-Civil War Era (1815–1850)
For this online interactive history quiz worksheet, learners respond to 50 multiple choice questions about the United States from 1815-1850. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Lesson Planet
The Cold War: Solving the Mystery of History with Voices on Vinyl
Eighth graders explore the Cold War Era. In this world history lesson, 8th graders discover the positions taken by countries during the Cold War as they listen to lectures regarding the major events and turning points in the Cold War....
Lesson Planet
The Gilded Age & the Progressive Era (1877–1917)
In this online interactive philosophy worksheet, learners respond to 7 short answer and essay questions about the Gilded Age and Progressive Era in the United States. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive worksheet.
Lesson Planet
Slices of American Pie: The 1960s Through Music
Eleventh graders examine political, cultural, and social movements through music. In this 1960s American history lesson, 11th graders explore the music of the decade in order to better understand the complexity of the time period....
Lesson Planet
Bringing Historical Figures Alive
Students research a famous American from a specific era. In this American history lesson, students choose a famous person from a time period chosen by the teacher, write a short report, prepare a speech, plan a PowerPoint presentation,...
Lesson Planet
The Brief American Pageant:The Triumphs and Travails of the Jeffersonian Republic
Add these slides into your lecture about the Jeffersonian Era in American history. Slides detail the results of the Presidential Election of 1800, four Barbary states of North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Tripoli) and the...
Lesson Planet
Master of the Airwaves: How FDR Used Radio to Ease the Public’s Fears
The political and economic climate during the 1930's was uncertain and tumultuous. But Americans' minds and hearts were eased with the reassuring words of their president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and addresses over the radio. High...
Lesson Planet
Revolutionary War Captions
Fourth graders review major events in the Revolutionary War. In this American history lesson, 4th graders view pictures from the Revolutionary War and write a caption for each of the seven pictures.
Lesson Planet
Migration During the Great Depression: Living History
Students interview immigrants of Central Florida and photograph them to learn their oral history and life stories. In this immigration lesson plan, students discover where people come from, and write about the life story of this person.
Lesson Planet
The Equal Rights Amendment
The debate over the Equal Rights Amendment continues. To better understand the controversy, class members research the history of attempts to get the amendment ratified. In addition, pairs engage in a structured academic conversation...
Lesson Planet
African Americans and the Populist Movement
Why did the Populist Party fail to ally itself with African American farmers? To answer this essential question, class members investigate the Populist Era (188-1900) and read an article written by Tom Watson, a Populist leader.
Lesson Planet
Once Upon A Time (Saxipak’a): Lesson Plan 1
As part of a study of the history of the Chumash on California's Channel Island chain, class members view the documentary Once Upon a Time, respond to discussion questions, and create a timeline for the different waves of migration.
