National Endowment for the Humanities
From Courage to Freedom: The Reality behind the Song
Students study how Frederick Douglass uses language to describe a realistic picture of slavery in his writings which are primary source documents. They examine his use of word choice, imagery, irony, and rhetorical appeals and use slave...
Curated OER
Attitudes Toward Emancipation
Students read the Emancipation Proclamation and investigate steps that led to its signing. They read and discuss period news articles from both sides of the argument and create portfolios of documentation supporting both sides.
Curated OER
Public Demonstrations - Lesson Plan
Students examine various handouts to determine the value, necessity and potential limitations of assembly and public demonstrations. They then select a side and debate pre-provided questions.
Pimsleur
Food and Drink
Talk about healthy lifestyle choices... in Italian! Class members categorize food cutouts into a food pyramid and discuss why some items are healthier than others. The plan offers additional vocabulary reinforcement ideas for younger as...
Baylor College
Pre-Assessment: The Brain
Break your class in to the general structure and function of the brain. Brainiacs discuss what they know about it and create personalized brain development timelines. They also take a true-false, pre-assessment quiz to get them thinking...
Curated OER
Freedom, Rights, and Responsibilities
Learners look at the primary sources that emerged from the Exodus (the Ten Commandments) and the War of Independence (the Declaration of Independence) and examine how each attempts to construct a free society and a definition of freedom....
Curated OER
Literature: Watching Anna
Students view the PBS presentation of Leo Tolstoy's, "Anna Karenina." Prior and after each episode, they discuss plot and characterization and in one lesson, use adjectives to describe each of the main characters. Then, students create...
Curated OER
Abolishing Slavery
Students explain the goals and methods of the abolitionist movement.
They identify key leaders in the movement. This lesson has adaptations for elementary through high school. Links are provided for resource readings.
Curated OER
Casting a Ballot for New Freedoms
Students use a New York Times article about the first free election in Indonesia in over four decades as a tool for learning about the government and politics, economy, religion, international relations, and people of Indonesia in the...
Curated OER
A Slave No More
Students discover what it was like to cross into freedom. In this slavery lesson, students read the "Emancipation Proclamation," and letters written by Abraham Lincoln and John Washington (a former slave). Students identify the key ideas...
Stanford University
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Learners read, discuss, and view a Powerpoint on the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. In this Gulf of Tonkin Resolution lesson plan, students research the resolution and then answer short answer questions about it.
Curated OER
Resisting British Rule in America
Students examine the Sons of Liberty. In this lesson on British rule, students analyze terrorism vs. patriotism through a variety of different perspectives. This lesson includes instruction, assessment, Internet resources, and activities.
Curated OER
Sex And Alcohol: A Risky Mix
Young scholars examine the reasons people use alcohol and discuss the negative things that can happen when mixing sex and alcohol. In this lesson on risky behavior, students explore the ways in which they can reduce the risks involved...
Curated OER
Salmon Vs. Dams: the Dam Removal Debate on the Elwha River
Students role-play a meeting of the Elwha River council in which they present opposing views to council members on hydroelectric power and salmon fisheries resources. They brainstorm possible conflicts between various people in land-use...
Curated OER
A Model with Many Uses: Latin Soldiers
Students view a picture of Roman soldiers in battle and listen to a brief description of the picture in Latin. They participate in a question and answer session about the picture, listen to a mini-grammar lesson, retell the description...
Curated OER
The Civil Rights Movement: /Compassion in Action
Students research and scope out the civil right's movement's use of nonviolent actions to achieve change and social justice. Students illustrate examples of how to use nonviolent citizenship skills. Students acquire with this activity to...
Curated OER
Eli Thayer and the Kansas-Nebraska Act
Learners determine how states were identified as slave states or free states. In this Kansas-Nebraska Act lesson, students explore the work of Eli Thayer as well as the work of Thayer's supporters in Massachusetts.
Curated OER
No Taxation Without Representation
Students consider colonial rights. For this Bill of Rights lesson, students complete an activity guide that requires students to analyze taxation without representation. Students respond to discussion questions pertaining to taxes...
Curated OER
Discovery Atlantis
Students explore Atlantis. In this geography lesson, students research selected websites to discover information about the lost continent of Atlantis. Students use the fruits of their research to participate in a debate regarding the...
Curated OER
Introducing the Essay: Twain, Douglass, and American Non-Fiction
Students analyze American essayists Mark Twain and Frederick Douglass in an introduction to American literary non-fiction writing. In this essay history lesson, students identify methods for writing essays. Students read and analyze...
Curated OER
How do we know if it’s a First Amendment Issue?
Young scholars consider First Amendment rights. In this Bill of Rights instructional activity, students complete an activity guide regarding plans to build an Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero in New York City. Young scholars...
Curated OER
An Early Threat of Secession: The Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Nullification Crisis
Students analyze an interactive map of the Missouri Compromise to identify the regions and their relation to slavery. In this pre-civil war era instructional activity, students read primary source documents and research online to answer...
Curated OER
Supreme Court June 2010 Decisions Wrap-Up
Students consider constitutional rights. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students complete an activity guide that requires students to examine Bill of Rights-related cases of 2010. Students respond to discussion questions pertaining to...
Curated OER
Obama Hope Poster
Students consider constitutional rights. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students complete an activity guide regarding the property rights regarding the Obama "Hope" poster. Students respond to discussion questions pertaining to the topic.