Curated OER
The Great "What If" Question. How might American history have been different had Lincoln lived?
Students examine the impact of the assassination of President Lincoln. After researching the Republican positions on Reconstruction and analyzing documents related to the Reconstruction, students take a position and explain their...
Curated OER
Portraits of Power: American Presidents
Ninth graders explore the presidency of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. In this US History lesson, 9th graders examine the life of Abraham Lincoln. students write an essay describing the presidency and the people's relationship...
National First Ladies' Library
The President's Assassin: Motives and Outcomes
Students investigate the assassinations of four American presidents. Through research, groups create a dossier on one of the four men who were the assassins. After presentations of the dossiers, the class looks for common traits in...
Curated OER
The Civil War: A Nation Divided
Students examine the clash between the North and the South. In this Civil War lesson plan, students watch segments of the Discovery video "The Civil War: A Nation Divided". Students conduct further research pertaining to the economies...
HISTORY Channel
The American Presidency Grades 7-9
As part of a study of the American Presidency, groups investigate five topics: Campaigns and Elections, Role and Responsibilities, Life in the White House, Assassination and Mourning, and Communicating the Presidency.
National Park Service
How Theodore Roosevelt Became a Leader: Childhood of an American President
The beginning of the 20th century began with a shock: the assassination of President McKinley. The man who would take his place—the youngest American to ever become president—led quite a life before stepping foot in the Oval Office. An...
Curated OER
Civil War Bingo
Students answer Civil War questions. In this Civil War United States history lesson, students copy Civil War vocabulary and phrases onto squares on a Bingo card. Students cover a Bingo square in response to each question asked by the...
Curated OER
Trying to Make Sense of the World
Students view video clips of September 11 and the assassination of John Kennedy. They discuss why these events hold such an importance to the United States. They also examine the role of coincidence and conspiracy in these types of...
Stanford University
Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X: A Common Solution?
Much has been made of the differences between Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. But was there any common ground between them? Class members reconsider what they think they know about these two civil rights leaders with biographical...
University of California
The Civil War: Effects of the Civil War
Imagine being on the front line of the Civil War —from the front porch of your own house. Scholars use visual evidence from primary and secondary sources to analyze the impact of the Civil War on all Americans. They examine the research...
Curated OER
Writing a Social Studies Essay
In this social studies essay worksheet, students follow the provided steps listed in the graphic organizer to write their own social studies essays. Students also read a sample essay about the U.S. government.
Curated OER
Vocab-u-lous! Build a Fabulous Vocab
In this vocabulary instructional activity, students select the best word choice to complete the sentence. All words correspond to the theme of Memorial Day.
Curated OER
The Apotheosis ofGeorge Washington
Young scholars examine the image of George Washington. In this Washington presidency lesson, students use the provided analysis handout to analyze the character of Washington conveyed in several pieces of art and speeches. Young scholars...
Curated OER
A Hero Betrayed: The Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant
Students analyze the career of Ulysses S. Grant. In this Grant presidency lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details of Grant's presidency. Students respond to discussion questions regarding the...
Curated OER
America's Wars
High schoolers classify information regarding American involvement in wars. In this classification instructional activity, students examine the causes of the war in which the United States has been involved, and classify them as mainly...
Curated OER
Dr. Samuel Mudd
Fifth graders examine the circumstances surrounding Dr. Samuel Mudd's conviction on the charges of conspiracy and harboring an assassin, including the speculation that his conviction may not have been legal.