Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Listening for Leschi: Voices from the Past

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the written and oral histories of mid 19th centruy western Washington. They imagine that they are a reporter who can travel back in time and interview Leschi to create a newspaper article that features him.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From the White House of Yesterday to the White House of Today

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars take a close look at the design of the White House and some of the changes it has undergone. They also reflect on how the "President's House" has been and continues to be used. They give specific examples demonstrating how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Election Is in the House: The Presidential Election of 1824

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers read an account of the election from the Journal of the House of Representatives, analyze archival campaign materials, and use an interactive online activity to develop a better understanding of the election of 1824 and...
Unit Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

The 1828 Campaign of Andrew Jackson and the Growth of Party Politics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers analyze changes in voter participation and regional power, and review archival campaign documents reflecting the dawn of politics as we know it during the critical years from 1824 to 1832. Students utilize worksheets and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Abe Lincoln's Log Cabin

For Teachers K
Students study Abe Lincoln and make a log cabin out of pretzel sticks and chocolate frosting.
Lesson Plan
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Choices and Commitments: The Soldiers at Gettysburg

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Learners investigate the Gettysburg Campaign and the major actions for each day of the battle. They read primary source documents, write a diary entry, analyze the Gettysburg Address, and write a persuasive speech regarding an issue in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All Those In Favor

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students share opinions about measures recently passed in their school, vote on and argue for and against hypothetical school policies, and respond to a "president's" decision to pass or veto the measures.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Human Embryonic Stem Cells

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students use the Internet to discover information about human embryonic stem cells from the National Institutes of Health. They examine different sides of the debate to use or not to use stem cells. They can also listen to speeches given...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TURNING POINT IN HISTORY:The War of 1812

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students act as investigative reporters and research battles or events of the War of 1812. They write an original article, which may include a map, drawing, or illustration.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Johnny Tremain for the 21st Century

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders complete a unit of lessons on the American Revolution based on the novel, 'Johnny Tremain.' They define key vocabulary terms, develop a timeline, write a report on a colonial craft, make a colonial flag, and create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cadron Settlement and the Trail of Tears

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the reason for removal of the Cherokee and other Indian nations. They map the water route of the Trail of Tears from its origination in the east and through the Arkansas River Valley to Indian Territory.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I'm Number One!

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders complete a unit of lessons on the first seven presidents of the U.S. They conduct research, write a four-paragraph essay, and create posters and speeches for a simulated campaign convention.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Executive Exchanges

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the April, 2006, overhaul of the White House staff. They research the positions in transition and stage a press conference to introduce these changes to the public.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Follow the Leader

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research a country leader.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jefferson's Blood

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students view the video "Jefferson's Blood" and complete a series of activities, dealing with both Thomas Jefferson's public and private life, in order to better explain Jefferson as a man and politician.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

FDR's First Inaugural Address

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students, in groups, describe a photo to the class. They determine which New Deal program is depicted in each of the images based on the research they conducted.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Message Drafted by General Eisenhower in Case the D-Day Invasion Failed

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discuss how much effort and planning would therefore be needed to plan a secret invasion such as D-Day. They use library and Internet resources to find out what strategies were employed on D-Day and what the results of D-Day were.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Commemoration of the Gettysburg Battlefield: The Gettysburg Address

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore Civil War and Gettysburg Address using primary sources.
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The Cold War Warrior Defending: The Moral Beacon of the World

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify President Reagan's domestic and foreign policy, describe America's attitude toward communism, list characteristics which endeared Reagan to the American people, and explain why some Americans spoke out against Reagan's...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Breadline": The Great Depression Causes, Consequences and Recovery

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars compare prices of popular items of late 1920s to cost of those items presently, determine which companies are best in which to invest, analyze causes and consequences of stock market crash of 1929, and evaluate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clinton's Farewell to the Nation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read the newspaper article, "A Pat and a Nudge from Outgoing Chief," about President Clinton's end of term actions, then discuss it.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

The 1828 Campaign of Andrew Jackson: Territorial Expansion and the Shift of Power

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars make connections between changes in voting participation and the election of 1828, and describe regional factors evidenced by the voting results of the election of 1828.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thomas Jefferson on the Sedition Act

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research and cite arguments Jefferson used in objecting to the Sedition Act. They discuss Jefferson's opinion on how constitutional questions about the Sedition Act could be resolved.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Lesson 2: The Debate in Congress on the Sedition Act

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Pupils research and discuss the provisions in the Constitution that supported the arguments for and against the Sedition Act. They articulate objections to and arguments in favor of the Sedition Act.