Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eli Thayer and the Kansas-Nebraska Act

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners determine how states were identified as slave states or free states. For this Kansas-Nebraska Act lesson, students explore the work of Eli Thayer as well as the work of Thayer's supporters in Massachusetts.
Lesson Plan
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A Southerner’s Reaction to the Republicans

For Teachers 8th - 12th
In this Civil War worksheet, learners write a letter to the editor of a local Southern newspaper in 1960. The letter should feature Republican platform statements regarding the issue of secession.
Lesson Plan
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Slavery, Manumission, and Freedom: Free Blacks in Charleston before the Civil War

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students explore the concept of slavery and manumission through a variety of activities. In this civil rights lesson, students gather information from primary sources, then analyze the politics and historical context of the time....
Lesson Plan
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The Underground Railroad

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine slavery and the civil war by creating a research project.  In this underground railroad lesson, students create a KWL chart and decide on one of several creative projects they will complete about slavery....
Worksheet
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Comprehension Questions for Stitching Stars

For Students 5th - 8th
In this comprehension questions for Stitching Stars worksheet, students answer 30 comprehension questions after reading the book about quilts made by slaves in the 17-19th centuries.
Lesson Plan
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Language and Runaway Slave Ads

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary resources. In this fugitive slave lesson, students research and analyze fugitive slave advertisements from Virginia newspapers.
Lesson Plan
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Political Cartoon Exit Slip

For Teachers 8th - 12th
In this political cartoon worksheet, pupils analyze that appeared in Harper's Weekly in 1863. Students respond to 2 short answer questions regarding the cartoon.
Lesson Plan
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A Wolf by the Ear

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine Thomas Jefferson's view of slavery. In this slavery lesson, students watch segments of the video "Slavery and the Making of America." Students respond to discussion questions as they watch the video and make inferences...
Lesson Plan
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Slavery in America at the Time of the Civil War: Navigating a Website

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students discover how to navigate websites. In this Civil War lesson, students conduct research on slavery as they visit a website to experience oral, written, and digital texts and performances by slaves from the Civil War era.
Lesson Plan
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Slavery in America at the Time of the Civil War: Sources

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discover how to use primary and secondary sources in research. In this Civil War lesson, students conduct research on slavery as they distinguish between primary and secondary sources regarding the same events.
Lesson Plan
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Slavery in America at the Time of the Civil War

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students discover how to create electronic graphic organizers. For this Civil War lesson, students present their thoughts regarding slavery in the United States as the war began. Students use Inspiration software and follow the provided...
Lesson Plan
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What We Leave Behind

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners listen in on American historical events. For this colonial America lesson, students participate in an activity that requires them to watch video segments that detail slavery and participate in an Incidents in the Life of a...
Lesson Plan
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Abraham Lincoln: Our Man for All Seasons

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students analyze perceptions of slavery during the Civil War era. For this Abraham Lincoln lesson, students research Internet and print sources regarding Lincoln's view of slavery. Students also compare pro- and anti-slavery political...
Lesson Plan
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Slavery by the Numbers

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the role of slavery in the United States. In this American history lesson, students watch segments of the video "Slavery and the Making of America." Students conduct further research pertaining to Thomas Jefferson,...
Lesson Plan
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The Slave Market: Not Just a Southern Institution

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders analyze the existence of slavery in the North. In this slavery lesson plan, 4th graders research primary and secondary sources regarding Dutch colonial slavery in New York. Students consider how archeology made it possible...
Lesson Plan
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Using Primary Sources in the Classroom: Slavery Unit Lesson 1: Slave Code of 1833

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the concept of slavery. In this primary research instructional activity, students read the Alabama Slave Code of 1833 and discuss its implications. Students also examine emancipation-related documents and respond to...
Lesson Plan
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Economy vs. Humanity

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine the American Slave Trade.  In this World History lesson, 9th graders analyze photos of the Middle Passage.  Students read an account of a person on one of the Middle Passage voyages. 
Lesson Plan
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A House Divided: Slavery in the United States

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the history of the United States and slavery. In this slavery lesson plan, students view primary sources, complete journal writing, view videos, and answer short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
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African American Community and Culture

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders explore areas of concern to the African American community in the 1820's.  In this American History instructional activity, 11th graders examine how the establishment of the nations first African American newspaper...
Lesson Plan
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Using Primary Sources in the Classroom:Slavery Unit: Point of View of Former Slaves

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers read slave narratives. In this Federal Writers' Project instructional activity, students explore slave narratives to discover details regarding legal status, roles of slaves, religion, family, and treatment of...
Lesson Plan
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Runaway Slaves

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine struggles for freedom. In this Underground Railroad lesson, students listen to "Follow the Drinking Gourd" and "Freedom" to lead them into a discussion regarding freedoms . Students watch the video "The Freedom...
Lesson Plan
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Resistance and Self-Determination

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine a person's education and their ability to be independent and to resist oppression.  In this American History lesson, 4th graders study the ideas of James McCune Smith. 
Lesson Plan
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African American Community and Culture

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the community of enslaved African Americans.  For this American History lesson, 8th graders evaluate the importance of cultural expression in the black community.  Students study the contributions made by...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building New York

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the role African Americans played in the expansion of New York.  In this American History lesson, 11th graders compare and contrast the images of a wealthy, free black against a black who was poor and...