Get your historians to hop into someone else's 18th century shoes with a simulation on rights in early America. Each individual gets an identity card, indicating their race, gender, and status (slave or free). Areas around the room are...

Learners examine a series of documents which discuss the contradiction in the Americans' rhetoric about slavery. They act as members of designated Committees of Correspondence in the five different colonies, communicating their...

Here is an interesting topic. Learners examine the economics that led to the founding of the First Bank of America. They participate in a reader's theater experience depicting the debate between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson...

Middle schoolers examine how various segments of the American population viewed the Emancipation Proclamation. They read the Emancipation Proclamation, analyze key terms and statements in the document, and participate in a debate.

Five segements from Ken Burns' documentary series Prohibition, easily accessed on the PBS website, are at the center of a terrific short unit on the roots of America's ambivalent relationship with alcohol. Engage your secondary...

Fifth graders complete a short unit on slavery and the U.S. Civil War. They read and analyze the book, "Follow the Drinking Gourd," compose their own secret song, complete an Abraham Lincoln crossword puzzle, and dramatize a historical...

Fifth graders investigate the end of slavery and the hidden paths slaves used to travel.  In this U.S. history lesson plan, 5th graders examine the travel routes slaves used in Essex County known as the Underground Railroad....

Students explore America's racial wealth divide. In this Teaching Tolerance lesson, students play a "rigger" version of the game Monopoly and reflect on the game and economic injustice in the United States.

Fourth graders investigate slavery by reading a book with their classmates. In this abolitionist movement lesson, 4th graders read the story The Patchwork Path, and discuss the creation of the Underground Railroad. Students create...

Students share their feelings about the enslavement of Africans as they write journal entries discussing their role play activity.

Sixth graders investigate the Civil War by identifying famous figures of the era. In this slavery abolitionist lesson, 6th graders read a text on the history of the Civil War and discuss heroes of the era such as Harriet Tubman and John...

Fifth graders read about the cotton industry in America and demonstrate the roll of slaves picking and removing seeds from a boll of cotton. The relationship between slaves and cotton production is established.

Young scholars, divided into three groups, representing the Northeastern, Southern, Western United States. They research these areas in early American history and as a group prepare charts, graphs and reports. They explain their needs...

Students consider how women gained the right to vote in America. In this suffrage lesson, students investigate major events of the suffrage movement and conduct research. Students also role play petitioning to President Wilson to...

Students discover the times of Colonial America by creating a timeline.  In this U.S. History instructional activity, students research a teacher-directed website about African Americans in early colonial times.  Students...

Students read the novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, and explain public attitudes towards slavery in 19th century America.

Young scholars study the history of Liberia prior to and after the influx of immigrants of African Americans. They investigate the cultural differences between the African Americans and newly-arrived Liberians.

Students act as surveyors. In this George Washington lesson, students read transcriptions from Washington's surveying journal and then try surveying skills on their own.

Students discuss the line "all men are created equal" in a time of slavery. They discover how equaliy and liberty changed over time in America. Role-playing different scenerios, they analyze the experiences of real-people coming to...