National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Understanding the Salem Witch Trials
In this lesson plan, students will consider "Understanding the Salem Witch Trials." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The Mathematics of History
What can mathematics say about history? From changes to language to the deadliness of wars, Jean-Baptiste Michel shows how digitized history is just starting to reveal deep underlying patterns. [4:26]
J. Paul Getty Trust
J. Paul Getty Museum: One Pager: Analysis of Dorothea Lange's Photographs
The lesson investigates Dorothea Lange's photographs. Objectives, materials, and lesson steps are included.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: Random Strategies in Archeology
Students participate in a three-part archeological interpretation activity. First, they learn the principles of archaeology and the importance of material culture, and then they question ideas and interpret artifact evidence. Finally,...
US National Archives
Docsteach: How Effective Were the Efforts of the Freedmen's Bureau?
In this activity, young scholars will analyze documents from the War Department's Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands - better known as the Freedmen's Bureau - that Congress established on March 3, 1865, as the Civil War...
Virginia Historical Society
Virginia Museum of History and Culture: Early Images of Virginia Indians
A collection of images of early Virginia Indians that includes information on interpreting the images and shows fanciful images that were not historically accurate.
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Teaching History: Interactive Historical Thinking Poster (Secondary)
This is an interactive historical thinking poster. History is an argument about the past. Constructing a narrative about history involves several tasks: Analyzing Primary Sources, Examining Source Information,Using Evidence to Support...
PBS
Pbs: Indian Pride: Historical Overview: Lesson Plan
Students will develop an understanding of major United States history and policy and develop awareness of the impact and integral role American Indians and/or sovereign cultural groups play in United States history.
PBS
Pbs: Indian Pride: Spirituality: Lesson Plan
Students will be able to understand the connection between land and spirituality for Native Americans (specifically Sioux or Lakota/Dakota) and how this impacts economic decision-making.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Interpretation in the National Park Service
Although this on-line book is from 1986, it can give the student a good perspective of the National Park Service and their never-ending quest to interpret the history that took place on their grounds for the American public.
Tom Richey
Tom richey.net: Columbus and the Legacy of Discovery [Ppt]
Presents key ideas for examining how Christopher Columbus is remembered in America and how his legacy has been re-interpreted at various times in history.
EL Education
El Education: Nautical Expedition Ships Log
After spending three days as a working crew on a three-masted ship, and learning to navigate by the stars, students create fictional entries for a ship's log throughout various periods in history.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Primary Source Interpreting Media Photos
[Free Registration/Login Required] In this flipchart teachers can share primary source photos with students who will take part in an activity to interpret them.