National First Ladies' Library
Political Party History
Students research and examine the role of political parties in the history of the twentieth century of the Unites States. They divide up into groups of four to analyze the twenty-six presidential campaigns and the candidates who...
National First Ladies' Library
Vegas and the Mob
Learners identify with and interpret the role of organized crime in the development of one of America's most vibrant cities. Then they look into the city's establishment and development, follow the role of organized crime in its...
National First Ladies' Library
Red Hunts, Black Lists, and Communists
Pupils research and examine the unsavory history of the hunt for communists in the United States during the 1950s. They divide up into groups to review the Red Scare of the 1920s as a backdrop to the McCarthy era and write a short essay...
National First Ladies' Library
Eli Whitney: A Top Ten Inventor?
Middle schoolers conduct research and present their findings in a persuasive manner. Then they work in groups to enhance the development of cooperative work skills. Students also present their findings through persuasive skills in...
National First Ladies' Library
The Space Race
Students investigate the historical events that have surrounded The Space Race. They conduct research using a variety of resources and focus upon the progress between Russia and The United States. Students describe the events that led up...
National First Ladies' Library
Ugly Duckling: Definitions of Beauty
Students examine the degree to which physical appearance influences how one is viewed in society. They draw a timeline of the history of beauty and complete a visual scavenger hunt of history.
National First Ladies' Library
Building a Federal Town: Washington, DC
Young scholars create a timeline of the history of Washington, D.C. from 1787 to 1879. Using the internet, they read specified articles about the design of the capital and city of Washington DC. Young scholars write a newspaper article...
National First Ladies' Library
Science: The Purloined Letter
Students examine Edgar Allan Poe's "the Purloined Letter" from the perspective of a profiler. To sharpen search procedures, they examine the text and make lists of items and places in the house that were searched. Then students discuss...
National First Ladies' Library
Eleanor Roosevelt and Hillary Clinton: Activist First Ladies
Students are divided into six smaller groups, with each group assigned to the task of exploring one of the aspects of the lives of both Eleanor Roosevelt and Hillary Clinton. They prepare a grid on which to record their findings and...
National First Ladies' Library
Synthesizing Music with the Technology Invention of the Modular Synthesizer
Students explore how to create synthesized music and discuss what they believe music would sound like without electronics. They explore a given website to determine how different types of instruments can be digitized. In groups, students...
National First Ladies' Library
Rock the Vote! But When?
Middle schoolers research and examine about voting turnouts in the United States and around the world. They assess about various aspects of the so-called "youth vote," and have an opportunity to consider the meaning of the vote in a...
National First Ladies' Library
Government: Defending the Bill of Rights
Pupils examine the proposition of a country without the Bill of Rights. In a role-playing activity, teams of students gather information to build a case for retaining the Bill of Rights and present it before their congressperson.
National First Ladies' Library
Jefferson's Legacy: A National Library
Students examine the creation of the Library of Congress. They investigate reasons why Thomas Jefferson sold his personal collection to the Library. Employing various research resources, students write newspaper articles about the sale...
National First Ladies' Library
Birds of a Feather: Parrots, Pigeons, Parakeets, and More
Students investigate the concepts related to the extinction of birds while conduct research using the internet and a variety of resources. The information is used in order to create a class presentation or set the context for class...
National First Ladies' Library
Ah! Those Horse and Buggy Days!
Students discuss contemporary methods of travel and the time it takes to travel to places. They use the Internet to explore 18th century travel. Students work in small group to research the amount of time it would have taken...
National First Ladies' Library
Martha Goes To War!
High schoolers investigate how women went to war and the contributions that they have made in history. They conduct research using a variety of resources. The information is used in order to create a class presentation and answer some...
National First Ladies' Library
Dolley The Hero
High schoolers engage in a instructional activity that focuses on the events of the War of 1812. They conduct research using a variety of resources that includes the internet. Students then find images on the internet and then draw one...
National First Ladies' Library
The State Of The States
High schoolers engage in a study of the states as part of the United States while conducting research using a variety of resources. The focus of the study is the states that were part of the Union by 1890. Students create an almanac...
National First Ladies' Library
State Dinners And Funerals: Protocol And Diplomacy
Learners investigate the use of dinners and funerals as protocol in the life of American Government. They conduct research using the internet and a variety of resources. The information is used in order to answer key questions about...
National First Ladies' Library
Who Wants to be a Pioneer?
Students write a story based on their research of the Oregon Trail. Using the Internet and traditional sources, they engage in research about pioneer's experiences on the Oregon Trail during westward expansion. Students write a story...
National First Ladies' Library
Our Nation Grows
Students demonstrate the importance of symbols, especially the flag, to the identity of the American nation. They use the internet to trace the design timeline of the American flag.
National First Ladies' Library
States' Rights: 1798-1860
Students develop an annotated timeline specific to the concept of States' Rights. They research an example to the doctrine noting how the ideas change and beome more specific as time passes and discuss their findings through class...
National First Ladies' Library
"Lockwood for President!" Belva Ann, Who?
Students examine the life of Belva Ann Lockwood. They see her life through the creation of a set of "news" articles on her admission to practice law before the Supreme Court in 1879 and her nomination for the presidency in 1884.
National First Ladies' Library
Get Ready, Get Set, We're Moving!
Students use the internet and other sources to research the culture and history of the Philippines. In groups, they discover why William Taft moved to the Philippines. Students participate in a scenario where they make preparations to...