See the changes, controversy, and innovations that define postwar American art. The onset of the modern art era in American history is well-defined in this slide-show. You'll see how Abstract Expressionism shifted into conceptual, pop,...

Groups collaborate to create historical documentaries. In this American Civil Rights lesson, groups research primary and secondary sources about the events and people pertinent to the movement in the 1950s and 1960s. They then use...

What inspires furniture designers? As learners of all ages view examples of woodworking used in French and American furniture, they discuss woodworkers' techniques and inspirations. They identify techniques such as veneering and...

When it comes to quality theater, Americans were tardy to the party. A video on early American theater, number 40 on the Crash Course Drama and Theater playlist, shares information about plays during the early 20th century.  Discussions...

Literature and social studies are definitely linked, and this lesson pulls them together to construct a great learning activity. The class will read several selections written at the turn of the 20th Century. They analyze ads from the...

Here is a complex lesson plan that interweaves the history of the Jim Crow South and the Great Migration with the study of poetry, art, and blues music from the Harlem Renaissance. The plan helps young historians develop a deep...

Students examine pieces of art by African-American artists in the 20th Century. For each piece, they are shown slides of the artwork and others by the artist to identify the techniques used. In groups, they discuss and research the...

Have your class create their own art exhibit. Learners study the exchange of artwork between the Louvre in Paris and two American art museums, and create an introductory exhibit featuring European and American art from the Renaissance...

The beginning of the 20th century began with a shock: the assassination of President McKinley. The man who would take his place—the youngest American to ever become president—led quite a life before stepping foot in the Oval Office. An...

Race relations in the early 20th century are the focus of a series of activities that asks high schoolers to examine excerpts from five primary source documents to evaluate arguments for and against African American progress....

Images, images. Young people today are surrounded by images and it is critical that they become aware of how they are impacted by these images. Here's a series of activities that encourage learners to develop their skills in reading...

As part of their study of the Progressive Era, class groups examine a 20th century version of "The Three Little Pigs" through a New Era lens and identify how ideals such as the value of hard work, creativity, and problem solving, etc.,...

Students investigate the history of African Americans by researching Harlem.  For this culture lesson, students examine a slide-show of images and identify the great African American singers and performers of the 20th century.  Students...

Students work in small groups to interpret a piece of folk art.  Students first interpret the art without reading the background information, then they investigate the background information of the art.  Last, students present their...

Engage your class in art and history with projects that span multiple disciplines. For this unit, class members research twentieth century history, conduct an interview with someone 60 years old or older, write a biographical narrative,...

The length of Queen Victoria's reign, surpassed only by Queen Elizabeth II in the modern era, stretched through much of the 19th century and into the 20th century. Explore the many social, industrial, and political shifts that occurred...

Discover stories about women's history in beautiful stained glass windows. The second in a three-part series teaches scholars about a famous artistic style of stained glass windows and the influential women that used art to impact...

Students explore several themes relevant to the life of Paul Robeson and the social, artistic, & political realities of the first half of the 20th century, identify and interview heroes in their communities, and publish profiles on...

How much power should a president be allowed to exert? Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt exercised their power according to their interpretations of the United States Constitution, and these interpretations affected the...

Students examine the time period of the Harlem Renaissance. In groups, they compare and contrast the type of art before and after the movement along with the state of society at the time. After reading a book on the topic of their...

Gun, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond is one of the seminal works of historical nonfiction from the late 20th century. Use the author's claims and supporting evidence to guide your high school seniors through their own research project,...

Eleventh graders analyze the rise of the U.S. to its role as a world power in the 20th century. They read and analyze text, and write an essay identifying the cause and effect of imperialism and the various ways the U.S. attempted to...

Eleventh graders research entertainment and recreation in the early twentieth century using primary sources and the book From the Hidewood, by Robert Amerson. They compare the rural experience of the time period to the national...

Did you know that umpires first adopted hand signals when baseball's first deaf Major League player, William "Dummy" Hoy, started playing in the late 1800's? Discuss some of the historical impacts the Deaf population had on the 16th...