New York City Department of Education
Colonial America and The American Revolution
How did the founding of the American colonies lead to a revolution? Use the essential question and sample activities to guide learners through a series of history lessons. Additionally, the packet includes effective strategies to...
NET Foundation for Television
1850-1874 African American Settlers
Go West, young man! Scholars investigate the impact of African American settlers moving to the Nebraska territory, following the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in the mid 1800s. Using primary sources, timelines, maps, and...
NET Foundation for Television
1850-1874 Native Americans and Settlers
Did Western settlers receiving free land from the Homestead Act realize it wasn't really free at all? Scholars investigate the impact Western expansion had on Native American culture in the mid-1800s. They use documents, timelines, and...
Center for Instruction, Technology, & Innovation
Did African American Lives Improve After Slavery?
The Civil War made slavery illegal, but all ex-slaves were not totally free. Scholars visit eight different classroom stations to uncover life during the Reconstruction Era in America. Groups discover items such as Black Codes, 13th,...
Curated OER
Major Events Leading to the American Revolution
Students explore the causes of the American Revolution. In this taxation without representation lesson plan, students analyze political cartoons in order to gain an understanding of the efforts of the colonists to resolve conflict with...
Curated OER
Political and Cultural Road to the American Revolution
Learners examine the Declaration of Independence. For this Revolutionary War instructional activity, students use primary sources to analyze how the creation of the Declaration of Independence lead to the development of the United States...
Curated OER
Dream Catchers
Students create Native American dream catchers to represent the Native American culture. After reading and discussing the origin of the Dream cather, they begin to construct their dream catchers using wire hoops, thread, beads, and...
Curated OER
Patriots v. Loyalists
Students consider how colonial citizens chose sides in the American Revolution. In this Revolutionary War lesson, students role play Loyalists, Patriots, and undecideds in a classroom simulation. Students research their positions so that...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Would you fit in with the Cherokees?
Students use this activity as an introduction to the unit on Cherokee Native Americans. They discuss and research Cherokee dress and homes and identify difference between the Cherokee and the individuals in the class.
Curated OER
Civil War Medicine
Eighth graders discover details about medical care during the American Civil War. In this medical advancements lesson plan, 8th graders participate in classroom station activities that require them to study doctors, amputation, medical...
Curated OER
Mini-Economy
Third graders perform jobs in order to sustain their classroom community. After completing a brief overview of how local economies are sustained, they complete job applications for classroom jobs. Students perform their jobs throughout...
NET Foundation for Television
1850-1874 The Kansas-Nebraska Act
How the Kansas-Nebraska Act created Bleeding Kansas is complicated—until scholars research and examine documents from the time. After completing activities that include mapping, photo, document analysis, and discussion, learners...
Curated OER
Causes of America's Great Depression
Students identify principal causes of the Great Depression. They analyze causes including a decline in worldwide trade, the stock market crash, and bank failures and explain the legacy of the Depression in American society.
Curated OER
War, What is it Good for?
Eighth graders examine aspects of the American Civil War related to West Virginia. In this research skills instructional activity, 8th graders collaborate to research Civil War topics and create electronic portfolios that feature their...
Curated OER
World War II Begins
Studying World War II? Explore the major incidents and factors leading to America entering the war with this history PowerPoint. Topics are broken into easy to follow points and cover content such as, the Depression, Nazi Party, Hitler,...
Curated OER
I Have No Money, Would You Take Wampum
Students engage in a discussion about their experiences with goods, services, and money. In this bartering lesson plan, students read The Wampum Bird story and brainstorm their personal experiences with economics.
West Virginia Department of Education
Intelligence of Authentic Character - News Coverage and John Brown's Raid
The resource, a standalone, shows how news coverage of John Brown's Raid began when the event happened and how that reporting shaped perception in West Virginia history. The resource includes interesting anticipatory discussion...
Curated OER
Made in the USA
Pupils map products made in the United States. They discuss regional interdependence and identify goods the U.S. produces and trades. They describe how economic links make Americans more alike, and locate major manufacturing centers in...
West Virginia Department of Education
History Scene Investigators - John Brown's Raid
An informative resource covers the event of John Brown's Raid, an event that became an important part of West Virginia history. It serves as a standalone and covers the event and John Brown's life in depth using group work, online...
NET Foundation for Television
1850-1874 Homestead Act Signed: Who were the Settlers?
Life in the great, wide-open spaces of the West! Scholars analyze the reasons behind the vast movement to the Great Plains after the passing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Homestead Act. Using photographic, document, map, video, and...
Curated OER
Strawberry Girl: Lesson 3 - Trains, Sails, and Trails
Learners read two chapters of Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski and complete activities about Florida's transportation history. In this literacy and economics lesson, students read two chapters of the book, talk about their journal entries,...
Curated OER
Old Hickories
Students analyze historical events to develop a historical perspective. In this critical analysis lesson, students read excerpts, primary sources and other materials in order to understand the Native American Removal that occurred during...
Curated OER
Where Will I Go From Here?
Students research the various cultures in Colonial America. In this American history lesson, students analyze and complie the research they find presenting what they have found into a short presentation.
Curated OER
Populists and Progressives
Students study the Gilded Age in American History. They present a speech demonstrating knowledge of the platforms of the Progressives and Populists.