Curated OER
On Sunday There Might Be Americans Lesson
Students  gain insight into the mindset of a rural boy in Niger, specifically regarding his relations with both indigenous and foreign people in the local market.  They probe the deeper meanings of the story  and relate important ideas...
Curated OER
Black History Stamps
Students explore the lives and contributions of the many black Americans who are honored on U.S. commemorative postage stamps, make a presentation that synthesizes information about a historical figure and time, and write a persuasive...
Curated OER
Cinderella in Africa
Explore African folk tales! After reading the African folk tale "Mufaro's Beautiful daughters" and the American version of "Cinderella," youngsters list differences and similarities between the two. Draw a T-chart on the board, and hold...
Curated OER
Jazz in America
Students explore jazz and its origins by focusing on the people in which Jazz came from.
Curated OER
Kwanzaa
Students examine the holiday of Kwanzaa.  In groups, they discuss "The Seven Principles" and the history of the holiday.  They explore the objects that are used and what they represent.  They end the lesson with a discussion of the...
Curated OER
Snoozer
Students read a fictional story set during the Civil War and identify how oral history and folklore contribute to the richness of U.S. history, African American history, and baseball history.
Curated OER
The Civil War Soldier's Experience
Students examine the social experiences of the soldiers on the battlefield. Using various viewpoints, they compare their daily life experiences and motives for fighting for the Confederate, Union and African-American soldiers. They...
Curated OER
Mixing Races in New Orleans
Students discuss the changes in the legal, social, and political status of African Americans and those of mixed ethnicity after reading the narrative, Haitian Immigration: Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries.
Curated OER
The Election of Barack Obama 44th President of the United States
High schoolers consider the historic implications of Barack Obama's election. In this election of 2008 activity, students research Obama's accomplishments and determine how his election signifies the success of the American Civil Rights...
Curated OER
Building Dreams??? Who is There to Help You?
Students  draw conclusions regarding personality based upon story events. The evaluate personalities based upon  values and  speculate on the effect individuals could have upon the future. They  apply this analysis of motivation to the...
Curated OER
How Did Slavery Impact Our Nation?
Fifth graders closely examine the effects of slavery on American society giving special emphasis to the issue of social injustice, the life of Harriet Tubman, the underground railroad and the achievements of Abraham Lincoln during this...
Curated OER
Giving Beyond Measure-- Diary of Anne Frank
Students examine the philanthropic concepts and values in the play, "The Diary of Anne Frank." They read the play, role-play characters, create a poster, and write journal entries.
Curated OER
The Jessie Jackson Campaign
Students explore an African American's presidential campaign. In teams, students create a campaign for their presidential candidate. They create political ads and plan campaign strategies. Students are simulate jobs such as a campaign...
Curated OER
Literature for Lesson 4 - Abolitionists
Young scholars examine the definition of abolition and abolitionists. In this abolition lesson, students complete vocabulary work before reading about Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Frederick Douglass. They watch a video about...
Smithsonian Institution
Comparing Confederate and Union Soldiers
The Civil War, a war that divided a nation. Comparing and contrasting the Confederate and Union soldiers is not always an easy task, but the eighth of 15 resources makes it easy to teach the concepts. Exercises include watching videos in...
Curated OER
Cultural and Social Transformation since 1865
Students research the evolution of cultural and social issues in areas of Westward Expansion, Immigration, and Civil Rights. They practice writing clear details with supporting evidence and examples and evaluate ways of improving drafts...
Curated OER
Pictures Telling Stories
Students see the importance of primary sources in the study of history, but also the limitations of relying only on primary sources of taking the money, as it were, at face value.
Curated OER
They Were All Stars: An Introduction to Leagues Baseball
Students identify the basic knowledge of Negro Leagues baseball.
Students identify and analyze the important individuals and events associated with Negro Leagues baseball history.
Students identify key vocabulary related to this period...
Curated OER
Tradition through storytelling and music
Young scholars discover how storytelling can shape a person's tradition.Students examine different methods of storytelling such as music, biographies, and African folktales. They then demonstrate their knowledge of storytelling by...
Curated OER
What Does It Cost?
Students study the challenges diverse people encountered in the late 19th century American society, how racial and ethnic events influenced America during the Progressive Era, and the conditions affecting employment and labor in the late...
Curated OER
In the Struggle for Equality and Justice for All
Learners  focus on the struggle for minorities rights. They  describe the civil rights movement of the late 1950's and the 1960's. They trace the roots of the movement in the second-class treatment accorded many black Americans and...
Curated OER
New Movements For Social Justice: The Latino Struggle for Equal Rights
Students  examine myths and stereotypes about Hispanic immigrant groups. They appreciate and share the strengths of their diversity and view films that challenge ideas about education and cultural values. They explore  the Latino Rights...
Curated OER
A Comparison of Indentured Servants and Slaves
Sixth graders examine and compare the lives of slaves and indentured servants using primary sources and the historical fiction books, "Molly Bannaky and Barefoot."  They analyze and compare advertisements for runaway slaves.  Students...
Curated OER
Primary Sources and Archaeology in the Study of Ancient Mediterranean Trade
Tenth graders begin the lesson by plotting trade routes, major empires and items traded.  Using primary sources, they examine their own values regarding trading items for royality.  They participate in a role-play exercise in which they...