Curated OER
Am I Really Free?
Fourth graders write about slavery and freedom. In this freed slaves lesson, 4th graders read historical information about free blacks during slavery and explore books, objects and slave narratives to learn more. Students...
Curated OER
Counting Quilts
Students view the Bird of Paradise quilt and observe the design-work in the quilt. In this counting quilt lesson, students will count to find repeated pictures in the quilt. Students will represent their families in...
Curated OER
An Age of Exploration
Learners investigate U.S. history by examining North American timelines. In this American exploration lesson, students research the events that led to Columbus finding America and participate in a jeopardy game regarding his adventure....
Curated OER
A Country Twice Divided
Students study biography from the 19th century. They read "The Red Badge of Courage." Students research a topic from the list provided in the lesson and write a 5-7 page paper. They study lyrics and melodies of the confederacy and...
Curated OER
Exploring the Life of a Slave
Eleventh graders explore importance of abolitionists who worked to advance freedoms of black Americans prior to/during Reconstruction era, read and identify key concepts in Frederick Douglass's narrative, recognize how Douglass's slave...
Curated OER
"Crossing Brooklyn Ferry"
Students study transportation in mid-19th-century Brooklyn. They look at several photographs of Brooklyn transport from the era and read Walt Whitman's poem "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry." In addition to making critical
observations and...
Curated OER
The Truth Shall Set Them Free?
Students consider the notion and purpose of truth commissions, They work in groups to predict the commission's effectiveness in its efforts to promote peace and reconciliation among Liberians. Finally, students create found poems that...
Curated OER
A Fish Tale
Young scholars brainstorm a list of famous events that took place on the sea. They write a poem or short story from the fish's perspective about the famous event they have chosen. Students share their work with the class.
Curated OER
Second Graders Create Their Own Social Studies Book
Students develop their own social studies textbook. Students gain knowledge of American immigration and Ellis Island. Students discover the process of becoming a naturalized citizen and what it means to be a citizen
Curated OER
Ancient Greece: Inquiring Minds Want to Know
Second graders explore world history by writing newspaper articles. In this Greek history lesson, 2nd graders investigate the geography and society of Ancient Greece by utilizing the Internet as a research tool. Students collaborate with...
Curated OER
Clara Barton
Students explore the social change during the nineteenth sand early twentieth centuries. The founding of the American Red Cross by Clara Barton and the role it played in organizing help for those in need is examined in this lesson.
Curated OER
Nonprofit Environmental Groups
Students examine the importance of nonprofit organizations when it comes to the environment. They discover how to evaluate different organizations. They research different organizations and present their findings to the class.
Curated OER
Environmental Destruction in Vietnam
Students watch video clip on Environmental Destruction of Vietnam, select and discuss passages from essay, Resuscitation of the Dead Earth, that emphasize destruction to the land, and write essay on whether United States should have been...
Curated OER
Household Names
Students explore the accomplishments of famous New Yorkers in the 19th century. In small groups, students read biographies and match them with a corresponding primary source document. The group that is most accurate in matching the...
Curated OER
The Birth of an American Hero: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow???s ???Paul Revere???s Ride???
Students examine the heroic archetype and apply it to the history of Paul Revere's Ride and to Longfellow's poem, "Paul Revere's Ride." They identify heroic qualities, discuss archetypes, read and discuss Joseph Campbell's "Stages of the...
Curated OER
Time Train
Students are read a short book "Time Train" by Paul Fleischman. Using the text, they identify the clues to let them know the train is traveling back in time. They make a time line of the trip and make a cutout of meat-eating and...
Curated OER
Immigration in the Late 1800's
Seventh graders explore the progression of immigration patterns in the United States. They examine how immigrants perceived and adapted to the United States culture. Students discuss how immigrants were able to perserve their culture in...
Lesson Planet
New Books for Black History Month
Suggested books to help students better understand African American history.
Curated OER
Jackie Steals Home
Learners read articles relating to Jackie Robinson's breaking of the racial barrier in professional baseball. This leads to a deeper exploration of racism in the United States. They use a variety of worksheets imbedded in this plan to...
Curated OER
Mark Twain- Teaching About American Authors
Mark Twain lesson plans can shed light on his famous works, like "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer."
Civil War Home
Home of the American Civil War: The Eastern Theater: The Peninsula Campaign
A lengthy description of the Peninsula Campaign. Read about the strategy involved in this lengthy campaign, the goals, and the results for both the Union and Confederacy. From "Epic Battles of the Civil War" by Curtis M. Jingle, Michael...
Civil War Home
Home of the American Civil War: Chancellorsville Campaign
A brief description of the Chancellorsville Campaign of April and May, 1863. From "Epic Battles of the Civil War" by Curtis M. Jingle, Michael R. Brasher, and Warren Von Worley.
Civil War Home
Home of the American Civil War: The Wester Theater: The Opening Moves
From "Epic Battles of the Civil War, 1861-1865" comes this overview of the Main Western Theater in 1861 and 1862. Read about the struggle for Kentucky and the success of the Union at Ft. Henry and Ft. Donelson. Hyperlinks to battle...
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: About the Spanish Civil War
An extensive resource covering many aspects of the Spanish Civil War. First read an overview of the conflict before looking at the many primary sources related to the war.