Curated OER
Wild Swans
Students, watching the movie, "Wild Swans," explore a writer's journey of discovery about her mother, grandmother, and herself. They also study the Chinese culture and history of the last 50 years.
Curated OER
The Lynching of Emmett Till
Students will be introduced to the historiography of the Emmett Till murder to discover more about the case and to evaluate how history is reliant on interpretation. They will also refine analytical and critical thinking skills as they...
Curated OER
Breaking News English: Tests Show Diana Driver Was Drunk
In this English learning exercise, students read "Tests Show Diana Driver Was Drunk," and then respond to 1 interview, 47 fill in the blank, 7 short answer, 20 matching, and 8 true or false questions about the selection.
Curated OER
The Chromosome Connection
Students evaluate the degree of chromosome similarity and difference between humans and apes. Students infer about the relationship between a human and ape based on similarities found.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Character Study: Scout Finch
This lesson focuses on the character of Scout Finch from the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It includes excerpts from the American Masters documentary entitled Harper Lee: Hey, Boo, discussion questions, teaching tips, and...
Curated OER
History Matters: Making Sense of Documentary Photography
A great guide to making sense of documentary photography. Learn ways to distinguish between early and modern photos, where the photo was taken, and how the photo was presented.
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum
Tpml: Truman and the Bomb, a Documentary History
This site offers a comprehensive list of primary source documents from Harry S. Truman regarding the Potsdam Conference and decision to use atomic weapons.
PBS
Pbs News Hour Extra: A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words
A lesson where students examine documentary photographs, the events that were taking place when they were taken, and where they fit into American history. They will also look at the effect a photograph can have on people's emotions, and...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Ken Burns in the Classroom: Collection
Ken Burns and his collaborators have been creating historical documentary films for more than forty years. Known for a signature style that brings primary source documents, images, and archival video footage to life on screen, these...
PBS
Crucible of Empire: Spanish American War Resources for Teachers
Find a collection of resources assembled by the producers of a PBS documentary about the Spanish-American War that supports classroom instruction on various aspects of the war. Includes interviews with historians; a transcript of the...
Massachusetts Historical Society
Massachusetts Historical Society: The Coming of the American Revolution, 1764 76
Drawing resources in the collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Coming of the American Revolution examines the seeds of rebellion in America. Includes a chronology of key events leading up to the American Revolution,...
PBS
Pbs: Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns
The companion website for a documentary film about jazz is home to a storehouse of resources and unique features about the historical, cultural, and artistic significance of jazz. With a timeline of key events in the history of jazz,...
Other
Bringing History Home: The Great Depression
This 4th grade unit introduces basic concepts of the Great Depression of the 1930s, and to historical analysis processes. Following a trade book and video documentary overview of the 1920s and 1930s, students examine photos, letters,...
Stanford University
Sheg: Document Based History: Reading Like a Historian: Spanish American War
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students use primary source documents to investigate central historical questions. In this investigation students study the Spanish-American War by watching a documentary video, reading a telegram...
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: Freedom Riders
PBS collects and summarizes the stories of the freedom riders, who, in 1961, challenged segregation in the American South. Includes video clips from the documentary, interactive timeline of key locations and events, biographical...
Department of Defense
Do Dea: Art Appreciation: Unit 7: Photography
In this seventh and final unit of a course on Art Appreciation, students learn about photography and significant photographers. This is followed by a discussion of television and film. Students will learn terminology used, technical...
PBS
Pbs Teachers: The Great War (World War I Lesson Plans)
Eight lesson plans for exploring aspects of World War I, also known as the Great War, with instructions for introducing middle-school learners to the causes of the conflict; to the great symbol of the war's stalemate--the trenches; to...
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Liberty! The American Revolution (Teacher's Guide)
A six-lesson teacher's guide to support classes on the American Revolution. Although the guide is designed to be used in conjunction with the PBS documentary "Liberty!" the video component of the lessons can be dropped without much fuss....
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Using Snowflake Bentley as a Framing Text for Multigenre Writing
Using Snowflake Bentley as a model, students create a working definition of multigenre text and then use that definition to create their own multigenre piece about winter or another theme.
PBS
Pbs: Life & Times of Frida Kahlo (Guides for Parents & Teachers)
A collection of activities and lessons about Frida Kahlo designed to be used in conjunction with the PBS documentary about the artist ("The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo"), but each easily stands alone as well. Resources guide learners...
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Two Towns of Jasper (Classroom Resources on Racism)
Classroom resources that examine the history and intent of hate groups in the United States and the notorious race-motivated murder committed in Jasper, Texas, by three white supremacists. Resources take students through a number of...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Immigration
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart covers the analysis of documentary photos, discusses immigration to the USA in the late 1800's and early 1900's.