National Endowment for the Humanities
Lesson 1: What Is the Purpose of the White House?
Pupils view images of presidents working and living at the White House. They list activities that take place at the White House and discuss the many purposes of the building.
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Chaucer's Wife of Bath
Students analyze Chaucer's portrayal of the Wife of Bath in The Canterbury Tales. Students prepare class reports on the institution of marriage and the place of women in the Medieval society.
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Where I Come From
Students discuss the countries and cultures that are part of their family history. They research the country their family "came from" and write a report.
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More Amazing Americans: A WebQuest
Students research amazing Americans using America's Library. For this American heroes lesson, students identify criteria for amazing Americans. Students copy and paste text and graphics from websites to use in their own documents....
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Witnesses to Joan of Arc and The Hundred Years' War
Students explore the key events of the Hundred Years' War Using computer technology, they research the life of Joan of Arc. Students explain Joan's military and political strategies and their importance in history. Students complete...
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Women in the White House
Eleventh graders explore the role and impact of recent First Ladies through research and family interviews, then work in groups to present a documentary portrait to the class.
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Exploring Arthurian Legend
Pupils use the internet to track the growth of the King Arthur legend from the Dark Ages to its arrival on the silver screen.
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Hawthorne: Author and Narrator
Students read various pieces of literature by Nathaniel Hawthorne to recognize the difference between a narrator and author. Students in small groups report on the narrative point of view represented in a story they have read.
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You Kiss the Book: Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
High schoolers analyze imagery in Shakespeare's, Romeo and Juliet, and act out the passage to see how the author includes stage directions with his poetry.
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Recognizing Similies: Fast as a Whip
Students review what they have already learned about similies and begin to engage with similies on a deeper and more abstract level as they create their own.
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How and Why Has The White House Changed?
Students discuss some of the changes the White House has undergone in more than two centuries. They compare three of the original drawings submitted for the design of the White House, available on the White House Historical Association...
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What Should a House Do?
Students describe two different houses in use at the time the first European settlements were founded. Students list ways in which our lives differ from the lives of the Native Americans and Europeans during that period of history.
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Born on a Mountaintop? Davy Crockett, Tall Tales, and History
Students name tall tale characters and locations, which are based on actual people and places, and describe how they are used in an exaggerated way. Students name created characters and events from tall tales. Students write a tall tale.
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Jefferson vs. Franklin: Renaissance Men
Students list a variety of interests and achievements of Franklin and Jefferson. They take a position that one or the other's interests and achievements were more wide-ranging or that they were equivalent. They write out their findings.
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A President's Home and the President's House
Students identify specific examples demonstrating how present-day White House reflects duties, powers, and privileges of the office of President, and
compare and contrast Thomas Jefferson's Monticello with the White House.
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The Growth of U.S.-Japanese Hostility, 1915-1932
Students explore the relationship between Japan and the United States between 1915 and 1932. In this diplomacy instructional activity, students examine the Open Door Policy, 21 Demands, and the invasion of Manchuria by Japan. Students...
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Thornton Wilder's Our Town: The Reader as Writer
Students read a play and create their own play using Thornton Wilder's Our Townas a resource. In this play lesson, students analyze how theatrical elements contribute to a play's meanings and effects. Students recognize differences...
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Visual Allegory: The Tale of Man
In this visual allegory worksheet, students complete the provided graphic organizer that requires them to list details about examples of allegory in paintings.
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Revolutionary Tea Parties and the Reasons for Revolution
Eleventh graders list some tea party protests other than the Boston Tea Party, then state some possible reasons behind the tea protests. They explain the connection between the Boston Tea Party, other tea parties, and events that...
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The Debate in the United States over the League of Nations
Eleventh graders read the words and listen to the voices of some central participants in the debate over the League of Nations.
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Washington and the Whiskey Rebellion
High schoolers explore the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 and its significance in the early history of the United States. They explore how George Washington made the choice to meet this challenge to federal authority with military force
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La Vie en Cave!
Students explain the purpose of cave paintings and rock art, identify some of the animals that roamed France in prehistoric times, appreciate the methods used by ancient civilization to create cave and rock art, and use appropriate...
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Follow the Leader: Line in the Visual Arts
Students identify line in the composition of a number of art works. They explain how the artist's compositional choices guide the viewer's eye to important components of the image. Students identify sight lines in several paintings and...
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George Washington on the Sedition Act
Students investigate the Sedition Act and George Washington's position on the act. In this United States Colonial history instructional activity, students read about George Washington's position on the Sedition Act. Students then...