Curated OER
First Nations Contributions
Eighth graders investigate the 6 nations of the First Nations. In this native studies activity, 8th graders research the 6 nations in the confederacy and their contributions to society. Students create displays featuring the their...
Curated OER
Recovering Under-examined Histories to Build Community
Young scholars read Diane Glancy's "Pushing the Bear" about the Cherokee Removal and respond online to a discussion board. They discuss responses in class.
Curated OER
Dreams and Shields
Young scholars study and view examples of shields from the Lakota, Crow, Cheyenne, Black Feet, and Shoshone tribes. They find the meaning of the symbols used on the shields and then make their own shields out of cardboard.
Teaching Tolerance
Why Do We (Still) Celebrate Columbus Day?
What are we really celebrating on Columbus Day? The resource explores the narrative behind Columbus Day and ways for people to change the perception. Scholars also review vocabulary terms associated with the topic and how attitudes have...
Anti-Defamation League
Should Washington's NFL Team Change Their Name?
"What's in a name?" Is it irrelevant, as Juliet suggests in Shakespeare's play, or is nomenclature deeply significant? Young scholars weigh in on the debate by examining the controversy over the NFL's Washington, D.C. Redskins. Groups...
Curated OER
Centennial: This I Value...Hidden Treasures
Fourth graders explain the contributions of Native American Indians, explorers, and Utah's pioneers. They classify items based on value and determine what makes them valuable to individuals, groups, communities, etc.
Curated OER
Myth and Truth: The First Thanksgiving
Encourage learners to think critically about common myths regarding the Wampanoag Indians in Colonial America. They discover that behind every myth are many possible explanations—and that learning more about American history helps them...
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Women's Suffrage: 140 Years of Struggle
Students create PowerPoint presentations about women's suffrage. In this women's rights instructional activity, students use primary documents to study the women's suffrage movement. In pairs, students create a PowerPoint presentation...
Curated OER
Ragtime: 1880-1920
Build an understanding of the social, economic, and cultural changes that were incited by the American Industrial Revolution. Learners will research the historical context of the Ragtime Era, and compose an oral presentation in the...
Curated OER
Making a Report to President Washington
Learners gain an understanding of some of the challenges the U.S. faced at its birth. They are asked to compose a report on the state of the nation in 1790 (addressed to President George Washington), which includes a narrative, maps and...
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...
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
European Explorers
To compare how the Spanish, French, and English approached the exploration of North America, class groups examine primary source documents and become experts on one of four explorers: Francisco Coronado, Robert LaSalle, Samuel de...
Curated OER
Revolutionary Money
Examine paper money from the American revolution! Historians study the paper bills and discuss the history of money. How has money changed over the times? Activities are included.
Curated OER
Russia's Colony: Examining the Effects of Russian Colonization
Students respond to the question: How did Russian colonization effect Alaska's history? students examine environmental, cultural, economic, social and political impacts.
Curated OER
First Nations Contributions
Eleventh graders recognize the contributions made my Indigenous people around the world. In this research skills lesson, 11th graders research native peoples of several countries and create presentations that feature the contributions of...
Curated OER
Treaties - Grade 12
Twelfth graders explore the history and current issues facing First Nations treaties. In this native studies lesson, 12th graders research modern land claims in Canada and write reports based on their findings.
Curated OER
Metis- Grade 11
Eleventh graders consider the impact of immigration on native peoples. In this Canadian history lesson, 11th graders watch "Places Not Our Own," and then participate in a classroom simulation that requires them to consider land...
Curated OER
Oregon Trail Art
Students describe events that happened on the Oregon Trail and in the daily lives of Native Americans by writing a narrative essay of a family traveling through Nebraska based on Thomas Hart Benton's paintings.
Curated OER
Metis - Grade 10
Tenth graders investigate the organization and purpose of the Metis. In this Canadian history instructional activity, 10th graders watch "Metis Settlements," and then participate in talking circles sharing their impressions of the video.
Curated OER
American Personalities: Autobiographical Sketches
Students are introduced to American personalities whose fame and contributions have left, and continue to leave a mark in American history.
Curated OER
Geography: Intro to Canada
Students investigate the geography of Canada by analyzing a map of the country. In this North American geography lesson, students identify the 13 provinces of Canada and their locations by examining a Canadian map. Students...
Curated OER
The American Revolution
Fifth graders read about the Revolutionary War. In this history lesson, 5th graders review what they know about the the Revolutionary War in order to identify British and American leaders. Students read a chapter from their...
Curated OER
Our First Families
Students complete a variety of activities in which the Washington Post Newspaper is used to reinforce concepts pertaining to the history of the Washington, D.C. area.
Curated OER
At Home On The Range
Students explore the history and domestication of the Bovidae family and their importance to our prairie ecosystem. Using a map of the United States, students located the American Great Plains. They complete worksheets and discuss...