National Endowment for the Humanities
Colonizing the Bay
Eleventh graders review the goals of John Winthrop. In this American History lesson, 11th graders read Winthrop's speech and summarize his key points. Students predict the possibilities for success and failure in the...
Curated OER
Who was affected by North American Colonization and How?
Conduct research on various aspects of American Colonization and explore how different groups were affected, including those involved in the Salem Witch Trials. Your class will read books, write journals, participate in class discussion,...
Curated OER
The African and the Pequot in Colonial America
Students determine that the lands the English settled on were owned and inhabited by 70,000 Indians. They consider that the London Company sold land charters to the English, which gave them illegal title to lndian land and that the...
Curated OER
Mapping Colonial New England: Looking at the Landscape of New England
Students understand the similarities and differences between English and Native American conceptions of the land and town settlement. They understand how the colony of Massachusetts developed and expanded. Students understand the...
Curated OER
Which of You Is A Witch?
Students gain comprehensive background knowledge of the Salem witch trials in preparation for reading Arthur Miller's The Crucible. They participate in a role-play activity designed to simulate a modern day witch-hunt.
Curated OER
Religious Dissent
Students perform a readers theater about Anne Hutchinson and her religious dissent. In this religious dissent lesson plan, students re-enact her trial through the reader's theater.
Curated OER
Puritans Lesson Plan
Students determine if the Puritans were selfish or selfless. In this American history lesson plan, students read two Puritans documents, answer guiding questions on a worksheet, and use evidence from the documents to write whether...
Curated OER
Uncovering The Truth
Learners investigate the social and religious contexts that surrounded the Salem Witch Trials. The research is guided using the worksheets included in the lesson plan. The culminating assignment is writing an editorial of personal...
Curated OER
Mapping Community Values
Pupils discuss the origin of various maps focusing on the values behind them. Students also explore how human needs and geography influence community settlement patterns. Pupils extend learning by creating and mapping their own ideal...
Curated OER
Early American Education and Horace Mann
Students analyze the contributions of Horace Mann. In this public education lesson, students research Internet and print sources regarding the history of American education, Mann.s life, the Morrill Act of 1862, and the Northwest Ordinance.
Curated OER
Understanding Freedom: Catching "The Spirit of '76"
Sixth graders complete activities about colonial history through an examination of art from the American Revolution period. In this history and art lesson, 6th graders define an iconic image, sing the song 'Yankee Doodle,' and analyze...
Curated OER
A Field of Beans
Beans, or legumes as they are sometimes called, are the topic for an integrated multi-subject lesson. Youngsters will read, write, observe, and research everything there is to know about beans. They read a bean story, conduct a bean...
Curated OER
Pilgrims: The First Americans
Fifth graders become familar with the pilgrims and first Thanksgiving through essays about important people of the time. In this Thanksgiving activity, 5th graders choose an important figure from the time of the Pilgrims and write...
Curated OER
Visit The Orchard
Learners investigate the technology that is used to harvest apples as a crop. They look at examples of past and present machines. The information is used as inspiration for creating their own device to pick and harvest apples for mass...
Curated OER
The Mayflower Compact
Students use primary source documents to discuss the Mayflower Compact and the story of the first Thanksgiving. They discover how the Pilgrims were influenced in developing a community and American democracy.
Curated OER
What is the (No) Establishment Clause?
Young scholars research and discuss the Establishment Clause.
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: Settlement of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies
In this lesson, 5th graders learn about the people who founded the New England colonies and the role that religion played in shaping them. Includes background information for the teacher. Students explore primary resource readings on the...
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: Religious Dissent [Pdf]
This lesson supplements one on the "Settlement of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies of New England." It looks at religious dissent and intolerance among the Puritans in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Students look at Roger...
Georgetown University
Georgetown University:bay Psalm Book (1640) and New England Primer (1683)
Essay discussing the Bay Psalm Book (1640) and the New England Primer (1683). Topics include: Classroom Issues and Strategies; Major Themes, Historical Perspectives, and Personal Issues; Significant Form, Style, Artistic Conventions;...
University of California
The History Project: The Antinomian Controversy
One of the most enduring myths in American history is the belief that the Puritans fled to America in search of religious liberty. Unfortunately, this belief is at best only a half-truth, The Puritans were strict religious people who...
National Women’s History Museum
National Women's History Museum: Anne Hutchinson: American Women's Movement
This lesson focuses on the life and trials of Anne Hutchinson, who fought for the rights of women in mid-17th century New England.
Ohio State University
Osu History Teaching Institute: Witchcraft in Salem
Learners will examine the Salem witchcraft trials through primary and secondary sources with an emphasis on different viewpoints of the trials.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Mapping Colonial New England: Looking at New England Landscape
In this lesson plan, students will consider "Mapping Colonial New England: Looking at the Landscape of New England." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.