Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay Landscape Long Ago and Today

For Teachers 4th - 5th Standards
Combine a fantastic review of primary source analysis with a study of Captain John Smith's influence on the Chesapeake Bay region in the seventeenth century. Your young historians will use images, a primary source excerpt, and maps...
Lesson Plan
K20 LEARN

Blue or Gray? Perspectives on the Civil War

For Teachers 8th Standards
Using primary and secondary sources, such as letters and diaries from soldiers and civilians, learners consider why people fought in the American Civil War. A role-playing Historical Mingle activity, as well as discussion questions and...
Activity
University of California

The Mongol Empire

For Teachers 7th
Scholars review eight sources to learn about the impact of the Mongol Empire and their leaders, such as Genghis Khan. Academics learn how the Mongols destroyed states but also increased connections with the rest of the world. To finish,...
Lesson Plan
1
1
University of California

The Civil War: The Road to War

For Teachers 8th Standards
The United States Civil War resulted in the highest mortality rate for Americans since the nation's inception. Delve deeper into the causes for the drastic separation of states with a history lesson plan that features analysis charts,...
Activity
University of California

The Virgin of Guadalupe

For Teachers 7th
A worldly resource focuses on the transfer of goods, ideas, and religion that took place as part of the Columbian exchange. Academics view sources such as text and artwork to help them complete a worksheet. 
Interactive
US National Archives

Eastern Europe 1939-45 — Ukraine

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Was Joseph Stalin desperate or exaggerating the USSR's need for assistance on the Eastern Front in 1942? History students examine two differing opinions on Stalin's position and the reality of the Eastern Front just three years before...
Interactive
US National Archives

WWII: Western Europe 1939-45 – Resistance and SOE

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Germany seemed to be unstoppable in the early years of World War II, but the tireless and sacrificial work of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) helped to steer the war in another direction. After exploring primary source documents,...
Interactive
US National Archives

Eastern Europe 1939-45 — Camps

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Britain's decision not to bomb German death camps in World War II has provided many questions for historians, but with a primary source analysis lesson, high school students may be a step closer to finding out the truth. Learners read...
Interactive
US National Archives

Eastern Europe 1939-45 — Stalingrad

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Acts of civilian courage in Great Britain—and in one case, the island of Malta—often receive the George Cross, instituted by King George VI at the beginning of World War II. After the valiant defense of Stalingrad by its inhabitants,...
Interactive
US National Archives

WWII: Western Europe 1939-45 – Invasion

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Without the benefit of history, Western Europe in the 1940's had no idea what was about to befall them. Class members use primary sources, including political cartoons, videos, and internal documents, to analyze how much of a threat...
Interactive
US National Archives

Eastern Europe 1939-45 — Berlin

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
The inevitability of World War II has arrived: Berlin has fallen. Young historians watch contemporaneous footage of the event, analyze primary source documents, and write a news report that details the roles of the Soviet, British,...
Interactive
US National Archives

WWII: Asia 1939-45 – Burma

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Because World War II encompassed most of the globe in one way or another, many pivotal battles and events are not as visible in the history books, leaving veterans of these conflicts feeling overlooked by more famous skirmishes. High...
Handout
Stanford University

Close Reading

For Students 5th - 10th Standards
Here's a poster that highlights the skills needed for the close reading of primary source documents when gathering evidence to support historical claims.
Handout
Stanford University

Corroboration

For Students 5th - 10th
How do historians corroborate the information in a primary source document? They use the questions features on this poster!
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Class Celebration of Primary Sources (Lesson 6)

For Teachers 1st
First graders participate in a celebration to end their examination on primary sources. In teams, they guide special guests around their classroom to show what they have done with primary sources. They share their peronal primary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Primary Sources from the Industrial Revolution

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders, in teams, analyze, evaluate and describe primary sources pertaining to industrialization at the turn of the century. They examine the sources and answer questions about each.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning to Read Primary Documents

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students research primary source documents related to the Canadian Loyalist theme at Canada's Learning Center website. They examine a painting, a list and a discharge notice of a soldier.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction of Primary Sources

For Teachers 1st - Higher Ed
Students will use the internet to access information about artifacts to justify their use as primary sources of information. The activities can be done as a whole class or in groups. The differences between primary and secondary sources...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction of Primary Sources

For Teachers 1st
First graders are introduced to photographs and newspaper articles to be used as primary sources. Using a projecter, they are shown photographs of a famous person to prove they were real and not make believe. In groups, they use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"my Dear Little Boys..." Using Wwii Primary Documents: a Letter Home From the War

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Pupils read letters written by soldiers during World War II in order to analyze the soldier's feelings about the war. They explain how these primary sources teach appreciation for the World War II soldier's experiences.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Dear Ma and Pa" Primary Documents: Letters Home from the War

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Pupils read and analyze letters written by a soldier during World War II. They discuss using letters as a primary source of historical information, complete a worksheet, and write a letter to a loved one.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Primary Documents: The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine primary documents from various key historical events, including those from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. They discuss the importance of such documents.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction of Primary Sources: Introduction to TDC site (Lesson 3)

For Teachers 1st
First graders are introduced to using a database as a primary source. Using the internet, they choose a site of artifacts and practice navigating through the site. They identify an artifact and draw them on a large piece of white...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Real-Life History: Looking at Our Community

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Spend several days with your class exploring local history. Learners brainstorm and categorize sources of historical information as primary or secondary; collect and present artifacts from family/community; construct a definition of...

Other popular searches