Students consider the insight to the past that oral histories can provide. They, in groups, analyze oral histories, prepare to interview a family member on their recollections of a historical event and then write a historical narrative.

Students create a family cookbook to record special family memories and collect important recipes. In this family traditions lesson plan, students create a cookbook of memories, stories, and favorite recipes. Students present their...

How reliable is oral history? The resource uses the oral history website to help academics understand the pros and cons of using recollections to teach others. Scholars complete a worksheet, draft a letter to a representative, and...

Young scholars listen to the story, "Recollections of Pine Gulch, 1840-1860" to determine how banks "create" money, what reserves are, and what a "run" on a bank is.

Understand the violence of the Civil War through the eyes of young women whose homes were in the midst of an important battle and continuing conflict.

Students examine various New York Times readers' reflections on the life and death of President John F. Kennedy, by reading and discussing "Readers Reflect on President John F. Kennedy." Students then write their own personal...

Explore contributions of Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) during World War II with an engaging history lesson. Middle schoolers examine portrayals of women in World War II posters and newsreels, compare and contrast them with...

Students read the book, Amber on the Mountain and discuss its philanthropic implications. They determine the literacy needs of their own communities. They ask family members to complete reading recollection forms about when and how they...

Seventh graders explore the significance of the Mier Expedition to the Republic of Texas. They discuss the suffering Texans endured during their escape attempt and incarceration. Using first hand interviews and recollections, 7th graders...

Terry George's 2004 award-winning film, Hotel Rwanda, is the focus of a study guide that asks viewers to examine how Paul's views change over the course of the film and to assess the accuracy of the film.

Students explore the details about a major storm that was witnessed by their parents, neighbors, and other people of the community. The recollections are compared and contrasted and gathered to compose and present an account of the storm...

What is an oral history interview? What goes into the planning and what should be said? Why is it important that we know and learn from oral history? This is an excellent worksheet to support your young historians as they conduct...

Ninth graders visit the US Holocaust Museum to witness the actions of the Nazis against the Jews during World War II. A great lesson if you are located near the museum or are planning a trip to the DC area.

After listening to a story about Martin Luther King Jr., first graders answer questions about the text. They discuss the importance of the illustrations, identify the beginning, middle, and end of the story, and complete a writing...

How can primary sources bring history to life? Scholars create detailed lesson plans on the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in American history. The 17th installment of a 22-part program exploring American history examines...

Track the transformation of Malcolm Little into Malcolm X and then into El Jajj Malik El-Shabazz with the second part of Make it Plain, a documentary on the famous civil rights activist. Viewers consider not only how events shaped and...

Young scholars explore basic banking principles and the value of money as they probe into the lesson plan. The case of Gus Mahler is examined as students discover the money making dealings of the banking industry.

High schoolers are introduced to the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), one of the "big 5" civil rights organizations (the other four were: the Urban League, NAACP, SCLC, and CORE). The SNCC is credited with having led...

Students act as historians by, first, reading and analyzing oral histories of professional baseball players to become familiar with baseball figures. Then, they proceed to interview family members, relatives, or neighbors who have...

Students explore historical connections, talking with family members about landmark events they have witnessed in their lifetimes to explore how history touches our lives. They identify several landmark events of the late 20th century.

Students examine and interpret conflicting primary sources.

Eighth graders investigate the events that led to World War II. In this Holocaust instructional activity, 8th graders research primary and secondary sources about the events that led to the war. Students create PowerPoint presentations...

Eighth graders interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this American Revolution lesson, 8th graders examine the Battle of Fort Moultrie and create their own historical narratives regarding the event.

Students identify and analyze the motivation behind the African-American students in organizing the sit-in if Greensboro and the formation of the SNCC. Students identify how the generational differences between members of SNCC and other...