Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Underground Railroad

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students write about the impact of the Underground Railroad. In this slavery lesson, students examine primary documents as they conduct independent research to explore the role of the Underground Railroad during the fight for abolition....
Activity
Constitutional Rights Foundation

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates — Springboard to the White House

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates saw two primary political candidates debating seven different times about one of the most important social movements in United States history. Middle and high schoolers read an article that describes the...
Unit Plan
Core Knowledge Foundation

The Civil War

For Teachers 2nd Standards
A unit focuses on the Civil War. Second graders follow along with an informational reading about the war—why it started, how it ended, and essential individuals such as Harriet Beecher Stow, Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln, Ulisses, S....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Emancipation Proclamation

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Middle schoolers read one of the most important documents in our nation's history: The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. After everyone reads the proclamation, they set out to write a "You Were There" type of report on it. They pretend...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Families in Bondage

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine actual letters writen by slaves and write essays based on these letters describing what it might have been like for an African American family living in the South during that time period.
PPT
Curated OER

What are the 13th,14th, and 15th Amendments?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments are outlined in this PowerPoint. Each amendment is noted on its own slide, with a summary of its purpose and important sections of the actual document. Tip: Have students choose an amendment and write...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Freed Slaves

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners are given the identify of a newly freed slave at the end of the Civil War. Students participate in a discussion to explore some of the difficulties and decision making freed slaves had to consider. Learners present their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ride the Road to Freedom

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders discover that people can connect the dots of the stars to make pictures in the sky and have been doing so for thousands of years. They understand that throughout the United States people worked together to plan an escape...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Underground Railroad

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers write about the impact of the Underground Railroad. They examine primary documents as they conduct independent research to explore the role of the Underground Railroad during the fight for abolition. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chapter 10: "Currents of Change in the Northeast and the Old Northwest" Chapter 11: "Slavery and the Old South"

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students use the indicated text and the internet to compare and contrast the North and South. They discuss the social and political implications of the two predominant economic systems (slavery and factory). They are introduced to the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Deadly Equilibrium

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars determine if the economic model of slavery in the United States could or could not survive without expansion of slavery to the western territories. They access an excellent multi-media narrative imbedded in this plan.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Middle Passage

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students examine historical documents and the role they played in history. They read excerpts from the book The Middle Passage by Olaudah Equiano to receive a first-hand description of the difficulties during the middle passage and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

King Cotton

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine the manufacturing of cotton. In this cotton and slavery lesson, 5th graders review background information about cotton and slavery. Students examine a real cotton ball and discuss why it was painful to pick....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slave Resistance

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students examine slavery and slave resistance.  In this history lesson, students read several excerpts on slavery then work in small groups to reflect and answer questions on the readings. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Underground Railroad

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine slavery and the civil war by creating a research project.  In this underground railroad lesson, students create a KWL chart and decide on one of several creative projects they will complete about slavery....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underground Railroad

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders reflect on their knowledge of the Underground Railroad.  For this slavery lesson, 4th graders discuss slavery and watch a video.  Students complete a K-W-L chart after discussion and reading, as well as, a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Whitewashing the History of the South

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students research online a variety of different plantation museums across the South to ascertain how realistically, if at all, slavery is portrayed. This is a very interesting way for students to see how history can be presented in many...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Religion in Uncle Tom's Cabin

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Pupils investigate the implications of religious beliefs on the issue of slavery and answer discussion questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conflict Between the States

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the conflicts which evolved into the Civil War. Students examine the differences between the north and the south. They discuss slavery and the battles during the war. Students create a mural and write battle songs...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Samuel's Choice - Social Studies Using Children's Literature

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders read a book about independence, freedom, and slavery. Students create a story map of the book. They research the causes of the Civil War. Students write a newspaper article from the point of view of an American colonist.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Equaino

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe and discuss reasons that slaves were treated with indignity. While reading passages from the author Olaudah Equiano, students stop periodically to discuss major points about The Middle Passage. They investigate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Triangular Trade and Middle Passage Review Individual Worksheet

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the key concepts within the Colonization of America, the significance of the Triangular Trade Route, the origin of slavery, and the Middle Passage. After a short discussion and review, 8th graders orally practice...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Search for Words: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War

For Students 2nd - 4th
In this American history instructional activity, students read 12 words pertaining to Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War and slavery. Students find the words in a word search.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gold Rush Abolitionists: How different was the role of Spanish-speaking blacks under Mexican rule from the role of English-speaking blacks under U.S. rule?

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students determine how Spanish-speaking blacks and English speaking blacks were treated differently. In this emancipation lesson, students compare the Mexican and American rules regarding slavery.     

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