Pupils examine the geography of swamps and the Great Dismal Swamp. They research primary accounts, period literature, and analyze how fugitive slaves lived in the swamps.

Students read a section of the narrative, Runaway Journeys, and examine how fugitives lived in remote areas. They identify maroon communities on a map, and research and write about maroon communities.

Fifth graders compare and contrast servants and slaves in a journal entry. They examine ads which describe indentured servants accompanied by escaped slaves. They draw conclusions as to owners' perceptions and present their conclusions.

Students explore living and working environment of both slave and free African Americans from places throughout the United States.

Investigate the 50 State Quarter's Program. Learners view and discuss the images on the Indiana state quarter, develop a list of questions about the states, conduct research to answer the questions, and play a game using the questions...

Sixth graders explore the aspect of slave life on the Sea Islands. They explore the Gullah language, folk tales, music and games during the "off" times of slaves. Students read and interpret Gullah folk tales. They recognize music in the...

High schoolers analyze a painting from African-American culture to determine its meaning. Reading slave spirituals, they discover what live was like for African-Americans who were enslaved in the South. They draw conclusions about their...

Students examine the life, portraits and speeches of Frederick Douglass. They consider what made his speeches effective and why he is regarded as a national hero. They write an original speech.

Discuss the differences between the North and the South and how those differences led to the Civil War. Middle schoolers examine and analyze a famous speech or writing by President Lincoln in order to better understand the speaker's...

Imagine what it was like to be a slave in the United States in 1845. Eighth graders are given an opportunity to experience life from the point of view of Frederick Douglass as they read and discuss an annotated passage from Narrative of...

Whether new to teaching The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn or an experienced pro, you’ll find useful resources in this teacher’s guide. The 40-page packet includes background information, historical context, an annotated list of...

Engage your class in a series of activities, each related to the use or analysis of symbols used to convey patriotic or national concepts. They identify different national symbols and explain their meanings, discussing the importance of...

Learners who have a grasp on the events of the Revolutionary war view clips from five different films as secondary sources. They take notes on each clip thinking about historic inaccuracies. They then view parts of the film The Patriot...

Young scholars evaluate websites after gathering information from various search engines.  In this Civil War instructional activity, students browse the web and find strategies for rating websites.  Young scholars choose the...

Invite your class to investigate racism and civil rights by analyzing the great Dr. Martin Luther King's speech. Your learners will read the words from the "I Have a Dream" speech and analyze the political and racial overtones. They will...

Young historians consider the cause and effects of the Emancipation Proclamation. They use handouts, response sheets, and class discussion to build an opinion about the subject after viewing the PBS documentary Abraham and Mary Lincoln:...