DocsTeach
President Reagan and the Cold War: Vision and Diplomacy
After years of boiling tension, the presidency of Ronald Regan and the rise of Mikhail Gorbechev paved a new way forward for diplomacy between the United States and the Soviet Union. Using primary source documents, including letters...
Curated OER
United States Entry into World War I: A Documentary Chronology of World War I
Young scholars identify several important events that led to U.S. involvement in World War I. They examine different explanations, form an opinion about the evidence for each rationale and then create a slideshow to present their findings.
National Humanities Center
Teaching The Great Gatsby: A Common Core Close Reading Seminar
The 41 slides in a professional development seminar model how to use close reading techniques to examine the many layers of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. In addition to passages from the novel, slides provide biographical...
Center for History Education
To What Extent Were Women's Contributions to World War II Industries Valued?
Women rose to the challenge when the nation's war effort called them—but were sent home when the GIs came back from World War II. Young historians consider whether the United States valued women's contributions during the war using a...
Alabama Department of Archives and History
Alabama's Secession in 1861: Embraced with Joy and Great Confidence. Why?
From December 20, 1860 to June 8, 1861, eleven states seceded from the Union. Alabama seceded on January 11, 1861. Why did so many white Alabamians want to secede? Why did they believe the South could win the war? These are the essential...
Smithsonian Institution
Eastern Indian Wars
Many know that Native Americans were forced off their lands and moved west, but how did these people react? The Red Sticks faction of the Creek nation opted to defend themselves and their lands in a series of wars called the Eastern...
Syracuse University
World War I
World War I was known for its gruesome battlefields and horrific injuries. Using photographs from a battlefield surgeon's scrapbook, scholars see first-hand what life was like in the trenches. After creating a timeline of the war using...
Smithsonian Institution
War of 1812
Luckily for those who aren't history buffs, anyone can guess that the War of 1812 happened in ... 1812. But how to cover the rest of the story? The resource does just that with effective direct instruction that includes statistics,...
National Endowment for the Humanities
People and Places in the North and South
North and South: two opposite directions and two opposite economic and social systems in time of the Civil War. Pupils peruse census websites and primary source photographs to understand what life was like for the everyday person before...
University of California
Roots of the Cold War
When and how did the Cold War begin? To answer this question, you will not find a better-organized, in-depth, activity- and inquiry-based resource than this! Executing best teaching practices throughout, each portion of this inquiry...
Curated OER
First World War Assessment
Here is a really neat assessment, perfect for middle schoolers who have just learned about WWI. The assessment covers the causes and effects of WWI, causes of WWII, the Treaty of Versailles, trench warfare, and key players of the war in...
Curated OER
History: Causes of World War I
Exploring WWI in an interesting discussion of the key events, this resource could be as a great supplement to a classroom unit on this topic. The pictures and information make this period in history come alive. Students would also...
National WWII Museum
World War II in Photographs
A picture is worth a thousand words, and this activity is worth so much more! Learners closely analyze a series of photographs from World War II, matching them with their appropriate captions and sequencing them into a correct timeline.
Curated OER
The Cause and Course of the Great War
Young scholars interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this World War I lesson, students research the causes of the war as well as the major events of the war. Young...
Center for History Education
Understanding the Great Migration
What would make someone leave home and travel thousands of miles to find another one? Young historians look at letters, demographic data, and artwork to answer the question for the Great Migration, or the movement of thousands of African...
Curated OER
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Here is an online interactive reading comprehension worksheet where pupils respond to 11 short-answer and essay questions based on War and Peace. They may also access an online quiz on the selection using the link at the bottom of the...
Curated OER
Tribes of The Looking Glass Wars
Unscramble letters of the Boarderland tribe names in The Looking Glass Wars to uncover the names of popular games. Some questions give you the anagram of the Boarderland tribe, others give you the name of the famous board or card game...
National WWII Museum
Picturing the War in the Pacific Photos, Datelines and Captions
Young historians have the opportunity to see photos from the war in the Pacific and learn more about what each photo represents. Scholars use their knowledge of WWII to match dates and descriptions to real-life photos from the war. The...
American Battle Monuments Commission
Americans in Great Britain: 1942-1945
Watch the pivotal moments of America's presence in embattled Britain during World War II with an exceptional interactive tool. From personal stories about life on the front lines to a map that tracks every group and division throughout...
Curated OER
World War I (1914–1919)
In this online interactive history learning exercise, students respond to 9 short answer questions about World War I. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive learning exercise.
Curated OER
World War I (1914–1919)
In this online interactive history quiz worksheet, students respond to 50 multiple choice questions about World War I. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
Writing Exercises: World War I, #2
In need of three good writing prompts focused on World War I? Learners respond to three prompts, each having them examine an aspect of World War I. They describe the role nationalism played in the war, the impact of the fall of the...
Curated OER
Good Time and Bad: Roaring 20's, Great Depression, and WWII quiz
Quiz your students on various topics related to the Roaring 20's, The Great Depression, and WWII. They'll ace any test after viewing this slide show. Tip: Turn this quiz into a game, see which side of the class is ready for the test.
Curated OER
The End of the War: WWII
Enhance your student's reading with this presentation on the end of WWII. This series of slides contains information, focus questions to guide student reading, and a video entitled, The Impact of World War II. Note: To view the video...