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Using Primary Sources in the Classroom
Scholars study a historical photograph to make predictions of what happened right after the picture was taken. They research a variety of different topics and use primary sources to answer questions about common food, fashion trends, and...
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Slavery in the United States: Primary Sources and the Historical Record Lesson
Students analyze primary source documents to determine how life was for slaves. In this slavery lesson, students view online resources from the Library of Congress to analyze and discuss. Students select a final object to analyze and...
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What's The Story?
Teams of learners integrate reading, writing, math, social studies, and science in this simple, yet effective lesson. They work in groups in order to solve a ten-step problem which requires internet research, the use of a calculator, and...
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All Aboard The Campaign Train!
Students explore campaign politics. In this political campaign instructional activity, students investigate multimedia sources in order to examine the structure of political parties and platforms from previous presidential elections....
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On the Oregon Trail
Students work with primary documents and latter-day photographs to recapture the experience of traveling on the Oregon Trail. Working in groups, they write a scene for the movie that is historically accurate and based on the kinds of...
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Songs from the Past
Students research songs from the past to learn about historical events. In this music history lesson, students conduct a survey on the Star-Spangled Banner, research the song and history on various websites, and research songs in the...
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Lesson One: The Historian's Craft
Students examine a fairy tale villain (such as the wolf from the Three Little Pigs or the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz). Next, they complete a worksheet considering the challenges presented by historical resources.
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The Great Depression Changes Ameirican Life
Students examine the impact of the Great Depression. In this Great Depression lesson, students research employment opportunities during the era. Students determine how they may have been able to survive the economic depression if they...
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Computers: Copyright Law
Learners visit various Websites to find information about copyright laws. Their research includes information about legal and ethical behaviors regarding Internet use. In addition, students complete online student activity sheets.
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To Be Black and American: The Great Depression
Twelfth graders view pictures and write a description of what is depicted in the picture. They then divide into groups of three to share what they have written and come to a consensus of what the picture represents.
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The Supreme Court: The Judicial Power of the United States
Middle schoolers learn basic facts about the Supreme Court by examining the United States Constitution and one of the landmark cases decided by that court.
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The Age of Reform
Students are introduced to a variety of reform movements within this lesson. They explore the beliefs and motivations of each group. Connections are made from these movements to present day situations and happenings.
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Who Gets the Job?
Learners explore the process for presedential Cabinet appointments. They determine common characteristics found in members of the Cabinet.
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War is Hell
Tenth graders identify a veteran of a foreign war. They use the Veterans History Project website, research on-line interviews for information on interview questions. They research war and graphics using the Library of Congress online...
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The Jim Crow Era
Learners examine how African-Americans were affected by the Great Depression. In this African-American history lesson, students conduct independent research on the social conditions of the time period using the suggested resources....
National First Ladies' Library
Jefferson's Legacy: A National Library
Students examine the creation of the Library of Congress. They investigate reasons why Thomas Jefferson sold his personal collection to the Library. Employing various research resources, students write newspaper articles about the sale...
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Immigration and Migration: Today and During the Great Depression
Students conduct interviews, analyze primary sources including docuements and images to gain an inderstanding of the causes and effects of he Great Depression and immigration.
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Political Cartoons: Finding Point of View
Students examine political cartoons. In this colonial America lesson, students analyze political cartoons pertaining to the Stamp Act.
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Nation Building
Ninth graders examine the role of the United States in nation building. In this World History activity, 9th graders evaluate the role of the United States in building nations in other parts of the world.
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Our Unique Legacy of Giving
Students view The Gift of All, a Community of Givers. In this philanthropic lesson, students discuss the gifts of philanthropists they've seen. Students research and write a two page paper with four bullet points. Students include a...
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African American Identity in the Gilded Age
Ninth graders examine the tension experienced by African-Americans as they struggled to establish a vibrant and meaningful identity based on the promises of liberty and equality in the midst of a society. In this American History...
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Vocab Grabbing the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution
Students identify concrete and abstract nouns in the preamble to the Constitution, and complete Frayer Model graphic organizers using history and current events as examples of American values. In this preamble lesson plan, students use...
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A Walk Through the 20th Century
Students use primary and secondary sources to study the literature, historical events, people, technology, medicine, government, entertainment and culture of the decades of the twentieth century.
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Parallel Timelines
Twelfth graders research the history of how a particular environmental issue moves through the Conservation Movement. They create timelines that show the progression of public sentiment and the legislation about the issue.