Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Louisa May Alcott: Transcendentalism

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the impact of transcendentalism on the life of Louisa May Alcott and American society in this video [4:00] from the American Masters film Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind 'Little Women.' Emphasizing self-reliance, civil...
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: American Literature and Composition: Transcendentalism

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an introduction to the Transcendentalism period (1836-1860) in American Literature. It focuses on the beliefs and characteristics of transcendentalism and its leading authors: Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson and...
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: American Transcendentalism: Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th
This lesson from a unit on American Transcendentalism focuses on Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of the leading transcendentalists. It features a link to his biography, and to an excerpt from his essay "Self Reliance." It also offers a quiz...
Activity
The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Rwe.org: Timeline of Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th
A chronology of events in the life of Ralph Waldo Emerson and his associates. Also includes information about Emerson's philosophy, speaking engagements, and publications.
Website
Other

Biography: Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This website from a professor at Brandeis University provides a biography on Ralph Waldo Emerson in which his childhood, writing career, and his transcendentalist views are discussed. Included are links to related essays and a list of...
Article
University of South Florida

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Lit2 Go: Ralph Waldo Emerson: History

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
The complete text of Emerson's essay, "History." The text can be read online or downloaded in MP3 or PDF format, or viewed as a webpage. In addition, the essay has downloadable support material which focuses on various reading and math...
Website
Virginia Commonwealth University

American Transcendentalism Web: Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource includes a short biography of Emerson and links to related sites.
Website
Texas A&M University

American Transcendentalism Web

For Students 9th - 10th
A scholarly site with many articles about American transcendental authors, their work, and philosophy.
Website
Academy of American Poets

Poets.org: Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th
This Poets.org entry for the 19th century American poet, essayist, and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) provides biographical information, a select bibliography, and contemporary photograph as well as links to related writers...
Article
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: Philosophy and Literature: Two Philosophies

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains what the 'Scottish philosophy' was and how well it fitted with American sensibilities in the 1800s. Over time it evolved into the American philosophy of Pragmatism. The other philosophy that took hold in some groups of society...
eBook
University of Michigan

American Verse Project: Early Poems of Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th
Read and search for thirty poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson, taken from the book "Early Poems." Includes a brief biography of Emerson.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Transcendentalism, an American Philosophy

For Students 5th - 8th
A good look at the first major American philosophy, transcendentalism. Read about the ideas that transcendentalists believed, and find out the members of the Transcendental Club. Many American authors of the time espoused the ideals of...
Handout
Bartleby

Bartleby.com: Cambridge His of Eng and Am Lit: Place of Emerson in Amer Letters

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This chapter from vol. XV of The Cambridge History of English and American Literature is the starting point of an extensive resource for students who wish to study the life and works of this major American literary figure. Includes...
eBook
The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Rwe: The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson: Papers From the Dial

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the full text of eight essays written by Ralph Waldo Emerson. All the essays available on this site were first published in "The Dial" between 1840 and 1843.
Activity
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Transcendentalists in Action

For Students 9th - 10th
Activity on the religious, philosophical and literary movement of Transcendentalism founded by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Article outlines the history and main ideas as well as the far-reaching literary and societal impact of Transcendentalist...
eBook
Eserver

E Server: The Thoreau Reader: Text/analysis of "The Maine Woods"

For Students 9th - 10th
Includes the entire e-text of Thoreau's (1817-1862 CE) "Maine Woods," as well as maps of his movement, contemporary and modern reviews, and links to other sites on this work.
eBook
Eserver

E Server: The Thoreau Reader: "Cape Cod"

For Students 9th - 10th
The Thoreau Reader includes a full online text of Henry David Thoreau's compelling book-length commentary on nature and society, "Cape Cod." Also includes maps, reviews, and further links and information to this work.
eBook
University of Michigan

Making of America: Ralph Waldo Emerson, by A. Bronson Alcott

For Students 9th - 10th
The University of Michigan offers this reproduction of Bronson Alcott's work as part of their Making of America series. A search feature allows users to search using boolean operators or a proximity search as well as more basic keyword.
Website
Eserver

E Server: The Thoreau Reader: Introduction to the Works of Thoreau

For Students 9th - 10th
An excellent article detailing the major events of the life and works of Henry David Thoreau. Complete with links to Thoreau's most famous works and interesting details about his life.
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: American Masters Collection: Louisa May Alcott

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a collection of two video lessons about Louisa May Alcott and her works especially "Little Women."
Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: The Concord Neighbourhood, 1830 1880

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of the vicinity of Concord, Massachusetts, during the Transcendentalism Movement around 1830 to 1880. The map shows the important sites related to the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Bronson...