Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Americans in the Maritime Trades

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore Civil Rights by analyzing U.S. history. In this African American workforce lesson, students discuss the history of African Americans in Baltimore and the need for steady work that formed. Students define vocabulary terms...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moving Objects

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discover the history of the United States by examining the Great Migration.  In this U.S. History activity, students research the immigration movement on the Internet and complete a worksheet about the large population...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Revolutionary War Research Paper

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders practice writing research papers by investigating U.S. history. In this Revolutionary War lesson, 5th graders identify the British and American roles in the historic war by researching the Internet. Students prepare a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mystery and Mayhem

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students use literature to examine the violence and loss of innocence during the 1960s. In this U.S. history lesson, students read Robert McCammon's Boy's Life to investigate the social unrest, violence and loss of innocence in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Underground Railroad and The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discover racism and slavery by completing a role playing activity. In this U.S. history lesson plan, students analyze documents from the Civil War era and describe the Fugitive Slave Law. Students view a video on YouTube about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fort Detail

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore U.S. history by participating in a scavenger hunt. In this Civil War lesson, students read assigned text discussing the many battles of the Civil War and the importance of a fort to the fighting parties. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crossing the Delaware with Historic, Cultural, and Personal Interpretations

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders discover the importance of information sources by researching the United States History.  In this research gathering lesson, 6th graders examine a historical painting of George Washington and analyze what it means,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Iran Hostage Crisis: Reading Primary Documents

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Following brief instruction about the Iran Hostage Crisis during Jimmy Carter's presidency, small groups read three-page sections from the diary of hostage Robert C. Ode. They write editorials from the perspective of either U.S. citizens...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U S Constitution--Checks and Balances

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students get an in-depth look at how our checks and balances system helps maintain the separating of powers between the three branches of government. They use current event head lines and insert them into he appropriate space on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding JFK's Presidency through his Speeches

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students reflect and discuss the major events that happened in the United States in the 1950's and 1960's.  In this U.S. History lesson, students read and analyze the famous speeches during this time frame, then complete a worksheet...
PPT
Curated OER

Chalkboard Challenge: Social Studies Online

For Teachers 5th
If used as an independent review, this presentation could be a quick way for students to study U.S. History facts. Since it only presents a few simple facts, it would not be adequate for a comprehensive review, but a teacher could...
Lesson Plan
NPR

Civil Rights of Japanese-American Internees

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Prompted by a viewing of Emiko and Chizu Omori’s Rabbit in the Moon, a documentary about the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, high schoolers examine a series of documents, including the Bill of Rights and the UN’s...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where are the Famous Women in History?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars investigate sexism in history by identifying important women from the U.S.  In this women's equality lesson, students discuss why they remember more men in the history of the U.S. than women.  Young scholars...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History - Up Close And Personal

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers identify national origin and population movement across U.S. of ancestors and/or community residents, explain historical development of major local industries, identify local social patterns/economic development as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

1th Grade U.S. History from 1877

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders engage in a lesson that is about the study of history in the United States after the end of World War I. They conduct research using a variety of resources and then summaries are written to explain the reasons for The...
PPT
Curated OER

The Star Spangled Banner: History and Lyrics

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this U.S. government and civics PowerPoint, a brief history of the origin of "The Star Spangled Banner" is given, followed by the lyrics for the 4 verses of the song. Several illustrations of the American flag and a fire cracker at...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making a Report to President Washington

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners gain an understanding of some of the challenges the U.S. faced at its birth. They are asked to compose a report on the state of the nation in 1790 (addressed to President George Washington), which includes a narrative, maps and...
Lesson Plan
Advocates for Human Rights

The Right of Indigneous Peoples in the United States

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
The sovereignty of U.S. Native American nations is the focus of a resource that asks class members to compare the Right to Self-Determination in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples with a fact sheet that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Louisiana Purchase

For Teachers 5th - 11th
Students explore U.S. territorial expansion. In this Louisiana Purchase lesson plan, students investigate how the purchase was funded and determine how diplomatic actions were part of the land transfer. Students analyze several primary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"I Hear America Singing": Controversy and Music in the Mexican War

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine the Mexican War and its outcome through music. In this primary source analysis lesson, 8th graders analyze the lyrics of selected songs to consider the 2 perspectives regarding U.S. involvement in the war. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spanish Influence in the U.S.

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders research the role of the first Spanish conquistadors who explored the now United States. Using the internet, they gather information on different explorers and write a paper about why he is important in American history. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. Set to Celebrate Lincoln Bicentennial

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students use a news article about the celebration of the Lincoln Bicentennial to answer questions about Abraham Lincoln and the celebration. In this current events and US history lesson based on a news article, students participate in a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rise of U.S. Business and Industry

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the industrialization of post-Reconstruction America. In this 20th century American history lesson, 11th graders listen to a lecture about the industrial age and then conduct their own research to determine the...
Lesson Plan
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Smithsonian Institution

Battle of the Bulge: America Responds to a German Surprise

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
World War II and the Battle of the Bulge are the focus of a history resource. Exercises include analyzing images, writing letters in the mindset of a soldier, and even immersing oneself in a cold experience to better empathize with the...