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Lesson Plan
Wisconsin Historical Society

Civil Disobedience

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
When is civil disobedience acceptable? Class members read examples of Jim Crow laws, an excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," and a newspaper article and then consider the factors that make a law just or...
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Lesson Plan
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: A Handbook for Using Historical Documents [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Teachers will find this a superb guide book for teaching students how to critically examine documents from the past. The guide contains lessons and resources for Wisconsin history but the teaching methodology can be adapted for anywhere.
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Website
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: Mc Carthyism, Korea and the Cold War

For Students 9th - 10th
This article looks at McCarthyism in the context of the Korean War and the Cold War. It is supplemented by original documents and articles from that era.
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Website
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: The French Fur Trade

For Students 9th - 10th
The beaver was hugely important to Wisconsin during the French fur trade from 1650 to 1850, due to its popularity for use in head wear all over the northern hemisphere. There are many fascinating primary resources and historical articles...
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Primary
Wisconsin Historical Society

Turning Points in Wisconsin History: Iron Brigade, Old Abe and Military Affairs

For Students 9th - 10th
A treasure trove of articles, artifacts, and books dealing with Wisconsin soldiers in the Civil War. Included is a picture of a feather from Old Abe, the bald eagle mascot of the 8th Regiment of the Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Many...
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Graphic
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: h.h. Bennett: Photographer Extraordinaire

For Students 9th - 10th
This wonderful photographer provided us with images of his beloved Wisconsin's rugged landscape as well as Ho-Chunk residents, steamboats, and more.
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Lesson Plan
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: Lesson Plans

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A large collection of excellent lesson plans about Wisconsin history can be found here. They range from the elementary to secondary grade levels, with a wide variety of themes and topics from the past up to the present.
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Website
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: Freedom Summer

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an extensive collection of documents, images, digital collections, and teacher resources related to the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project. Civil rights activists traveled throughout Mississippi registering rural Mississippians...
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Activity
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: Fill 'Er Up: The Evolution of Gas Stations

For Students 9th - 10th
Take a fascinating trip into the past to experience how gas stations have evolved from livery stables in Wisconsin. In addition to the descriptions of the architectural styles through the decades, history is brought to life with a video...
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Lesson Plan
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: The Black Hawk War, 1832

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson is accompanied by original accounts from participants in the Black Hawk War, with extensive information on the relocation of the Sauk and Fox Indian tribe.
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Website
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin History: The Progressive Era

For Students 9th - 10th
Wisconsin was at the forefront of progressive legislation at the turn of the last century. Read about the leading progressive politician, Robert M. LaFollette, the reforms passed, and the ideas that spread to the rest of the country.
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Website
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Gov't.: Wisconsin Historical Society

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the state of Wisconsin using the resources of the Wisconsin Historical Society! This highly interactive site offers useful information from the state's past to what is happening right now. Maps, event calendars, this date in...
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Primary
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: Selling the War to the American Public

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A resource filled with primary source materials, posters that promoted support for World War I. Included is a worksheet that can be used to analyze any of the resources, all of which are PDF files.
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Article
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: A Short History of Wisconsin

For Students 9th - 10th
This collection of five essays on the history of Wisconsin is not as short as its name might indicate. It spans from the prehistory times of First Peoples up to the present, highlighting key events and people, and supplemented by many...
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Website
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: The Underground Railroad in Wisconsin

For Students 9th - 10th
While the Underground Railroad was active in Wisconsin in the 1800s, its activities were of necessity kept secret, so little documentation has survived. A few cases became matters of public record, however, most notably those of Caroline...
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Primary
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: African American Newspapers: Freedom's Journal

For Students 9th - 10th
Digitized collection of the first newspaper owned and produced by African-Americans (1827-1829).
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Website
Wisconsin Historical Society

Turning Points in Wisconsin History: Effigy Mounds Culture

For Students 9th - 10th
A good description of the life of the Woodland Moundbuilding culture in what is now Wisconsin. Learn about the effigy mounds built by these Native Americans, and access primary source manuscripts of writers trying to figure out these...
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Handout
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: The Career of Robert M. La Follette

For Students 9th - 10th
Robert M. La Follette was a popular Republican from Wisconsin in the Progressive Era. He was a Congressman, a governor of Wisconsin and a Senator who advocated direct primaries to thwart the political machines. In addition to his...
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Primary
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: A Brief Explanation of the Social Security Act

For Students 9th - 10th
The Social Security Act was brought into law in 1935. This booklet was published by the government in 1935 to explain how the Act worked.
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Handout
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: Frank Lloyd Wright

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical information on Frank Llyod Wright, considered perhaps the greatest American architect ever.
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Lesson Plan
Wisconsin Historical Society

Turning Points Lesson Plans: Roles of Leadership

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Discuss leadership of the past and today while learning about Indian chiefs Tomah, Black Hawk, Keokuk, and others. This website includes a link to the article "Indian Chiefs and Pioneers of the Northwest," group activity and game ideas,...
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Lesson Plan
Wisconsin Historical Society

Turning Points in Wisconsin: Who Built the Effigy Mounds?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A great lesson plan that delves into the creation of the effigy mounds in Wisconsin. Included are links for background information, documents, and student activities.
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Handout
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: Wisconsin State Symbols

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Information about all of Wisconsin's state symbols is found here.
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Handout
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: Mathilde Anneke, 1817 1884

For Students 9th - 10th
Mathilde Anneke was a remarkable woman. A feminist before the days of feminism, she worked tirelessly for the rights of women and of African Americans. She experienced firsthand the powerlessness of a nineteenth-century woman after her...