High School
- 1812: The War
This downloadable examines the War of 1812—a conflict that might never have happened if President James Madison had access to modern communication. It includes a timeline of events, illustrations, teacher directions, and an activity that challenges students to take a stand—pro-war or anti-war—and then defend their position.
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- Cherokee Peacemakers
In 1762 a delegation of Cherokee leaders went to England to visit King George III. What was its goal, and how did the meeting impact history? Students learn about the Cherokee culture and compare it to the culture of the English colonists.
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- The Cumberland Gap
At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the lure of better farmland and increased economic opportunity began drawing intrepid colonists westward, beyond the Appalachian Mountains. This downloadable provides resources for two separate lessons about this important period of American expansion.
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- Earning and Spending
Earning and Spending: Money made the world go 'round in Colonial times as well. Dig into the economic system of an earlier time.
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- Electing Our Representatives
How does the turmoil of hanging chads, contentious debates, and negative campaigning of the recent times compare to elections of the more distant past? The presidential elections in the early republic had their share of excitement. Students review voting restrictions and use primary sources to study campaign tactics in early American history.
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- Free Among the Enslaved
In 18th-century America, a small group of free African Americans forged a place for themselves between the free white and enslaved communities. Their lives serve as outstanding examples of individual strength and courage. This downloadable provides two lesson plans with a historical overview, timeline of events, and primary documents about non-white free persons in the 1700s.
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- Human Cargo
The selling of human lives into slavery may seem unimaginable. Through analyzing primary sources, students come face to face with the slave trade and its impact on the people who were part of it.
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- Independence or Treason?
Depending on your viewpoint, George Washington and the other founders were either heroes or traitors. What legacies would they leave behind? Students analyze images and primary source documents to determine the positions and viewpoints of the founders of our nation.
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- Justice for the Young
Before the 20th century, justice for children and adults was determined in the same courts. This downloadable examines how youth were treated legally in colonial times, and why some juvenile offenders were acquitted while others were harshly punished to the full extent of the law.
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- Living in Two Worlds
Living in Two Worlds: Take a close look at the Brafferton School where young American Indian boys were sent and often felt caught between two cultures.
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- Looking to the West
The Lewis and Clark Expedition failed to find a direct water route to the west coast of North America, but achieved invaluable ethnographic and scientific achievements as well as estabished positive political relationships with native nations. This downloadable provides information and lessons that transport students back to 1804 and put them in the places of members of the Expedition.
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- Makers of Maps
Makers of Maps: Maps reveal much more than locations. Careful study also tells about the people who made the maps.
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- Our American Rights
Our American Rights: Take a closer look at The Bill of Rights. Why were they created, and how do they influence Americans today?
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- Preserving History's Treasures
Studying artifacts can reveal significant information about how people lived in the past. Students work in groups to closely examine one of history’s treasures. They take on the role of a conservator and learn about the "agents of destruction.” They use conservators’ tools to study and preserve artifacts.
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- Recreating History
How does a living history museum make history come to life using costumed interpreters? What research goes into the costumes and dialogues to recreate historical characters? Students first research a character from history and then take turns interviewing each other.
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- Rediscovering Jamestown
Recent archaeological work at Jamestown has revealed new evidence about the life of the native people and settlers on the banks of the James River. By looking at this archaeological evidence and analyzing primary sources, students compare settlers’ expectations with what the archaeological evidence shows.
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- Revolutionary Women
The roles played by the men in the American Revolution are well documented and frequently covered in history texts. Students explore the parts played by women in the formation of our republic. Who were these women, and what were their contributions?
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- Run Toward Freedom
How did an enslaved person consider running away toward freedom? Did freedom outweigh the risks and dangers? Students take the role of an enslaved person and try to make the difficult decision to run or stay. Then they learn about the likelihood of a successful escape and the dangers and assistance that could be found along their journey.
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- Standing up for Freedom
The major slave rebellions throughout early American history—from Bacon's Rebellion to John Brown's Raid—reflected a irrepressible desire for freedom. This downloadable spotlights how slaves and indentured servants repeatedly tried to break the chains of classism and risked everything for the slimmest chance to be free.
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- Toward a Constitution
The 1780s was a decade of great peril for the young republic, as it worked toward building a nation with a new government. Students examine the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution and to determine the similarities and differences in these two important documents.
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- Trade Shop Science
Trade Shop Science: Science affected the daily life of eighteenth-century tradespeople. Travel back in time to learn about simple machines, chemical and physical changes, and the properties of matter.
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Elementary School
- Artisans in Early America
This lesson plan will help your students understand what life over 200 years ago was like by using the "Looking at Pictures" graphic organizers to seek out information, form questions, and imagine themselves in colonial times.
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- Bringing African American History Alive
This downloadable creates awareness of the contributions of African Americans throughout the history of the United States. An included activity invites students to identify people, events, places, documents, and laws that played a pivotal role in writing African American history.
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- The Constitution of the United States
This downloadable provides a great way to teach the U.S. Constitution and related historic documents such as the Bill of Rights and the Virginia Plan. One activity provides a comparison chart for discussing the Constitution and the Articles of Confederation.
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- The Economy Goes Global
Tackling the topic of economics, students will learn key economic concepts through reading and research. In the second activity they will demonstrate integrating important information and deeper comprehension by presenting their ideas in a visual format.
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- The Election of 1800
This downloadable lesson plan provides a comprehensive overview of this historical election, then invites students to apply their new knowledge and creativity by "designing" web pages for the Federalist party or the Democratic Republicans.
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- The Emancipation Proclamation
The words of the Emancipation Proclamation literally changed the face of our nation. Use this downloadable lesson plan to teach students the who, what, when, where and why of the document, as well as potential vocabulary words related to the Proclamation.
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- Free at Last
This downloadable examines the complex issues regarding emancipation for African Americans in the post-Civil War period. It includes a timeline of events, introductory and ready reference information, and two activities with accompanying handouts that enable students to better understand why neither the Emancipation Proclamation nor the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution achieved equality for freedmen.
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- Inside Slavery
This downloadable provides a comprehensive overview of slavery, the most brutal institution in American history, and contains activities, handouts, teacher directions, and ready reference about the system of injustice upon which the United States depended for over 250 years.
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- Seeking the Truth
Teach students inquiry and reflection skills using a first-hand account of Paul Revere's historic ride; afterwards, have them practice evaluating sources of information with a fanciful and fun examination of modern media.
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- The Signers of the Declaration of Independence
Teach students about the ideals and freedoms that meant so much to the signers of the Declaration of Independence they decided to cut ties to their mother country. Use the graphic organizer for fun activities such as creating signer "trading cards."
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- Slave Trade Exposed
Students examine an actual act of the United States government from 1807, making use of a provocative anticipation guide that prepares them to extract the main ideas and supporting details from this authentic primary source document.
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- The Native American Search for Peace
Reading an actual historic peace treaty, students will identify key concepts as they construct meaning from a primary source document from 1814. In the second activity, they design a commemorative coin to express the meaning of the treaty in a visual format.
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- The Roots of American Music
From reading informational texts to designing faux webpages, this unit introduces students to the music of America, presents the biography of American songwriter Stephen Foster, and encourages students to explore the genres that interest them.
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- Trades and Business in Early America
This downloadable spotlights artisans and businesses in early America, challenging students to imagine themselves choosing a trade during this time period. They will also compare and contrast the lives of mill workers in England and the experiences of their American counterparts at Lowell Mills in Massachusetts.
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- Women in Early America
Life in early America presented a harsh and challenging environment where only the strong and smart found success. Teach your class about standout women who made their mark during our country's infancy and use the suggested activities to stimulate your students' creative abilities.
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- Working Young
From performing manual labor on farms to working in textile mills in the cities, children helped to develop an increasingly industrialized, early 20th-century America. This downloadable offers background information on child labor in antebellum America, images of working children in rural and urban environments, two activities, and additional ready reference content.
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