The New York Times
Decision Point: Understanding the U.S.’s Dilemma Over North Korea
Simulate the Situation Room and analyze the US's relationship with North Korea. The plan starts off with a quick review and an examination of a online timeline that updates as the situation continues. Next, the class reads an article and...
The New York Times
Looking for Answers: Making Sense of the Boston Marathon Bombing
How should America respond to acts of domestic terrorism? What motivates or prompts a terrorist attack? After reading an opinion piece on the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, your learners will critically analyze factors that could have...
PBS
An Attack on Syria- What Would You Do?
Has United States military intervention in the conflicts of other countries always been warranted? After reviewing a brief background on contemporary US conflicts and reading articles describing the civil war in Syria, your learners...
Curated OER
Sample Lesson 1: Is This Source Credible? Useful? Why and Why Not?
Build background knowledge for The Book Thief by Markus Zusak while teaching your pupils how to determine the credibility of online sources. The plan is designed to take place over the course of two days. On the first day, model how to...
Curated OER
The Federalist Papers (1787-1789)
An online interactive history quiz awaits your eager upper graders. They respond to 50 multiple choice questions about the Federalist Papers, and then submit their answers to be scored. While the quiz covers some pertinent information,...
Curated OER
The Federalist Defense of Diversity: Extending the Sphere
How did early Americans ensure expansion while also securing the rights of citizens? Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, two of our early leaders, considered the problem of faction to be the "mortal disease" that created unstable...
Curated OER
Down for the Count?
The New York Times article “Supreme Court, Split 5-4, Halts Florida Count in Blow to Gore” provides the opening to an assessment of the United States Supreme Court decision in the case of the 2000 presidential election. Assuming the...
American Library Association
Creating 21st Century Superheroes
Create 21st century learners by utilizing technology and library databases. Scholars explore the concept of comic books as literature and create a superhero who could uniquely solve a 21st century global issue. Databases such as SIRS are...
Polk Bros Foundation
Organize an Argument
Prepare your pupils for a debate or argumentative writing assignment. Students can use the two columns here to take notes on two different arguments about the same topics. They then note down their own positions and briefly explain their...
Shmoop
ELA.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.11-12.8
It is no easy feat to wade through legal and political documents. And incorporating this type of informational text into a literature class can also be a challenge. Here’s a resource that includes suggestions for how to address this...
Curated OER
The Federalist Papers
What were The Federalist Papers? If you're preparing your class for a quiz on this topic, consider providing them with these thought-provoking study questions. Ten questions are provided, although only three contain possible answers.
University of Groningen
American History: Biographies: John Locke
The University of Groningen provides information about the 17th century British liberal philosopher. Includes concise biographical information and a link to the text of "A Letter Concerning Toleration." Read about what part of his...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: American Literature: Declaration of Independence [Pdf]
This is a 6-page PDF of The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America, better known as The Declaration of Independence.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Our Documents Welcome Page
Explore 100 selected milestone historical documents relating to American History. Click on the link to the list of links to documents. RI.11-12.8 seminal U.S. texts, W.11-12.9b US Doc Analysis.
Other
University of Texas at Arlington: Illuminations: The Critical Theory Website
Online collection of articles and excerpts about critical theory from contemporary writers.
Other
Liberty Online: "Addresses, Messages, and Replies"
This site provides students access to the full text of selected Thomas Jefferson's speeches.
Other
Foregrounds and Apprenticeships: Dickinson & Whitman
This interdisciplinary site explores the relationships between Dickinson and her editor Higginson, and that between Whitman and Ralph W. Emerson. Includes ideas for investigations, a bibliography and many primary sources.
PBS
Pbs: The American Novel
Information and analysis on the central concerns, characteristics, and distinguishing features of American literature, presented in timeline format. With synopses of classic works, biographical sketches, overviews of literary movements,...
Other
Animus: Puritanism, Enlightenment, and the u.s. Constitution
Examines the effect of Puritan religious thought on the U.S. Constitution. Discusses Puritanism and covenant theology.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: A Literary Survey: Archive
This search engine provides access to more than 3000 items including visual art, audio files, primary source materials, and additional texts supporting and enriching the understanding of American Literature. RI.9-10.9 US Documents,...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Native Voices
This unit features the rich oral tradition of Native Americans storytelling in various genres predating the introduction and influence of English writings, bringing three contemporary authors to light. RI.11-12.8 seminal U.S. texts,...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: American Literature and Comp: Rationalism: Vocabulary
This lesson focuses on the literary terms needed for the unit on Rationalism. I provides a list of terms and a crossword puzzle using them.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: American Literature and Composition: Rationalism: Rhetoric
This lesson focuses on Rhetoric and the literary techniques used in American Revolutionary speeches and writings. Students are asked to determine the rhetorical devices used in quotes from "The Crisis No 1" by Thomas Paine and Patrick...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: British Lit: 20th Century Postmodernism: Introduction
This is an introduction to a unit on 20th Century Postmodernism in British poetry and short stories. Although the works in this unit vary in style and themes, each reflects disorder and an attempt to create a new reality. The unit looks...