iCivics
County Government: High School
Balancing a budget—the bane of many people's existence! Yet, its' something that must be done, especially in government systems. The resource, fourth in a seven-part series exploring local government, focuses on various exercises that...
Curated OER
Creating Historians: Send Them Out
Get teenagers out of the classroom in the pursuit of history; part three of a series on approaching social studies as a group of historians.
PBS
Cemetery Information
Cemeteries hold a lot of clues for history detectives. Using the provided outline as a guide, scholars research tombstones and inscriptions to learn more about those who came before.
National Park Service
The Young Naturalist
Beginning with a brief history of our 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt, then followed by a discussion of his interest in nature, young scientists take to the outdoors to locate and observe local plants and insects. Scholars return to...
iCivics
Step One: We've Got Issues
What is the most pressing issue in your community? The resource helps you and your middle schoolers begin the process of doing something about it! Learners compare and contrast two pressing issues in their local counties by reading two...
Curated OER
Merging New Technology with Old Stories
Is your city's history a mystery to your class? Ever wonder if your county contains a bounty of folklore? Young computer scientists incorporate technology with time-honored tales during a project with both individual and group...
Curated OER
Local History: Mapping My Spot
Students explore maps to discover historical information about their local area. In this mapping and history instructional activity, students use panoramic maps of their own town/city to interpret historical information. Students also...
PBS
Home, Sweet, Home!
Students investigate the local history and architecture of their community. They draw maps, conduct Internet research, discuss varied architectural designs, take a walking tour of their town and work in teams to record their community's...
Curated OER
Establishment of Plainfield
Eighth graders analyze documents and maps of Plainfield, CT from different time periods, then, working in a small group, create a map for a giventime. In this Plainfield lesson, 8th graders read primary and secondary sources from local...
Curated OER
Prairie Voices: Community Development, Investigating Local History
Students investigate local history. In this research skills lesson, students examine historic landmarks, tax records, fire maps, town plans, historic photographs, newspapers, and other primary sources to learn about local communities in...
Curated OER
Creating a Virtual Tour of Oregon City
Fifth graders research a famous person or building associated with Oregon City. In this local history lesson, 5th graders work in groups to research and create a poster board about a famous person or building found in Oregon City.
Curated OER
Sharing Our Past
Students study and write about local history. In this local history lesson, students learn about their local history before visiting a group of senior citizens to discuss what they know. They practice the questions they will ask the...
Curated OER
Michigan History Through HyperStudio
Students explore the history of their local community. They visit historical landmarks in the city of Marshall. Students create a HyperStudio project about local Michigan history.
Curated OER
Touring My County
Second graders research important events that occurred in their counties for each year they have been alive. They, in groups, categorize these events and develop notes to be used in the writing of an autobiography.
Curated OER
Wappo Indians of Napa County
Third graders describe the American Indian nation in their local region long ago and in the recent past in terms of national identities, religious beliefs, customs, and various folklore traditions. They synthesize their findings into a...
BBC
Bbc History Trail: Local History
How can you trace the history of a community? What are the historical clues and tips you can use to find out what shaped its past? This site explains the techniques historians can use and provides great examples.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Charleston Community History
Excellent example of a Community History. Includes the origin of the community, the plan for settlement, early settlers, religions, important buildings, history through the years, events, and plans for the future.
C3 Teachers
C3 Teachers: Inquiries: Community History
A learning module on community history. It includes several supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Students learn the difference between cause and effect, how...
Library of Congress
Loc: Creating a Primary Source Archive: All History Is Local
A lesson plan where young scholars collect local primary documents and examine the interplay between national, state, local, and personal history.
Library of Congress
Loc: Teachers: Exploring Community Through Local History
Guidelines for exploring local history and culture through examining a collection of written and spoken stories, landmarks, and traditions, such as food, festivals, and events. Students will research a variety of primary resources and...
Library of Congress
Loc: Teachers: Local History: Mapping My Spot in History
Through interpreting and investigating historical maps, students gain new perspective not only of their local communities but also of their own homes. Student activities include collecting data about their homes, reporting on the...
PBS
Pbs: Murals (A Lesson Plan About Local History, Culture, and Events)
A lesson for exploring the history of mural art and the visual symbolism portrayed in murals, with instructions for leading students through the design and creation of a mural that reflects or symbolizes local history, culture, and events.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Colorado
Discover more about the Rocky Mountains. Why is Colorado called the "Centennial State?" Look at this website for captivating facts.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Written in Stone
A lesson that takes students through the process of examining tombstones as artifacts, identifying information that can be instrumental in investigating a community's past or an individual's genealogy. Students also make gravestone...