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Lesson Plan
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media

What Brought Settlers to the Midwest?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Drawn by promises of fertile land, thousands of settlers poured West because of the Homestead Act of 1862. By examining images of the ads that drew them westward, learners consider the motivations for movement. They also consider how the...
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Lesson Plan
Scholastic

The Rise of Railroads: Illinois

For Teachers 4th Standards
Railways not only cross the US, but they are also intertwined with the history of America. Using a timeline format, individuals explore the connections between major events in American history—such as the Civil War—and the rise of the...
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Lesson Plan
Scholastic

The Rise of Railroads: California

For Teachers 4th Standards
Railways are an integral part of the history of California. Using a timeline format, class members connect major historical events to the rise of the railroads and their impact on the state. Activities include a mix of independent and...
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Teacher Resources

For Teachers K - 1st Standards
This compilation of teacher resources has useful collections of primary sources, lesson plans, themed subject overviews, and ready-to-use presentations and activities to support the study of U.S. history at all academic levels.
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Website
ibiblio

Ibiblio: Herbert Hoover

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from ibiblio.org gives extensive biographical information on Herbert Hoover based on the collection in the Herbert Hoover Museum.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: The World of 1898: The Spanish American War

For Students 9th - 10th
The Library of Congress offers this detailed history of the Spanish American War from historical papers. Includes manuscripts, maps, and illustrations, and an excellent overview essay.
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Primary
Curated OER

History Matters: Many Pasts

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
These primary source documents are about ordinary Americans throughout US history. There is a full search feature. All the historical documents, whether they are text, image, or audio, have been vetted by a historian. They are initially...
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Eyewitness to History (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Understanding the important events in United States history and being able to recognize how history affects current events are crucial skills for learners. This lesson plan lets them examine and analyze important milestones through...
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Collections, Guides and Bibliographies: Web Guides

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This series of web guides serves as a collection of resources for research into a variety of areas including the performing arts, sports, government, law, art, American history, Women's history, African American history, literature and...
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Dust Bowl Days

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Seven-instructional activity collection of lessons and suggested activities for instructing early learners about the Dust Bowl using a variety of primary sources (songs, letters, photos, etc.).
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Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Teaching With Historic Places

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lessons and activities using places on the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places to enliven courses in U.S. history, U.S. geography, and U.S. government.
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Declare the Causes

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Offers lesson plans that guide students to understanding the structure of the Declaration of Independence. Throughout the course of the instructional activity, students will be working on writing their own declaration of grievances...
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Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: The Anti Federalist Papers

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents a user-friendly index of the Anti-federalist papers, leaflets and discussions in the Constitutional Congress. These items demonstrate how the Anti-Federalists saw the constitution as a threat to rights and...
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Online Course
Cosmo Learning

Cosmo Learning: The Americas: Identity, Culture, and Power

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of twenty-eight video lectures, this course is designed to offer you a novel and innovative alternative to conventional classes in the humanities and social sciences. The lectures focus on the identity, culture, and power of...
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Online Course
Cosmo Learning

Cosmo Learning: The Truth About American History

For Students 9th - 10th
Consisting of ten video lectures taught by Professor Thomas Woods, this virtual course attempts to cover the material in his books but also fill in many details that defend the Jeffersonian-Rothbardian perspective. Here is the cutting...
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Website
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: American Independence

For Students 9th - 10th
Part of Fordham University's Internet Modern History Sourcebook, this site gives historical background and extensive web resources on American Independence.
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Primary
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: Thomas Paine

For Students 9th - 10th
The complete original text of Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" originally published in January 1776.
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Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: The New Negro

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about some of the people who contributed to the Harlem Renaissance in this video from A Walk Through Harlem.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: The Price of Freedom: Americans at War

For Students 9th - 10th
View comprehensive sets of artifacts that tell the story of America's wartime past and present. Artifacts from every major American military conflict, beginning with the American Revolution, can be closely examined. Full curatorial notes...
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Unit Plan
Tramline

Tramline: The American Presidency Field Trip

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Use this site to learn all about the history behind the office of the President of the United States and some interesting facts about past administrations. There is a complete list of teacher resources and a virtual tour of the American...
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Website
US National Archives

Nara: Picturing the Century: 100 Years of Photography

For Students 3rd - 8th
From the National Archives and Records Administration, this online exhibit has galleries of photographs separated by time period showing a history of the United States.
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Activity
Tramline

Tramline: Virtual Field Trips: Women's History

For Students 9th - 10th
Travel on a virtual field trip to learn more about women's history. You will find many informative websites.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs: Jazz Is About Freedom

For Teachers 9th - 10th
One of the objectives in this lesson plan focus on how jazz contributed to the political awareness of the American public concerning lynching. Using Billie Holiday's anti-lynching song Strange Fruit, students will learn about lynching...
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Website
US National Archives

Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Museum: American Women Exhibit

For Students 9th - 10th
Delve into the fascinating history of American women that helped shape our country. From 1600 into the 21st century, follow the journey through narratives, biographies, and photos.