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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Meet the Corps of Discovery

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students assume the persona of one of the members of Lewis and Clark's expedition team. They research a member of the expedition team, write a first-person introduction of that team member, and share that introduction in a 2-3 minute...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Graphic Organizing: Early American History

For Teachers 8th - 12th
In collaborative groups, young US historians sort cards (each labeled with a single early American event or issue) according to which of the first four presidents was leading the country at the time. Learners copy the events onto a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. History: Chapter 11, Sections 1 & 2

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Reviewing American history from 1818 - 1832 (chapter 11 of an unspecified textbook), this presentation includes key terms and ideas about the era of Jeffersonian politics and the election of John Adams. The slides are in all caps, making...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Revolutionary War

For Teachers 8th - 11th
March your students off to war with this presentation, which provides details to the American Revolution such as important figures (Jefferson, Franklin, Henry), facts about the Declaration of Independence, and definitions of key terms. A...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine readings and symbols to learn about the War of Independence and Thomas Jefferson. In this War of Independence lesson, students explore the role of Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration for Independence. Students answer...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Presidents and the Constitution: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison and the Barbary Pirates

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the Barbary Pirates of the Mediterranean. In this American history lesson, students read a narrative regarding the conflict between the Barbary Pirates and the United States under the leadership of Washington,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Portraits of Power: American Presidents

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders explore the presidency of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.  In this US History lesson, 9th graders examine the life of Abraham Lincoln.  students write an essay describing the presidency and the people's relationship...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers begin their examination of the Declaration of Independence. Using the text, they answer questions for their citizenship interview. They also examine the role of Jefferson in creating the document and how he participated...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Judicial Review

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Student demonstrate understanding of both sides of the argument between Jefferson and Marshall that led to the strengthening of the Judicial Branch through the creation of judicial review. Unit is comprised of five lessons and fits into...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A President's Home and the President's House

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify specific examples demonstrating how present-day White House reflects duties, powers, and privileges of the office of President, and compare and contrast Thomas Jefferson's Monticello with the White House.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

President Jefferson's Cipher: Cracking the Code

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students examine the journey out west by Lewis and Clark. Using a cipher from President Jefferson, they solve a code he gave to the explorers before setting out on their exploration. They share his message with the class and state...
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Thomas Jefferson: Establishing a Federal Republic

For Students 9th - 10th
This Library of Congress article states that Jefferson, although serving as U.S. minister in France while the U.S. Constitution was being written, still influenced its outcome and wording through correspondence. Read this brief overview...
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Declaration of Independence (1776)

For Students 9th - 10th
The Our Documents group provides a look at the original, signed Declaration of Independence as well as a print version distributed soon after the original was signed. View and learn about the document and its history. RI.9-10.9 US Documents
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Website
Discovering Lewis & Clark

Discovering Lewis & Clark: America in 1803

For Students 9th - 10th
This section of the larger Discovering Lewis & Clark website explores in detail America in 1803 and delves into the Louisiana Purchase, Thomas Jefferson, and political geography among other topics.
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Handout
Discovering Lewis & Clark

Discovering Lewis & Clark: Cryptography

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the origins and history of cryptology and how Thomas Jefferson urged Lewis to use a cipher to keep him informed about the progress of the expedition.
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Website
Discovering Lewis & Clark

Discovering Lewis & Clark: Lewis in Philadelphia

For Students 9th - 10th
Resource examines Philadelphia at the start of the nineteenth century when Meriwether Lewis arrived there in 1802.
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Handout
Discovering Lewis & Clark

Discovering Lewis & Clark: Benjamin Rush, m.d.

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn detailed information about the life and education of Dr. Benjamin Rush who advised Lewis on how to keep his men healthy and what questions to ask to determine the health practices of the Indians he would encounter. Rush was also a...
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Website
Discovering Lewis & Clark

Discovering Lewis & Clark: Military Preparations

For Students 9th - 10th
This section of a larger site from Discovering Lewis & Clark explores military preparations, the Schuylkill Arsenal, Clark's commission, and how Lewis evaluated his officers.
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Article
Discovering Lewis & Clark

Discovering Lewis & Clark: Du Pratz's History of Louisiana

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the story of Antoine du Pratz's History of Louisiana (1774) which was carried by Lewis and Clark on their expedition to serve as a guide for the kind of information Jefferson wanted the expedition to acquire.
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Website
Discovering Lewis & Clark

Discovering Lewis & Clark: Three Pests and a Yoke

For Students 9th - 10th
This section of a larger site from Discovering Lewis & Clark features excerpts from Lewis's journal that discuss his "trio of pests", "the Mahometant yoke", Lewis joining Jefferson's staff, and the Barbary pirates.
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Article
Discovering Lewis & Clark

Discovering Lewis & Clark: Music on the Trail

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover how the men of the expedition turned to music for entertainment or to impress the Indians they met. Learn about and listen to Jefferson the violinist and Pierre Cruzatte the fiddle player.
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eBook
Yale University

Jefferson: 6th Annual Message to Congress

For Students 9th - 10th
Jefferson's speech to Congress given December 2, 1806.
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Primary
University of Virginia

Uva Libraries: Autobiography of Thomas Jefferson

For Students 9th - 10th
The life of Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826 CE) is given here in his own words. Includes a copy of the Declaration of Independence.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Thomas Jefferson Timeline

For Students 9th - 10th
This detailed timeline describes Thomas Jefferson's life, spanning the colonial period, the American Revolution, and the early Republic. You will also find maps and written documents within this collection.