Curated OER
Mind Mapping
Students explore the functions of the brain. They create their own "live" model comparing a phrenology chart to our modern understanding of brain function and anatomy. Students compare and contrast brain models.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Reforms to Human Health
From a chapter on "Antebellum Idealism and Reform Impulses," this section explains the different reforms aimed at improving the health of the human body and describes the various factions and concerns within the temperance movement.
Digital History
Digital History: The Birth of American Popular Culture
American popular culture was many-faceted prior to the Civil War. Find out about the explosion of the number of newspapers and magazines, the many kinds of popular entertainment, and even phrenology as entertainment.
Digital History
Digital History: The Birth of American Popular Culture
A description of many different forms of popular culture in the first half of the 19th century ranging from sensationalized newspapers to dime novels to pseudoscience. Read about Stephen Foster's music, theatrical productions, and even...
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Make Up Your Mind: Mind Mapping
Investigate the pseudoscience of phrenology and its attempt to organize and assign different purposes to different parts of the brain. Create a phrenology chart on a bathing cap and compare it to modern understanding of brain function...
Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Doe: Curriculum Hub: Ela Guidebooks: A Lesson Before Dying: Understanding Phrenology
We will build our knowledge of phrenology by reading a definition and answering a question. This will help us prepare to read A Lesson Before Dying.