Curated OER
Ladies, Contraband, and Spies: Women in the Civil War
Students use primary sources - diaries, letters, and photographs - to explore the experiences of women in the Civil War. By looking at a series of document galleries, the perspectives of slave women, plantation mistresses, female spies,...
Curated OER
US Immigration
Students examine the history of immigration in the United States. Using primary source documents, they identify the areas of origin for people settling in Minnesota and describe the push and pull factors that brought them there. They...
Curated OER
"Disapproved": Censorship of Film in Pennsylvania
Young scholars analyze primary source documents of the 1920s to find the roots of film censorship and understand Pennsylvania's leadership in this movement. They analyze government censorship documents that banned a film in Pennsylvania...
Curated OER
Spanish Colonials Encounter Quechan Culture
High schoolers use primary sources from the de Anza expedition of the 1770's to research colonial encounters with the Quechan people from Yuma Crossing, Arizona.
James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation
A Deliberate, Palpable and Dangerous Exercise of Other Powers: James Madison & Homeland Security
This resource uses primary source documents to explore the First Amendment. After reviewing key events of the 1790s, government or US history classes explore Madison's letter to Jefferson regarding the Alien and Sedition Acts. They then...
Curated OER
The Reformation
Seventh graders explore the Reformation. For this World History lesson, 7th graders analyze primary sources on being Protestant and Catholic. Students discuss as a class the impact of the Reformation.
Curated OER
Mysterious Coin Discovery
Seventh graders examine mysterious coins. In this historical observations lesson, 7th graders use the provided chart to record information about the coins their instructor presents to them. Students discuss their work as archaeologists.
Curated OER
Kill the Indian, Save the Man!
Students investigate primary sources from Carlisle Indian School including letters and photographs. In this investigative lesson students answer questions about their research.
Curated OER
Focused Learning Lesson
Eleventh graders read and analyze primary source documents from World War II. They are to create a timeline of the important events by using the sources.
Curated OER
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN WORLD WAR II: THE PACIFIC THEATER 1941-1945
Tenth graders describe roles of key figures in the Pacific Theater of war during World War II. For this American History lesson, 10th graders research key events of the Pacific Theater of War during World War II. Students analyze...
Curated OER
Women’s Suffrage
Students examine several aspects of the Women's Suffrage Movement. In this women's rights lesson, students explore several primary and secondary sources regarding the events of the movement, opposition to the movement, and the effects of...
Curated OER
Belief Systems Along the Silk Roads
Learners examine cultural diffusion. In this Silk Road instructional activity, students research primary sources to compare and contrast the religious beliefs encountered and shared by those who traded along the Silk Road route.
Curated OER
Lewis Hine
High schoolers are be able to analyze primary sources (photographs) of immigration during the early 1900s at Ellis Island. They are be able to identify why immigrants came to America.
Curated OER
Shapes and Shelters
Students are be able to analyze primary sources (photographs) for evidence of Ancient Egyptian culture and design meaningful objects. They are grouped in pairs and instructed to choose someone that they admire, either living or...
Curated OER
Historians Interpret Sources
Students read excerpts from the historian Conover Hunt writing about John F. Kennedy and from primary source documents using the handout: Historical Sources and Historians. Students discuss and identify source types, evaluate sources,...
Curated OER
The Struggle to Organize
Students analyze correspondence and a news release regarding the Harlan, Kentucky, mine strike of 1931-1932. They use these documents to discuss the problems of organizing industrial trade unions before the New Deal.
Curated OER
Fells Point's Role in Shipping and Trade
Eighth graders examine the trade and military advantages of ships built in Fells Point. In this American History lesson, 8th graders analyze primary sources. Students create an encyclopedia of Fells Point.
Curated OER
To Be or Not to Be: A Marriage of Civil War Descendants
Learners examine primary documents related to the burning of Chambersburg during the Civil Way. In this Civil War era history lesson, students study numerous primary documents relating to the burning of the town of Chambersburg. Learners...
Curated OER
Exploring the Triangle Trade and The Middle Passage
Young scholars explore the economic factors surrounding slavery in the United States, such as the Triangle Trade. In this American History lesson, students analyze primary sources such as narrative accounts and pictures, to gather...
Curated OER
Exploring Community Through Local History: Oral Stories, Landmarks and Traditions
Students explore the history of their local community. In this local history lesson, students analyze primary documents to develop an understanding of the local culture and traditions of their local community.
Curated OER
Immigration and Oral History
Students examine immigration. In this oral and social histories lesson plan, students analyze primary sources to research immigration history in their community. In this year-long research project, students participate in visual and...
Curated OER
Dirk Williams and the Mirror of the Martyrs
Ninth graders examine the person of Dirk Williams. In this World History lesson, 9th graders analyze primary sources. Students consider ways in which Anabaptist thought and practiced.
Curated OER
Baltimoreans in the California Gold Rush
Eleventh graders explore the reasons for migration to California during the Gold Rush. In this American History lesson, 11th graders read letters about the opportunities and obstacles people faced. Students create a map of migration...