National Endowment for the Humanities
People and Places in the North and South
North and South: two opposite directions and two opposite economic and social systems in time of the Civil War. Pupils peruse census websites and primary source photographs to understand what life was like for the everyday person before...
NPR
Civil Rights of Japanese-American Internees
Prompted by a viewing of Emiko and Chizu Omori’s Rabbit in the Moon, a documentary about the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, high schoolers examine a series of documents, including the Bill of Rights and the UN’s...
Curated OER
Who Freed the Slaves During the Civil War?
Pose the question to your historians: who really freed the slaves? They critically assess various arguments, using primary sources as evidence. In small groups, scholars jigsaw 5 primary source documents (linked), and fill out an...
Friends of Fort McHenry
Baltimore – Caught in the Middle
Choosing sides is no easy matter, and this was certainly true for the citizens of Baltimore in the beginning stages of the Civil War. Using video, group analysis of several primary sources, and discussion, this detailed and thorough...
Digital History
The Crisis of 1833: Tariffs and Nullification
This resource offers a detailed review of the events that led South Carolina to nullify the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832, as well as to pass the Nullification Ordinance, which questioned the federal government's authority to enforce any law...
Curated OER
Explore Addition and Subtraction of Decimals
Exploring problem solving involving the addition and subtraction of decimals can be done with word problems. In this worksheet on decimals, students add and subtract distances measured in miles and expressed as decimals. This worksheet...
Curated OER
Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers
Learn about the events that helped shape the United States of America. Elementary schoolers explore the Civil War with six different activities. Each activity has a different focus: literature connections, primary sources, vocabulary,...
Curated OER
The Greatest Educational Change America Has Ever Seen
Young scholars connect the symbols from the design of the United States Mint Fifty State Quarters Program to our country's history in this five-lesson unit. The culture, unique heritage, and geography of the individual states are probed.
Curated OER
Living Under the Illinois Black Codes
Students use the text of the Illinois Black Codes to examine the laws in place. Using this information, they draw their own conclusions about why the laws existed in a free state. They also identify the purpose of these laws and how they...
Curated OER
Three Visions for African Americans
Students consider the plight of African Americans in post-Reconstruction America. In this African American history lesson, students discover the visions of African American leaders Booker T. Washington, W. E. B. Du Bois, and Marcus...
Curated OER
Wild Dog Debate
Learners participate in a mock conference addressing the possible extinction of African wild dogs. In this wild dogs lesson plan, students state their arguments and ask questions about the issues they have researched.
Curated OER
The Cuban Missile Crisis: A Lesson in Decision Making
In this American History instructional activity, 11th graders analyze different scenarios and create possible solutions.
Curated OER
1862 MARYLAND CAMPAIGN, AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
Students explain why General Robert E. Lee decided to invade Maryland in September 1862; review the major events of the Maryland Campaign of 1862; describe the major events of the three phases of the Battle of Antietam; and assess the...
Curated OER
Civil War Time Line
Students develop time lines of various events that took place during the Civil War. They sequence events in chronological order and demonstrate research skills using the Internet and library sources.
Curated OER
The Civil War Experience
Eighth graders study the Civil War. In this Civil War lesson, 8th graders read and analyze primary sources. Students complete handouts in relation to the primary sources.
Curated OER
Defenders of Justice
Students research abolitionists, civil rights advocates, and their allies to learn about racism and justice. In this racism and justice lesson, students define justice and sing a song about activism. Students review the biographies...
Curated OER
Issues that Divided the Nation
In this history issues worksheet, students write supporting statements on how each of these issues lead to the Civil War and answer short answer questions about them. Students complete 8 questions total.
Curated OER
Turning the Tide in Europe, 1942-1944
Students identify the reasons why the U.S. government decided to focus on the defeat of Germany and Japan and assess the wisdom of this decision. They analyze the magnitude of the U-Boat threat in the Atlantic.
Curated OER
You Ain't Whistling Dixie
Seventh graders complete a unit of lessons on the Civil War. They identify the factors that led to the Civil War, develop and perform a skit, research and write a report, or create a replica of art from Civil War period.
Curated OER
A Union Soldier's View of the Battle of Raymond
Students use a primary resource to collect information about a Civil War battle. They identify similarities and differences between historical wars and modern wars.
Curated OER
Rivers Bridge State Historic Site
Students use maps, readings, illustrations and photos to analyze the Civil War Rivers Bridge battlefield and describe how geography affected the outcome of the battle. They explore and explain the causes for the battle's heavy human...
Curated OER
History Biographies
Students explore the life and the contributions of five people from U.S. history in the five lessons of this unit. james Madison, Dolly Madison, Sequoyah, Harriet Tubman, and Clara Barton are presented to students for exploration and...
Curated OER
Intro to the Cold War
Eleventh graders examine the Cold War. In this American History activity, 11th graders develop answers to comprehension questions about the song "We Didn't Start the Fire". Students write a persuasive essay at the end of the unit.
Curated OER
What was life like for the Civil War Soldier?
Pupils view various primary sources and complete a worksheet about the sources. They choose at least three sources: a print, a letter and a newspaper article and record relevant information. They write a journal response about life as a...