764 american-history results | sort by:
Jewish American Heritage Month - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12In the Classroom
Students can explore primary sources from the Library of Congress or the National Archives on Jewish American contributions. In pairs, they can analyze an artifact (ex., a historical photo, letter, or newspaper article) and present their findings. Assign students a prominent Jewish American figure (Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Albert Einstein, Emma Lazarus). They can research their impact using resources from the site and create a short podcast using Spotify for Podcasters, reviewed here or video using Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here. Students can also interview other students, as if they were that historical figure. Students can explore Jewish contributions to literature, science, politics, and civil rights and create digital slides with Visme, reviewed here or Genially, reviewed here highlighting key figures, inventions, or cultural traditions.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Teachers- Holocaust Museum Houston - Holocaust Museum Houston
Grades
K to 12tag(s): critical thinking (163), ebooks (48), empathy (42), holocaust (42), immigrants (49), immigration (82), jews (63), professional development (295), religions (121)
In the Classroom
Using the museum's digital artifact collection, students can select an item (for example, a diary, identification card, or photograph) and analyze its significance. Then they can write a short reflection or narrative from the perspective of the artifact's owner. Students can examine examples of Nazi propaganda versus resistance writings (e.g., underground newspapers, speeches, or poems). They then create their counter-propaganda messages promoting human rights and resilience. Students research a current human rights issue and compare it to lessons learned from the Holocaust. They then design a "Take Action" campaign, including posters, social media posts, or letters advocating for change. Posters and social media templates can be found on Canva Edu, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Jewish American Heritage Month - Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History
Grades
K to 12tag(s): cultures (268), jews (63), social media (60)
In the Classroom
Use the JAHM posters and resource guides to create an interactive bulletin board. Encourage students to add facts, reflections, or connections to what they're learning in other subjects. Incorporate Jewish American heritage into literature, social studies, and art. Read works by Jewish American authors, analyze their impact, or explore how Jewish American experiences connect with broader historical events. Have students research notable Jewish Americans featured in the toolkit's posters. They can create timelines using Preceden, reviewed here or Sutori, reviewed here, or create short essays highlighting these individuals' contributions to history, science, arts, or politics.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Bill of Rights: Primary Documents in American History - Library of Congress
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): bill of rights (36), civics (127), constitution (100), primary sources (124), Research (80)
In the Classroom
Share this link with your students when studying the Bill of Rights. During Constitution Day activities, have pairs of students create captions that could be used with the documents using a tool such as Boxie reviewed here. Another option for younger students would be to use Padlet reviewed here to share reactions to some of the images at the site. With Padlet, students can reply using audio or video, so even the youngest students can participate. Students could use this to research how the Bill of Rights was developed and which individual rights were hot topics in 1891.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
African American Innovation, Invention, and Entrepreneurship in the Manuscript Division - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): african american (120), agriculture (50), photography (132), STEM (340), transportation (31)
In the Classroom
Students can explore the website to identify an African American inventor and their creation. They can create a mini-poster or trading card featuring the inventor, their invention, and its impact on society. Students can also research African American inventors and their challenges, including a lack of patents, racial discrimination, and funding barriers. They can write a persuasive speech or essay arguing the importance of diverse representation in STEM. Students can create a physical or digital timeline using Sutori, reviewed here or Turbo Timeline Generator, reviewed here of African American innovations, organizing inventions chronologically and highlighting technological advancements.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
African American History Online: A Resource Guide - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): african american (120), civil rights (218), maps (222), multimedia (56), photography (132)
In the Classroom
Have students select a historical letter or document and write a response as if they were living in that time, incorporating historical context and personal reflection. Students can listen to oral history recordings from the collection and take notes on key themes, emotions, and historical details. Then, they can summarize or create a first-person monologue based on what they learned. Students can choose a historical primary source (ex., a protest sign, newspaper article, or speech) and compare it to a modern event or movement with a similar theme, such as voting rights, racial justice, or activism. Have students curate a virtual museum exhibit using primary sources from the collection. They can organize sources around themes like civil rights, African American inventors, or cultural contributions and write exhibit captions. Categorize the sources in Google Slides, reviewed here or Sway, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
African American Communities in America's Cities: Photographs by Camilo J. Vergara - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): african american (120), communities (37), photography (132)
In the Classroom
Have students select a set of Vergara's time-lapse photographs of a specific location and analyze the changes over time. They can discuss possible reasons for these transformations (ex., economic shifts, policy changes, gentrification). Students can research factors contributing to urban decay and revitalization, using Vergara's photos as a case study. They can create a cause-and-effect diagram using MindMup, reviewed here showing how policies, economics, and social movements shape communities. Students can take photos of a specific location in their neighborhood over time (or find historical photos to compare to modern ones). They can create collages using PhotoCollage, reviewed here or Photo Joiner, reviewed here to analyze how and why changes have occurred.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
African American Civil Rights Events of the 20th Century: Selected Pictures - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): 1920s (25), 1930s (40), 1940s (69), 1950s (33), 1960s (55), 20th century (168), african american (120), civil rights (218), photography (132)
In the Classroom
Print or digitally display a selection of images around the room. Students can walk around, write observations on sticky notes, and discuss the significance of each image in small groups. Students can choose a photograph and write a found poem, free verse, or persona poem (from the perspective of someone in the image). Encourage the use of simile, metaphor, and personification when writing. Have students select a historical image and compare it to a modern photo of a similar issue (ex., protests, voting rights, racial justice). They can create a mini research project connecting past and present using a template in Canva Edu, reviewed here or Visme, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
National Archives - The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
Grades
3 to 6tag(s): bill of rights (36), constitution (100), declaration of independence (16), photography (132)
In the Classroom
Use DocsTeach to select a primary source related to your lesson (Declaration of Independence, Emancipation Proclamation, letters from historical figures) and have students answer questions about who wrote the document, why it was created, and how it relates to today's world. Show students a virtual tour or video from the National Archives YouTube Channel and take notes using Webnotes, reviewed here or YiNote, reviewed here for a class discussion afterwards. Select a historical photograph, letter, or document from DocsTeach or archives.gov and provide students with limited context. In groups, students can play detective by analyzing clues (dates, signatures, language, and historical events) to determine the document's purpose and significance.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Teach Democracy - Teach Democracy
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): bill of rights (36), civics (127), civil rights (218), constitution (100), democracy (26)
In the Classroom
Based on the "Electoral College" lesson plan, organize a classroom mock election. Students can research candidates or create fictional platforms, hold debates, and vote, experiencing firsthand the process of elections and the importance of civic engagement. Inspired by the lessons on community engagement, challenge students to identify a local issue they care about (such as recycling, public transportation, or voting rights) and develop a plan to take action. They can create petitions, host awareness campaigns, or present their project to local leaders or school administrators. Use a list of key civics terms from the Teach Democracy collection (like "democracy," "rights," and "constitution") and challenge students to define each term, then use it in a sentence. To gamify the lesson, turn it into a class competition or game like "Jeopardy!" to test their knowledge. Use Classroom Jeopardy, reviewed here to make a game board.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Library of Congress Research Guides - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): african american (120), architecture (81), black history (128), branches of government (61), civics (127), civil rights (218), civil war (142), conservation (106), energy (138), engineering (135), environment (248), foreign policy (13), hispanic (54), industrialization (12), jews (63), latin (23), literature (213), middle east (51), native americans (131), nutrition (136), photography (132), politics (123), population (54), religions (121), Research (80), sports (84), statistics (128), women (183), womenchangemaker (79), womens suffrage (64)
In the Classroom
Assign students to explore a Library of Congress guide on a historical event (ex., Civil Rights Movement, World War II) and have them read and summarize a firsthand account or diary (or blog) entry. Students can then write a journal entry or letter from someone who lived through the event. Try a simple blogging tool like Telegra.ph reviewed here. Choose a literature-focused research guide related to a classic novel or author (such as To Kill a Mockingbird or The Great Gatsby) and have students create a timeline using Time Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here or a newspaper front page using a template from Canva Infographic Creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
NPR- Breaking News, Analysis, Music, Arts, and Podcasts - NPR
Grades
K to 12tag(s): civil rights (218), cultures (268), journalism (72), news (221), podcasts (150), scientists (71), space (238)
In the Classroom
Have students listen to NPR's Student Podcast Challenge winners for inspiration and assign them to create a short podcast episode on a topic related to your curriculum. Use free tools like NPR's podcast resources or Buzzsprout, reviewed here to guide their scriptwriting and recording process. Choose an NPR article and a similar report from another news source and have students analyze the tone, word choice, and sources used. Use NPR's science and history archives to explore a key discovery or event. Have students present their findings through a timeline project using Turbo Timeline Generator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Talking Tours - Google Arts and Culture
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): archeology (26), artificial intelligence (254), deserts (20), forests (31), landmarks (20), maps (222), museums (52), virtual field trips (135)
In the Classroom
Take your students to the world's most famous cultural landmarks without leaving your classroom using Talking Tours. Use this Google Experiment to enhance learning by exploring specific locations in books or mentioned in history lessons. If you have five minutes to fill at the end of a class period, ask students to select a location to explore and ask questions. Extend learning using a timeline generation tool like MyLens, reviewed here to create a timeline that shares the story of critical events in the location you are exploring. Further, extend learning by finding or creating an interactive chatbot such as those available on SchoolAI, reviewed here. For example, when visiting Nelson's Column, found at Trafalgar Square in London, search for a "Space" featuring Lord Nelson and invite your students to interact and ask questions to learn more about his epic sea battles.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Whose Land Lesson Plans - BOLD Realities
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): columbus day (7), native americans (131)
In the Classroom
After exploring the website, guide students in writing their land acknowledgment. They can reflect on what they learned about the land and its original stewards. Have students create a timeline of significant events in their region's history of Indigenous land rights. Students can accomplish this project using printed materials from the website, or create a digital timeline using Time Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here. Have students use the Whose Land interactive map to identify the Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages of their local area. Follow up with a class discussion or short presentation on their findings.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Expeditions Pro - Singleton Technology Limited
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): augmented reality (8), virtual field trips (135)
In the Classroom
Begin a unit with a virtual field trip using ExpeditionsPro to introduce students to a topic like ancient Egypt, space exploration, or marine biology. Allow students to explore immersive environments using AR/VR features and discuss their first impressions. Students work in small groups to design a virtual field trip based on a topic they're studying (ex., famous landmarks, ecosystems, or historical events). Using ExpeditionsPro, they add images, videos, and descriptions to create an engaging tour. Teachers can design a virtual scavenger hunt within a tour. For example, students could look for specific artifacts in a museum tour or identify types of plants in a rainforest tour.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Virtual Field Trip - I Do Solemnly Swear: The U.S. Presidential Inauguration - Share My Lesson
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): inauguration (9), presidents (149)
In the Classroom
Teachers can follow the step-by-step lessons that are on the site. Students can research other presidential inaugurations so that they can compare and contrast. Finally, students can debate the importance/significance of a presidential inauguration.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Smithsonian American Women's History Museum - Smithsonian American Women's History Museum
Grades
K to 12tag(s): women (183), womenchangemaker (79), womens suffrage (64)
In the Classroom
Students can create biographies of the women they research. Biographical examples can include videos, pamphlets, or slides. Students can create digital stories using Sway, reviewed here. Students can compare and contrast women from the same time and debate who was more influential. Use the online debate tool Kialo Edu, reviewed here. Finally, students can take virtual field trips or watch virtual interviews.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
National Women's History Museum - National Women's History Museum
Grades
K to 12tag(s): women (183), womenchangemaker (79), womens suffrage (64)
In the Classroom
Students can be assigned a specific woman and create digital books explaining why this woman is important in history. Students of all ages can create digital books using Book Creator, reviewed here. They can also compare and contrast women from the same time or era using Canva's Venn Diagram Creator, reviewed here. Finally, students can take virtual field trips to museums/exhibits associated with the women and era or time.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Pedagog.ai - Priten Shaw
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (254), computers (107), creative writing (126), critical thinking (163), digital literacy (29), editing (88), images (262), media literacy (112), persuasive writing (52), politics (123), population (54), readers theater (11), shakespeare (98), vocabulary (249), vocabulary development (100)
In the Classroom
Include Pedagog.ai as part of your resources for using AI effectively to promote engagement and increase student understanding of classroom lessons. Use the suggested prompts to find ideas for creative activities and assessments, then modify the prompt to fit the needs of your classroom and students. Use the prompts within chat tools such as ChatGPT, reviewed here and Claude, reviewed here and continue asking questions and adding suggestions for making changes until you generate information that fits your needs. Use an organizational tool like Wakelet, reviewed here to save and share your favorite prompts. For example, create a collection of prompts for each subject or class you teach or work with peers to create prompt collections for assessments, lesson ideas, and incorporating teaching strategies.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
20 Veterans Day Activities - Teach Starter
Grades
K to 6tag(s): veterans (29)
In the Classroom
Make a Veterans Day bulletin board featuring family photos. Learn the Pledge of Allegiance in ASL. Make a video interviewing a family member or friend who is a veteran about their experiences. Record and share your video using Mootion, reviewed here. Organize a class drive for veterans and collect protein snacks, bottled water, puzzles, etc.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).

Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Close comment form