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Freedom Riders - PBS
Grades
6 to 12
This documentary film from award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson tells the story of six months in 1961 that changed America's future forever. Follow the wrenching tale of 400 black...more
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This documentary film from award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson tells the story of six months in 1961 that changed America's future forever. Follow the wrenching tale of 400 black and white Americans traveling throughout the south in the face of oppressive Jim Crow laws through non-violent means of activism. The film begins with information on the background of segregated travel and follows the Freedom Riders through training and travels to cities throughout the south. The conclusion celebrates the final chapter of the story with Justice at Last.
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tag(s): 1960s (26), black history (133), civil rights (209), congress (40), racism (79), social and emotional learning (102)
In the Classroom
This film is almost two hours long; however, it includes dividing points that break the video into several shorter chapters. Consider sharing this film with students for several days not only as a means for adapting to time constraints but also to allow time to process and discuss the information in shorter chunks. Consider including this video as part of a Symbaloo Learning Path, reviewed here. Include additional resources as part of the learning path for students to read and view, along with short quizzes or opportunities to share their reflections on the information. As an opportunity for reflection use PodcastGenerator, reviewed here, to encourage an ongoing conversation about the events shared in this film. Create a channel to discuss each chapter, including a prompt to initiate student discussions. For more ideas on facilitating difficult conversations in the classroom, visit the TeachersFirst Special Topics Page, located here, that is devoted to resources for difficult conversations.Do's and Don'ts of Teaching Black History - Learning for Justice
Grades
K to 12This easy-to-follow list of do's and don'ts provides an excellent start to understanding the basics of teaching Black history throughout the year. Adapted from lessons created by Pat...more
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This easy-to-follow list of do's and don'ts provides an excellent start to understanding the basics of teaching Black history throughout the year. Adapted from lessons created by Pat Russo at SUNY Oswego, these simple ideas offer guidelines that ensure Black history lessons are meaningful and relevant.
tag(s): black history (133), civil rights (209), cross cultural understanding (173), cultures (180), difficult conversations (57), martin luther king (45), politics (118), racism (79), rosa parks (9)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and use the information provided in the article as a guideline for teaching Black history, not just during Black History Month but throughout the year. Find many Black History resources at the TeachersFirst Black History Special Topics page, found here, or within many of the Reading Treks, found here. The Reading Treks share virtual field trips of resources based upon literature and include many Black history selections. Celebrate your students' learning throughout the year using digital tools to create virtual field trips using Google My Maps, reviewed here, or creating interactive infographics using Canva Infographic Templates, reviewed here.Change is Coming - Looking at the Progressive Era in Books - TeachersFirst
Grades
6 to 12Include literature in your teaching about the Progressive Era in the United States with the resources shared in this TeachersFirst Exclusive. Begin with a background summary that conveys...more
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Include literature in your teaching about the Progressive Era in the United States with the resources shared in this TeachersFirst Exclusive. Begin with a background summary that conveys information, including important dates and legislation passed during this period. Following this summary is a list of suggested picture books, virtual field trips, and videos to include with your studies of the Progressive Era. Additionally, each shared book also includes suggestions for classroom activities. Finally, this site also offers additional extension activities and correlation to National Library and ISTE teaching standards.
tag(s): 1800s (75), 1900s (72), branches of government (65), business (52), constitution (96), transportation (30), womens suffrage (52)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many ideas and teaching activities already offered by Change is Coming to engage student learning. Extend learning using Wakelet, reviewed here, as a tool for sharing and collaborating on information. Create a Wakelet collection for students to use to share resources within columns. For example, use columns to organize information by periods, locations, or people. Another idea is to use the columns to organize resources by type, such as videos, websites, articles, etc. Enhance learning by asking students to share their knowledge learned using multimedia tools such as Sway, reviewed here, or Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here. Adobe Express offers a variety of tools that include options for creating images, videos, and websites. Sway is a digital storytelling resource that makes it easy to create and share visually appealing presentations.
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Benny Goodman: The Official Website of The King of Swing - CMG Worldwide
Grades
6 to 12Benny Goodman is remembered as one of the greatest clarinetists, but there is much more to his story. Lesser-known, but equally important, Mr. Goodman was the first to have an ...more
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Benny Goodman is remembered as one of the greatest clarinetists, but there is much more to his story. Lesser-known, but equally important, Mr. Goodman was the first to have an interracial band and promoted many African-American musicians throughout his career. Visit this official website to learn much more about Benny Goodman, including a biography, a list of achievements, quotes, and a timeline of his life events. This site also includes a gallery of historic images featuring Mr. Goodman.
tag(s): biographies (94), black history (133), music theory (46), musical instruments (52)
In the Classroom
Introduce your students to Benny Goodman using the information found on this website. The site does not include recordings of Benny Goodman, find those on Spotify at Benny Goodman. Engage students in learning about Benny Goodman using Padlet, reviewed here, to share and organize resources. On Padlet create columns with links to books and articles, videos, audio recordings, and interviews for students to explore. Have students experiment with music using Chrome Music Maker, reviewed here. Select the Song Maker, then change the instrument type to woodwind and start creating! Enhance student learning by asking them to research and share information on favorite musicians or different types of instruments. Use Genially, reviewed here, to create interactive presentations and images that include links to audio and videos related to their topic.Social History for Every Classroom (SHEC) - American Social History Project/Center for Media and Learning
Grades
6 to 12Social History for Every Classroom (SHEC) provides an extensive database of primary resources, historical collections, and teaching activities for middle and high school students. Use...more
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Social History for Every Classroom (SHEC) provides an extensive database of primary resources, historical collections, and teaching activities for middle and high school students. Use the tabs at the top of the home page to find and select the content sorted by themes, teaching activities, and more. Teaching activities include lessons using active viewing skills, political cartoons, and literature in the history classroom. Use the Themes tab to find many lesson ideas based upon broader American History topics.
tag(s): 1600s (20), 1700s (36), 1800s (75), 1900s (72), american revolution (82), civil rights (209), comics and cartoons (55), great depression (30), immigrants (34), immigration (68), industrial revolution (22), politics (118), racism (79), railroads (14), slavery (79), underground railroad (15), world war 1 (77), world war 2 (161)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site to find lesson ideas and teaching activities to use in any American History Class. Include the ideas found on SHEC to apply to other history lesson topics. For example, one activity looks at slave life using primary source images and short text. As part of this activity, students create found poems using the keywords found in the documents. Adapt this strategy to learning about the American Revolution, World Wars, or any other significant events. Using lesson ideas and information on SHEC, engage students to start a new learning unit using a polling tool to create a word cloud. Answer Garden, reviewed here, is a free tool that creates word clouds based on students' short answer responses to an initial question. Ideas might include, "What words come to mind when you think about slave life?" or "What do you think life was like for the first colonists arriving from England?" Enhance student learning using Curipod, reviewed here, to create interactive lessons that include videos, quizzes, and learning activities. Extend learning by asking students to demonstrate learning using a multimedia tool such as Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here. Offer students options to "show what they know" by creating a website, video, or graphic images that share their understanding of the content.20th Century America (1945-2000) Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 1220th Century America Part 2 includes the years after World War 2 through the end of the 20th Century. During this period, there were global conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, and ...more
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20th Century America Part 2 includes the years after World War 2 through the end of the 20th Century. During this period, there were global conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East. In addition, the Cold War, a period of tension between the United States, the Soviet Union, and their allies, continued for decades. The latter half of the 20th Century was also a tumultuous time for Civil Rights. Strong African American leaders who worked for social justice included Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and the Little Rock Nine. It was also a time of innovation and technological advancements. Read all about these events and more in the resources shared in this curated list.
tag(s): 20th century (62), black history (133), civil rights (209), cold war (30), korea (21), martin luther king (45), middle east (50), rosa parks (9), segregation (18), vietnam (38)
In the Classroom
Use these resources as you prepare social studies lessons related to American History 1945-2000. Each review includes technology integration ideas. This list includes resources for elementary and secondary students.20th Century America (1900-1945) Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12The first part of the 20th Century in America takes us from the turn of the century through the end of World War 2. It is pivotal to help students ...more
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The first part of the 20th Century in America takes us from the turn of the century through the end of World War 2. It is pivotal to help students understand how these years changed the country. Find resources in this collection related to the economic, social and technological milestones seen during this time. We will include resources that introduce the opening of the Panama Canal, the Wall Street Crash of 1929, The Great Depression, Mahatma Gandhi, World War I and II, the first winter Olympics, US Immigration Act of 1924, the Holocaust, Japanese internment camps, the segregation era, the Roaring Twenties and prohibition, The Ford Model-T, Lindburgh's first nonstop flight from NY to Paris, the construction of the Empire State Building and the Hoover Dam. Discover these topics and many others in this collection.
tag(s): 20th century (62), great depression (30), holocaust (42), immigration (68), japanese (47), segregation (18), stock market (11), world war 1 (77), world war 2 (161)
In the Classroom
Find resources to educate yourself and your students about various topics related to American history during the years of 1900-1945. This collection includes lesson plans and interactives too. Share these resources with your colleagues and families.Resources Related to Colonial America - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Bring Colonial America to your class with the reviewed resources shared in this section. The colonial history of the United States covers the period of time from 1607 to 1776, ...more
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Bring Colonial America to your class with the reviewed resources shared in this section. The colonial history of the United States covers the period of time from 1607 to 1776, when the thirteen colonies joined together to declare their independence. Therefore, the term Colonial America also refers to the thirteen colonies located on what is now the eastern coast of the United States. People came to the New World for many different reasons: religious freedom, commerce, and starting new lives after serving time in jail. Education was important to the colonies, and the economy was based most often on farming and trade.
tag(s): 1600s (20), 1700s (36), colonial america (95), colonization (21)
In the Classroom
Use these resources as you prepare social studies lessons related to Colonial America. Each review includes technology integration ideas. This list includes resources for elementary and secondary students.American Civil War Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12For over a century, America's Northern and Southern states had been in conflict over several issues, including cultural values, the federal government's power, slavery, and other economic...more
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For over a century, America's Northern and Southern states had been in conflict over several issues, including cultural values, the federal government's power, slavery, and other economic interests. The bloodiest conflict in the history of our union was fought from 1861-1865 between the states that supported the federal union and the southern states that voted to secede and then form the Confederate States of America. This curated collection shares many resources and tools to help your students visualize what America was like during those tumultuous times.
tag(s): 1800s (75), civil war (139), lincoln (66), slavery (79)
In the Classroom
Help to deepen your students' understanding of Civil war times using this curated collection. Share these resources with your colleagues and students by emailing the page or sharing the link from your school web page and in your school newsletter. Find resources to incorporate into your lessons.Resources Related to the Revolutionary War - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12Take your students back in time to the late 1700s, as the 13 colonies began their quest for freedom from British rule. These resources share information and tools to engage ...more
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Take your students back in time to the late 1700s, as the 13 colonies began their quest for freedom from British rule. These resources share information and tools to engage your students as they learn how the colonies came together to form the United States of America. Resources are shared for all grade levels and include classroom use ideas.
tag(s): american revolution (82), colonial america (95), colonization (21), washington (28)
In the Classroom
Use these resources as you prepare social studies lessons about the Revolutionary War. Each review includes technology integration ideas. This list includes resources for elementary and secondary students.Flight 93 National Memorial - National Park Service
Grades
5 to 12The Flight 93 National Memorial serves as the final resting place for the passengers and crew who stopped a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. The National Park Service provides...more
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The Flight 93 National Memorial serves as the final resting place for the passengers and crew who stopped a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. The National Park Service provides visitor information and detailed information about the events of this tragic flight. Use this information to learn about the memorial site and the Tower of Voices monument dedicated to the flight's crew and passengers. The videos on this site reside on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
In the Classroom
Include this site with your other September 11 resources to share with students. Use Padlet, reviewed here, to curate and share resources in one location. Additionally, Padlet includes a timeline feature. Enhance learning by asking students to construct a timeline of events leading up to and beyond the hijacking and subsequent crash of the airplane as a visual tool for understanding this chain of events concerning other attacks that took place on September 11. Include links to images, videos, newspaper articles, and more on the students' timeline. Extend learning using Google My Maps, reviewed here, to create a virtual map of September 11 events that provides a broader look at the different locations and outcomes of the terrorist attacks.World History Encyclopedia - World History Foundation
Grades
6 to 12The World History Encyclopedia takes encyclopedias to the next level through the addition of media, timelines, teaching materials, and much more. Use the keyword search to find specific...more
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The World History Encyclopedia takes encyclopedias to the next level through the addition of media, timelines, teaching materials, and much more. Use the keyword search to find specific information or select the index to find content in alphabetical order or by region or date. Explore interactive maps of prehistoric sites, the Roman Empire, and more. This encyclopedia also shares many downloadable lessons and curated collections. Finally, don't forget to visit the media library to find images, videos, 3D images, and audio recordings.
tag(s): china (81), climate change (99), colonial america (95), egypt (56), explorers (64), greeks (46), japan (57), maps (220), medieval (32), primary sources (117), religions (95), romans (52), slavery (79), vikings (10), women (151)
In the Classroom
This site is a must-have for any history teacher. First, bookmark the site for students to use as a multimedia encyclopedia and media resource. Then, include it with your other teaching resources to find engaging classroom lessons. Have students use the images on this site when creating presentations (using proper attribution, of course). Enhance student learning by having them use Genially, reviewed here, an excellent tool for students to use to create interactive and multimedia presentations. Have students add images to presentations, then create "hotspots" that link to outside resources such as videos, articles, or student-created texts.
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WisdomMaps - Terrence Monroe
Grades
9 to 12WisdomMaps uses the power of MindMeister, reviewed here, to provide a collection of over 50 interactive learning map sets. Select any map from the...more
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WisdomMaps uses the power of MindMeister, reviewed here, to provide a collection of over 50 interactive learning map sets. Select any map from the list to open and explore concepts and information related to the activity. Key to the concept of WisdomMaps is the ability for you to view information through exploration of the different ideas and concepts offered. Topics include history and ethical topics from around the world and across different times.
tag(s): american revolution (82), asia (116), central america (20), ethics (21), greece (47), industrial revolution (22), north america (15), religions (95), renaissance (38), romans (52), south america (47)
In the Classroom
Share WisdomMaps with students as a blended learning activity by allowing students to explore a shared map before discussing ideas together as a class. Provide a collaborative FigJam, reviewed here, and ask students to add sticky notes with information discovered through their exploration. Consider either creating columns for information found and another for questions that need further exploration. Use the WisdomMaps found on this site as a model for students to create maps using MindMeister, reviewed here, that correlate with your current classroom curriculum.The Living New Deal - Dept of Geography, University of California Berkeley
Grades
8 to 12The Living New Deal is a crowd-sourced project that employs a three-part focus on Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal" program. This site provides comprehensive resources for learning about...more
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The Living New Deal is a crowd-sourced project that employs a three-part focus on Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal" program. This site provides comprehensive resources for learning about the New Deal through a variety of formats. First, choose Maps & Sites to find New Deal projects by city, state, project categories, architect, and more. The tab labeled "New Deal" provides a more extensive overview of the program with options that include a timeline, information about the programs included in the New Deal, and a discussion of the New Deal and race. Additional resources on this site include videos, oral histories, and resources for teachers.
tag(s): 1900s (72), great depression (30), new deal (5), roosevelt (15)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site as a resource to include lessons about the New Deal, the Great Depression, and America in the 1900s. As you introduce information about the New Deal, engage students and provide deeper understanding by creating an interactive timeline using Time Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here. This timeline creation tool has many features so you can include videos, images, links, and more. Enhance learning by taking a broader look at the New Deal, as shown on the site's timeline. Create groups for students to explore the periods before, during, and after the New Deal. Ask these groups to share presentations about what they learned using Genially, reviewed here. Use Genially features to create interactive presentations that include the timeline you created and add more detailed information on the focus of the period studied. As a final activity, extend learning by creating a series of podcasts that discuss the different aspects of the New Deal. Examples might include podcasts that explore the different portions of the timeline, a look at programs and their impact on bolstering the economy, and a look back from the current time to analyze lessons learned from this social program. Consider using a podcast tool such as Buzzsprout, reviewed here.
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Interdisciplinary Civics Education Lessons - United4SC
Grades
6 to 12Teach fundamental civic skills and concepts using the videos and lessons provided by United4SC. Using the top menu bar, click Categories and select from the many different topics, including...more
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Teach fundamental civic skills and concepts using the videos and lessons provided by United4SC. Using the top menu bar, click Categories and select from the many different topics, including economics, history, democracy, and more, to find materials that engage students in enhanced thinking activities. Each lesson includes a video along with downloadable lesson plans and student worksheets. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
tag(s): branches of government (65), civil rights (209), constitution (96), democracy (24), diseases (67), elections (82), environment (252), ethics (21), media literacy (109), pilgrims (12), psychology (65), racism (79), slavery (79), supreme court (27)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this excellent resource for use throughout the year to engage students as they learn about various social studies topics. Luckily, this site includes a link to each of the videos that are shared on edpuzzle, reviewed here. Use these links to create and share video lessons with your students, including notes, quizzes, and comments extending learning. Use the included lesson plans as a starting point for your lessons, then ask students to extend learning by sharing information through various choices. For example, offer students options for creating a podcast teaching about one of the topics using Buzzsprout, reviewed here. Buzzsprout includes options to personalize podcasts, such as the ability to add links to show notes and the option to schedule episodes for release at specific times and dates; in addition offer Genially, reviewed here, where students can choose to create interactive presentations, images, infographics, charts, and anything else you can think of.
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Untold History - Driving Force Institute for Public Engagement
Grades
5 to 12Bring history to life with the short 2-minute videos and animations found at Unknown History. The videos engage students in history by sharing little-known stories and tales from the...more
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Bring history to life with the short 2-minute videos and animations found at Unknown History. The videos engage students in history by sharing little-known stories and tales from the past. Return often to view new weekly additions. Scroll through the home page to find the most recent topics, or select the "all videos" link to choose by collections. The subjects in the collections include America Explained, Museums of Artifacts that Made America, Hidden Figures, and more. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
tag(s): democracy (24), great depression (30), medicine (57), presidents (135), speeches (23), sports (82), symbols (15), women (151)
In the Classroom
These short videos are perfect to use in many different classroom settings to engage students in various history topics. Share a video at the beginning of a lesson, then use FigJam, reviewed here to gather student's questions for further investigation of the concept. Extend learning by asking groups of students to go further in-depth to learn more about the content of the shared video. Have students share resources by creating a collection in Wakelet, reviewed here. Use Wakelet's templates as a starting point for student presentations. Enhance student learning by creating short video presentations based on a different unknown event in history. Use Renderforest, reviewed here, to create animated videos, or Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here, as a resource for easily creating video explanations.The Role of Women - Digital Inquiry Group
Grades
8 to 12Students use a political cartoon as a starting point to determine how the evidence supports a historical argument. The focus of the 1912 cartoon is on the shift of women ...more
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Students use a political cartoon as a starting point to determine how the evidence supports a historical argument. The focus of the 1912 cartoon is on the shift of women from more traditional roles at home and their move toward non-traditional places in the workforce. Register for a free account to access the materials, including directions for the assessment, a rubric, and links to Library of Congress materials.
tag(s): 1900s (72), 20th century (62), comics and cartoons (55), politics (118), womens suffrage (52)
In the Classroom
Include this assessment as part of any American History lessons focused on the changing role of women and lessons about life in the early 1900s. Use the ideas found in this quick assessment with other political cartoons of the time. Running for Office - Cartoons Of Clifford K. Berryman, reviewed here, is a resource for finding additional cartoons from the early 20th century. After students spend time assessing the features that make up political cartoons, enhance learning and ask them to create their own cartoon using Comic Strip Templates from Canva, reviewed here. Extend learning by sharing student-created cartoons using Odyssey, reviewed here. Use Odyssey to share and compare the political feel of the time through stories told across the country.
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Evaluating Art as Historical Evidence - Digital Inquiry Group
Grades
9 to 12Studying art to understand history provides a means for understanding the past through visual representations. The Digital History Group shares this list of lessons and assessments...more
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Studying art to understand history provides a means for understanding the past through visual representations. The Digital History Group shares this list of lessons and assessments that use art to teach about a wide range of world and United States history topics. After creating a free account, select any of the provided links to access downloadable lesson materials and activities. The lessons include teacher and student materials; assessments include a printable assessment, rubric, and links to necessary primary documents.
tag(s): american revolution (82), art history (103), artists (85), assessment (147), china (81), civil rights (209), civil war (139), colonial america (95), comics and cartoons (55), declaration of independence (16), egypt (56), france (41), japan (57), mayans (23), mexico (37), native americans (109), nazis (8), thanksgiving (24), womens suffrage (52)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this list for use throughout the year with many different history lessons. Include these art activities to provide context and visual perspective to important events. Use a curation tool such as Padlet, reviewed here, to create an ongoing resource for students to use for review and as a guide for understanding history through a wider lens. For example, when using Padlet, choose the timeline feature and add a piece of art onto the timeline. Upload videos, text, and additional images to create an interactive timeline that tells a story through art. As a final project, ask students to share their learning using Sway, reviewed here to write a reflective piece on the use of art throughout any period in time. Have students include student work, images, links, maps, and more in Sway projects.
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Thomas Nast's Political Cartoons - Digital Inquiry Group
Grades
9 to 12Using two cartoons created by Thomas Nast, students analyze the content to learn about northern attitudes toward freedmen during Reconstruction. Download this lesson that offers an...more
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Using two cartoons created by Thomas Nast, students analyze the content to learn about northern attitudes toward freedmen during Reconstruction. Download this lesson that offers an instructional plan that guides students through evaluating and discussing the messages found in each political cartoon. This lesson includes downloadable materials for teachers and students. Free registration is required to access the PDF materials.
tag(s): 1800s (75), civil war (139), comics and cartoons (55), politics (118)
In the Classroom
Use cartoons to engage student learners and as a resource for providing deeper context to complicated issues such as Reconstruction. Upload images of each cartoon onto an interactive whiteboard tool such as Whiteboard Chat, reviewed here, that provides many tools for sharing and creating digital annotations. Upload each cartoon and add student comments and use drawing tools to draw attention to specific portions of cartoons. As a culminating project, ask students to create political cartoons representing different views of Reconstruction. Use Canva's Comic Strip Templates, reviewed here, as a starting point for templates and ideas or have students create cartoons from a blank slide.
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Manifest Destiny - Digital Inquiry Group
Grades
9 to 12This lesson guides students through primary sources and present-day textbooks to explore the central historical question of what motivated American territorial expansion in the 1840s....more
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This lesson guides students through primary sources and present-day textbooks to explore the central historical question of what motivated American territorial expansion in the 1840s. Materials for download include a teacher's guide, student materials, primary source materials, and an accompanying PowerPoint. In addition, the Teacher Materials include a lesson plan that includes several optional extension activities. All materials are free; registration is required to view and download all of the materials.
tag(s): 1800s (75), native americans (109), westward expansion (39)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site as a resource to include with American History lessons. Engage students in the optional learning activities through the use of technology tools such as IdeaBoardz, reviewed here. Use IdeaBoardz to create templates to accompany the discussion activities for students to list the similarities and differences between the textbook information and what is found in the primary documents. Enhance student understanding of the concepts by creating a visual timeline using eStory, reviewed here. Tools included with eStory offer the ability to use maps as a starting point to create paths and add links to tell the story of historical events. Extend learning further by asking students to create videos using Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here with audio and templates, to share their responses to the final activity of evaluating the painting, "American Progress." Ask individual students or student groups to create a video sharing their ideas on the importance of this artwork and their judgement as to its representation of westward expansion in a good light.
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