447 history-culture-americas results | sort by:
PBS Nova's The Lost Inca Empire - PBS Nova's The Lost Inca Empire
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): native americans (116), south america (79)
In the Classroom
Students can use Timeline JS, reviewed here, to highlight the important events in Incan civilization. Students can use Class Question, reviewed here, to answer questions on the Incan civilization, such as where they were located, how they began their civilization, why they ended their civilization, and what notable accomplishments/achievements they had. Finally, students can use Figma, reviewed here to compare the Inca civilization to other civilizations.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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The Great Inca Rebellion - PBS Nova
Grades
6 to 10tag(s): native americans (116), south america (79)
In the Classroom
Students can use Miro, reviewed here to post questions that they still have about Incan civilization. Students can use Google My Maps, reviewed here to visit the location. Finally, students can use Figma, reviewed here to compare and contrast Incan civilizations to other civilizations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Entire Rise of the Inca Empire - History Dose
Grades
6 to 10This site includes advertising.
tag(s): native americans (116), south america (79)
In the Classroom
Students can use Stickies.io, reviewed here to post information that they learned. Students can use Google My Maps, reviewed here to visit the location virtually. Finally, students can use Google Drawings, reviewed here to compare Incan civilizations to other civilizations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Time Explorers Lesson One- The Ancient Maya - Twinkl Home Educators
Grades
5 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): central america (26), mayans (32), mexico (52)
In the Classroom
Students can complete the activity sheet. Students can use one of the tools at KnightLab reviewed here to create a trip highlighting different Ancient Mayan cities. Finally, students can create a 3D map of the geography of Ancient Mayan civilization using Google My Maps reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mayan Exploration Center - Mayan Exploration Center
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): central america (26), mayans (32), mexico (52)
In the Classroom
Students can use Google My Maps, reviewed here to virtually visit the area. Students can research the cities and create a Padlet reviewed here to post facts about the cities. Finally, students can create a 3D model of the city.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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History's Inca - History's Inca
Grades
6 to 10tag(s): native americans (116), south america (79)
In the Classroom
Students can use Stickies.io, reviewed here to post information that they learned. Students can use Google My Maps, reviewed here to visit the location. In addition, students can use History in Motion, reviewed here to create a timeline of the Incan civilization.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Inca Empire Resource Set - Colorado Department of Education
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): agriculture (47), architecture (86), inquiry (28), south america (79)
In the Classroom
Have students investigate the Inca road system and its significance for communication, trade, and military control. Using materials like string, paper, or clay, students can design and model a section of an Inca road or bridge, discuss how geography influenced Inca engineering, and then compare it to modern transportation networks. Introduce students to quipu, the Inca system of knotted cords used for record-keeping, and have them create a quipu-inspired message using yarn or string, encoding data such as population counts or food supplies. Students explore Inca myths, such as the legend of Viracocha or the story of Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo. Students can create a comic strip using ToonyTool, reviewed here or a digital storybook using ePubEditor, reviewed here retelling the myth in their own words.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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African American Innovation, Invention, and Entrepreneurship in the Manuscript Division - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): african american (122), agriculture (47), photography (130), STEM (332), transportation (30)
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
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African American History Online: A Resource Guide - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): african american (122), civil rights (219), maps (219), multimedia (55), photography (130)
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
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African American Communities in America's Cities: Photographs by Camilo J. Vergara - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): african american (122), communities (37), photography (130)
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
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African American Civil Rights Events of the 20th Century: Selected Pictures - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): 1920s (25), 1930s (40), 1940s (70), 1950s (32), 1960s (54), 20th century (169), african american (122), civil rights (219), photography (130)
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
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Ancient Maya: Knowledge through Art- Lesson Plan - PBS Newshour Classroom
Grades
9 to 12In the Classroom
Prepare a Maya Chocolate drink for everyone to try with the recipe listed on the web page (Check for allergies!). Create a short diary or scrapbook of daily life. Use ePubEditor, reviewed here or create a presentation using Google Slides, reviewed here template to make this online. Copy a glyph on a poster board and include an explanation. Create a map of a Mayan city on paper or digitally using MapHubs, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Mayan Empire - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
6 to 12In the Classroom
Set up stations around the classroom with images and short descriptions of Mayan achievements (architecture, astronomy, writing, calendar system). Have students rotate in small groups, taking notes and discussing how each achievement impacted Mayan society. Introduce students to the Mayan writing system by showing examples of glyphs. Then, have them create glyphs to represent their names or a short message. They can trade with classmates to decode each other's symbols! Have students create a Venn diagram comparing the Mayan civilization to modern society. Topics could include government, architecture, writing, and timekeeping. Consider using Canva, reviewed here to make the Venn diagram online. Students can work in pairs or small groups to create a mini "Maya codex" using folded paper, illustrating aspects of Mayan daily life, beliefs, or achievements. Encourage students to include drawings and glyphs to mimic the real codices.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Mayan Civilization - Stuff You Should Know
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): mayans (32), south america (79)
In the Classroom
Students can use Miro, reviewed here to highlight important information that they learned from the podcast. Students can create a timeline using Time Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here. Finally, students can research one highlight of the Mayan civilization in depth and share it using Ourboox, reviewed here or ePubEditor, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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13th Amendment to the Constitution - Library of Congress
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): abolition (14), civil rights (219), constitution (101), emancipation proclamation (14), slavery (78)
In the Classroom
Students can use free online tools like Class Tools, reviewed here or Google Slides, reviewed here to create an interactive timeline that tracks the events leading to the passage of the 13th Amendment. They can include key moments such as the Emancipation Proclamation, debates in Congress, and the ratification process. Students work in pairs or small groups to record a short podcast episode discussing the significance of the 13th Amendment and its legacy today. Online tools such as Acast, reviewed here or Spotify for Podcastors, reviewed here can be used. Students can incorporate quotes from historical figures, reflections on modern civil rights issues, and their interpretations of how the amendment has shaped U.S. history. Have students create a Venn diagram comparing the abolition of slavery in the 19th century to modern-day issues surrounding freedom and justice. The Venn diagram can be completed on paper or online using Venn Diagram Creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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African American Artists: Collection Connection - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): african american (122), art history (109), black history (136), civil rights (219)
In the Classroom
Have students create a short podcast or audio recording using tools like Spotify for Podcastors, reviewed here or Buzzsprout, reviewed here discussing the artist's life, struggles, and contributions to art history. Have students use the Library of Congress website and virtual exhibits to explore and identify a piece of artwork by an African American artist. They can create a short multimedia presentation using Google Slides, reviewed here or Canva, reviewed here analyzing the artist's background, themes, and techniques. Use a free timeline creation tool and assign each student an artist or movement. Use a free timeline creation tool such as Time Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here or Timeline Infographic Templates, reviewed here to research and add to the timeline, including images and brief descriptions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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6888th Central Postal Directory Battilion - Library of Congress
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): black history (136), civil rights (219), women (177), womenchangemaker (67), world war 2 (168)
In the Classroom
Ask students to write letters imagining they are members of the 6888th Battalion, describing their experiences and feelings about their mission. Using a tool like Google Earth, reviewed here students can map the journey of the 6888th Battalion, highlighting key locations like Birmingham, England, and Rouen, France. Include descriptions of the battalion's challenges and accomplishments at each site. Assign students to create a podcast episode or short video using tools like Spotify for Podcastors, reviewed here or Buzzsprout, reviewed here where they tell the story of the battalion's contributions. They can include interviews (real or role-played), primary source excerpts, and reflections on the battalion's legacy.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Monah - Monah
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): 1800s (77), 1900s (80), 1910s (26), 1920s (25), 1930s (40), native americans (116)
In the Classroom
Students can engage in the lessons presented as they are from the site. They can also take a virtual tour of the Museum of Native American History Monah Virtual Tour. Students can also compare two different groups/tribes of Native Americans. Compare using a tool such as ClassTools Interactive Venn Diagrams reviewed here. You can click on the right side to choose between a two or three-circle Venn diagram.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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History Breakout Template - Genially
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): digital escapes (25), game based learning (215), gamification (75), mysteries (26)
In the Classroom
Create interactive escape rooms to introduce history lessons, review for upcoming quizzes and tests, or as an engaging homework activity. As you create your history breakout, use Genially's AI features to generate questions, remove image backgrounds, and create images. Find free images to use with your breakout activity by browsing through resources available on TeachersFirst Special Topics Page for Free Image Resources, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Jewish American Heritage Month: A Commemorative Observances Legal Research Guide - Library of Congress
Grades
9 to 12In the Classroom
Assign students to investigate how a commemorative observance becomes official, from public advocacy to federal laws or presidential proclamations. They can use examples from the guide, such as the creation of Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Students can then write a short essay or give a presentation explaining the process. Use the guide's links to access examples of presidential proclamations for national observances. Assign students to analyze one proclamation, examining its language, tone, and purpose. They can summarize its main points and discuss why such proclamations are significant. Challenge students to select and research a lesser-known commemorative observance (ex., National Hispanic Heritage Month or Constitution Day) using the guide. Students can also create these presentations using a resource such as Google Slides, reviewed here or Padlet, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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