History Lessons Menu

"The March on Washington": A View From 1963
Students will use primary source newspaper articles about "The March on Washington" in order to understand how "The March" was reported and the perspective of the effectivness of the march by the reporters.

• middle school (7 - 9), high school (10 - 12)
• Contemporary Era 1945 to present
• US History

A Man's Home Is His Castle: The Story of the Erving Castle
Using primary documents and picture books about John Smith and Henry David Thoreau, students will understand that the lives of the two men from the 1800s who sought solitude, shared similarities and differences.

• lower elementary (K - 3), upper elementary (4 - 6)
• Expansion 1800 - 1860
• English Language Arts, US History, Geography

A Sampling of Samplers
Students will learn about hand-stitched samplers - who did them, how, and why. They will make one of their own.

• middle school (7 - 9), high school (10 - 12)
• New Nation 1750 - 1800, Expansion 1800 - 1860, Progressive Era 1880 - 1914
• English Language Arts, Art, US History, Economics

Anti-bullying Lessons Then and Now
In this lesson students will use primary and seondary documents to explore anti-bullying.

• lower elementary (K - 3), upper elementary (4 - 6)
• Expansion 1800 - 1860, Progressive Era 1880 - 1914, Contemporary Era 1945 to present
• English Language Arts

Butter Making
Children will make butter by shaking it in a jar, and write directions for doing the activity.

• lower elementary (K - 3)
• Beginnings to 1600, Colonial 1600 - 1750, New Nation 1750 - 1800, Expansion 1800 - 1860
• English Language Arts, US History, Science

Controversy over the Vietnam War
While reading Charlie Pippin and gathering facts on the Vietnam War, students will understand the difference of opinion on the war between her father and her uncle.

• upper elementary (4 - 6)
• Contemporary Era 1945 to present
• World History, US History

Cooking Popcorn - Then and Now
This lesson will demonstrate how the cooking of popcorn has evolved over time with the advancement of heat sources.

• lower elementary (K - 3)
• Beginnings to 1600, Colonial 1600 - 1750, New Nation 1750 - 1800, Contemporary Era 1945 to present
• US History

Early American Games
This is a lesson to develop a better understanding of the similarities and differences of children's games over the years.

• lower elementary (K - 3)
• Colonial 1600 - 1750, Expansion 1800 - 1860, Progressive Era 1880 - 1914, Contemporary Era 1945 to present
• Mathematics, English Language Arts, Art, US History

Educating Children Into Society
Using primary sources, this lesson will show how the Early American education system was designed to introduce children into the existing social structure.

• high school (10 - 12)
• New Nation 1750 - 1800
• English Language Arts, US History, Geography

Geography & the Study of Education in Expansionist America
Through the examination of the study of geography, students gain an insight into education in the United States between 1798 - 1841.

• middle school (7 - 9), high school (10 - 12)
• Expansion 1800 - 1860
• US History, Geography