This activity is designed to accompany the Artifacts section of the Black Americans in Congress website, history.house.gov/exhibitions-and-publications/baic/artifacts/artifacts/. Students have the opportunity to analyze artifacts associated with Black Americans who served in Congress. Students are encouraged to think about how artifacts can be used in the study of past events and people.

This activity is designed to accompany the Black Americans in Congress website, history.house.gov/ exhibitions-and-publications/baic/black-americans-in-congress/. Students have the opportunity to analyze
a series of statements made by Black Americans who served in Congress. Students are encouraged to think about the role that quotations can play in the study of history. (Citations for the quotation exercise used in this activity appear in the “Historical Quotations” document.)

Students gather evidence about the contents of a sealed container and make predictions about the contents. Provides a good introduction to how scientists have determined the composition of atoms.

This activity also works well to discuss the nature of science in developing hypotheses, various ways of collecting data, and drawing supported conclusions.

The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song is a two-part, four-hour documentary series from Henry Louis Gates, Jr., tracing the 400-year-old story of the Black church in America.

Discover how Southerners resisted the rights granted to African Americans in the years following the Civil War. In November 1865, the government that President Andrew Johnson had set up in Mississippi passed a set of oppressive laws that only applied to African Americans known as the Black Codes. Other Southern states quickly followed suit. The intent of these laws was to restrict African Americans’ freedom, and compel them to work for white employers in a situation reminiscent of slavery.

As you begin this lesson, lead a class discussion about the evolution of language as it relates to race. At the time of the Civil War, the term “colored” did not carry the same negative connotations that it does today. On the other hand, it was often used to suggest racial inferiority. Review the Teacher’s Guide to Language in the support materials. The short video “Focus on Black Humanity” is an excellent resource for student viewing and for initiating a classroom discussion. (See Discussion Questions for suggestions.)

Through their investigation of sources in this inquiry, students should develop an understanding of the consequences of the Black Death and an informed awareness of the importance of preparing for future diseases and possible pandemics.

In this explainer video, students learn about the Black Death, a pandemic that swept through Europe in the 14th century. They explore the devastating effects and how the Black Death became one of the deadliest diseases in history.

Examine relationships between significant events and ideas and their influence on systems of government (e.g. the rise of the merchant class, the Magna Carta, the impact of the Black Death, Germanic tribes, feudalism, manors, city-states).

Explore issues connected to representation and point of view in depictions of 19th century Native Americans by George Catlin and Black Hawk in this video from Picturing America On Screen. Catlin’s paintings provide testimony not only to the country’s fascination with American Indians but also to the artist’s ambition to document disappearing frontier cultures. Black Hawk’s work provides invaluable visual testimony to the nation’s Native American heritage and reveals intriguing details of the Lakota people—from manner of dress to social customs. In doing so, he captures a way of life that was fast disappearing as settlers moved West in increasing numbers and tribes were moved to reservations.

Share this project with your students, they will learn about research and how to do it correctly, how to write texts and also learn about Black pioneers in medicine.

In this interactive image, students view four paintings and drawings, with accompanying commentary, to learn about Black soldiers in the Revolutionary War, including the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, Peter Salem, James Armistead Lafayette, and Black Loyalists who responded to Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation.

How does the blackbody spectrum of the sun compare to visible light? Learn about the blackbody spectrum of Sirius A, the sun, a light bulb, and the earth. Adjust the temperature to see the wavelength and intensity of the spectrum change. View the color of the peak of the spectral curve. (Phys 3.3)

In this problem students explore the concept of proportion by comparing the relative strengths of different mixes of juice flavor and water in a visual context. Given four mixtures represented by purple and white rectangles, students order the drinks from strongest to weakest flavor and explain their reasoning. The Teachers' Notes page offers suggestions for implementation, discussion questions, and ideas for extension and support.

In this video adapted from NASA, two members of a NASA research team working to produce carbon nanotubes share some background behind this new technology, show examples of how it will be useful, and explain the various tests being performed to ensure readiness for spaceflight.

3, 2, 1... Blast off! Students learn new vocabulary by taking a virtual field trip to the moon, read-alouds, creating a picture dictionary, and completing a final writing activity.

Children will learn simple hand gestures to break words into syllables, show the beginning sound and the rest of the word as they blend and segment each word. They will practice with 5 new words per activity.