This lesson plan addresses the ways people learn about events from the …
This lesson plan addresses the ways people learn about events from the past and discusses how historical accounts are influenced by the perspective of the person giving the account. To understand that history is made up of many people's stories of the past, students interview family members about the same event and compare the ifferent versions, construct a personal history timeline and connect it to larger historical events, and synthesize eyewitness testimony from different sources to create their own "official" account.
You’ve been accused of a crime you did not commit. It’s impossible …
You’ve been accused of a crime you did not commit. It’s impossible to prove your innocence. If you insist that you’re innocent anyway, you’ll likely be found guilty and executed. But if you confess, apologize, and implicate others, you’ll go free. This was the choice facing those accused of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts in the 17th century. How did this happen? Brian A. Pavlac investigates. Also gives questions for comprehension and discussion
In this curriculum unit, students will learn about the origins of four …
In this curriculum unit, students will learn about the origins of four major types of British surnames. They will consult lists to discover the meanings of specific names and later demonstrate their knowledge of surnames through various group activities. They will then compare the origins of British to certain types of non-British surnames. In a final activity, the students will research the origins and meanings of their own family names.
The Gilder Lehrman Institute has collaborated with the producers of the exciting …
The Gilder Lehrman Institute has collaborated with the producers of the exciting new Broadway play What the Constitution Means to Me by playwright and two-time Obie Award–winning actor Heidi Schreck, showing at the Helen Hayes Theater, to reveal how the US Constitution came to be, how it has evolved, and how it affects our lives every day. Explore the links on this page.
Professor Kate Rushin describes the Harlem Renaissance as a large social and …
Professor Kate Rushin describes the Harlem Renaissance as a large social and cultural movement fueled by many factors in this video from A Walk Through Harlem.
In June 1776, a little over a year after the start of …
In June 1776, a little over a year after the start of the American Revolutionary War, the US Continental Congress huddled together in a hot room in Philadelphia to talk independence. Kenneth C. Davis dives into some of the lesser known facts about the process of writing the Declaration of Independence and questions one very controversial omission.
This lesson will use a close reading of the Declaration of Independence …
This lesson will use a close reading of the Declaration of Independence to explore the American colonists’ reasons for separating from Great Britain. By the conclusion of this lesson, students should be able to identify the specific arguments made for Independence. Students will assess the objectives of the Declaration and identify if and how the drafters may have fallen short of some of their stated goals.
Recording of Day 1 of the Three Branches Institute, featuring a condensed …
Recording of Day 1 of the Three Branches Institute, featuring a condensed version of WHHA's "White House 101" lecture, exploration of WHHA's 360 Virtual Tour of the White House, and some discussion.
Please note that there will be "dead air" during the mid program break as well as the second half breakout rooms.
White House 101: Over 200 Years of the Executive Mansion This PDF …
White House 101: Over 200 Years of the Executive Mansion
This PDF contains copies of the slides used by the White House Historical Association's K-12 Education staff during their White House 101 lecture during Day 1 of the 2021 Three Branches Institute. A link to a video recording of this session is also available on the Hub.
Join White House Historical Association historians Dr. Matthew Costello and Lina Mann …
Join White House Historical Association historians Dr. Matthew Costello and Lina Mann as they tour the history of the White House in this collection of short videos, made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring human endeavor.
Ever since John and Abigail Adams moved into the President's House in …
Ever since John and Abigail Adams moved into the President's House in 1800, hundreds of individuals have worked behind the scenes to help the White House fulfill its roles as a home, office, and museum. White House staff serve the many needs of the first family in a variety of occupations. They prepare family meals, serve elaborate State Dinners, maintain the grounds, and much more. There is no such thing as a "typical" day in the White House. Explore the dedication and skills of the residence staff, their cohesion as a community, their special relationship with the first family, and their experiences as witnesses to the nation's history.
This 10-minute video examines how race-based federal lending rules from New Deal …
This 10-minute video examines how race-based federal lending rules from New Deal programs in the 1930s kept Black families locked out of suburban neighborhoods, a policy that continues to slow their economic mobility.
This lesson focuses on women who are too often overlooked when teaching …
This lesson focuses on women who are too often overlooked when teaching about the "foremothers" of the movements for suffrage and women's equality in U.S. history. Grounded in the critical inquiry question "Who's missing?" and in the interest of bringing more perspectives to who the suffrage movement included, this resource will help to ensure that students learn about some of the lesser-known activists who, like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, participated in the formative years of the Women's Rights Movement.
After an overview of the events surrounding Paul Revere's famous ride, this …
After an overview of the events surrounding Paul Revere's famous ride, this lesson challenges students to think about the reasons for that fame. Using both elementary and secondhand accounts, students compare the account of Revere's ride in Longfellow's famous poem with actual historical events, in order to answer the question: why does Revere's ride occupy such a prominent place in the American consciousness?
The papers of A. Philip Randolph document his protests against segregation, particularly …
The papers of A. Philip Randolph document his protests against segregation, particularly in the armed forces and defense industries during the war. Randolph led a successful movement during World War II to end segregation in defense industries by threatening to bring thousands of blacks to protest in Washington, D. C., in 1941. The threatened March on Washington in 1941 prompted President Franklin D. Roosevelt to issue Executive Order 8802, stating that there should be "no discrimination in the employment of workers in defense industries or government because of race, creed, color or national origin." The Committee on Fair Employment Practices was established to handle discrimination complaints.
The goal of this inquiry is to help students understand the various …
The goal of this inquiry is to help students understand the various factors that caused the United States to be on the winning side in World War II. The compelling question “Why was the US on the winning side of World War II?” engages students with both the economic and military factors that contributed to a successful war effort. Students start with an examination of the home front before looking at military factors in the wars in Europe and the Pacific. Students should be able to articulate a variety of factors that caused the Allied victory
In this lesson, students will learn about the Paiute Indian Tribe of …
In this lesson, students will learn about the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah through a slide show presentation that helps students learn more about traditional vs. current ways of living, learning and governing. Each of these short descriptions help students to better understand that the Paiute people continue to thrive in Utah.Students will also listen to a Paiute Tale which is part of the Native American Indian Literacy Project and be able to use the book as an English Language Arts comprehension activity. The extensions and additional resources help the teacher to be aware of other ways that students can engage.
When you think of the US Constitution, what’s the first thing that …
When you think of the US Constitution, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Free speech? The right to bear arms? These passages are cited so often that it's hard to imagine the document without them. But the list of freedoms known as the Bill of Rights was not in the original text and wasn't added for three years. Why not? James Coll goes back to the origins of the Constitution to find out. Includes mutliple choice and open ended questions
This is a lesson plan that can help students understand the importance …
This is a lesson plan that can help students understand the importance of the American Revolution and the key details and events that led to its importance. The success criteria will allow students to show their competence in reading and studying an article based on UOSL and explore their technology side through their chosen presentation resource. Image Credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/american-revolution
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