The U.S. Recognition of the State of Israel
This is a lesson plan on the history, conflicts, and U.S. involvement surrounding Israel before and after its proclamation of statehood. This lesson correlates to the National History Standards and the National Standards for Social Sciences. It also has cross-curricular connections with history, government, geography, and language arts.
Petition Signed by Thomas A. Edison for Sunday Openings at the World's Columbian Exposition
This site focuses on petitioning the federal government, peaceably assembling, and exercising freedom of speech and religion, all of which are protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. This lesson correlates to the National History Standards and the National Standards for Civics and Social Sciences.
Petition of Amelia Bloomer Regarding Suffrage in the West
This site gives a facsimile of the handwritten petition of the suffragist, editor, and temperance leader. This lesson relates to the expression of First Amendment rights, including speech and petition, to the expansion of suffrage by means of the 19th Amendment, and to the amendment process described in Article V. This lesson correlates to the National History Standards and the National Standards for Civics and Social Sciences.
Observing Constitution Day
On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the document they had created. The National Archives and Records Administration celebrates this important day in our nation's history by presenting the following activities, lesson plans, and information. We encourage teachers and students at all levels to learn more about our Constitution and government. This site features a discussion about the Constitutional Convention and the Constitution. Lis
Teaching With Documents: Lesson Plans
This section contains reproducible copies of primary documents from the holdings of the National Archives of the United States, teaching activities correlated to the National History Standards and National Standards for Civics and Government and cross-curricular connections.
Maps of Indian Territory, the Dawes Act, and Will Rogers' Enrollment Case File
This lesson encourages students to study a variety of documents to understand the impact of a particular piece of legislation and relates to the powers granted to Congress in Article I, Section 8 , of the Constitution, related to making laws. It correlates to the National History Standards and the National Standards for Civics and Social Sciences. It also has cross-curricular connections with with history, government, global studies, and music.
Letters, Telegrams, and Photographs Illustrating Factors That Affected the Civil War
This site allows students to analyze a variety of documents to identify events, actions, and individuals who contributed to the Civil War's outcome. This lesson correlates to the National History Standards and the National Standards for Civics and Social Sciences. It also has cross-curricular connections with your history, government, and American literature.
Sleeping Beauty: Awakening the American Dream
Americans today may be perplexed and confused about the way America is perceived in the world. They may feel like Josef K in Kafka's 'The Trial': "Someone must have laid false accusations against Josef K because one morning he was arrested without having done anything wrong." Accusations against America have spread into a global phenomenon, crossing boarders, classes, religions, and generations. A Pew Trust research poll in 2005 concluded that anti-Americanism is deeper and broader than at any t
Alexander Graham Bell's Patent for the Telephone and Thomas Edison's Patent for the Electric Lamp
This lesson introduces students to significant inventions of the late 19th century and examines the power of Congress to pass laws related to the granting of patents. It correlates to the National History Standards and the National Standards for Civics and Social Sciences. It also has cross-curricular connections with history, government, language arts, and science.
Introduction to European politics
This is a module framework. It can be viewed online or downloaded as a zip file.
As taught in Spring Semester 2009
This module seeks to provide students with an understanding of the rationale and key stages of European integration, as well as of the institutions of the European Union and its functioning. Topics covered will include an overview of the History of European integration, key approaches to integration, the main institutions (Council, Commission, Court of Justice, European Parliament
Fossil Fuels: Coal
This lesson provides an introduction to the use of coal as an energy source. Topics include the history of coal usage, applications of coal as an energy source, and major suppliers of coal (the United States).
The Time of the Lincolns
The film Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided and this companion Web site, The Time of the Lincolns, offer insights into topics in American history including women's rights, slavery, abolition, politics and partisanship, the growth of the industrial economy, and the Civil War. You can use part or all of the film, or delve into the rich resources available on this Web site to learn more, either in a classroom or on your own.
Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
That Jim Crow was a tremendously important period in United States history is undisputable. Less obvious is how to properly address the violence, politics, and complexities that mark the era. This site looks at the century of segregation following the Civil War (1863-1954). Jim Crow, a name taken from a popular 19th-century minstrel song, came to personify government-sanctioned racial oppression and segregation in the U.S. This website describes pivotal developments during that time – the Eman
Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey
Social studies teachers will find that the film presents an informative, complex and issue-oriented story that raises controversial questions and provides an exciting way to introduce a number of important concepts in 20th century United States and world history. It offers an opportunity to explore the historical background of current events and issues in the news today; the Middle East crisis, the struggle of developing nations to create stable economies and democratic governments, the legacy o
Off the Map - Brave New World
Students will examine and compare utopian societies throughout history, including the utopian worlds depicted in the visionary environments discussed in the Off the Map Web site, discussing their origins, their founders, their successes and failures. Students will develop their own plans for a visionary and utopian society and the functions necessary to run it. Grade level: 10-12.
New York: A Documentary Film
Thirteen's Educational Publishing Department prepares educational kits to accompany certain television programming. These guides are available in print and, electronically, as PDFs (Portable Document Format), through the Web. This Teacher's Guide accompanies the program NEW YORK: A DOCUMENTARY FILM. The guide is intended to help use the film as a supplement to junior-high and high-school social-studies courses. Selected activities may also be used in language arts, music, and art classes. Key th
Intimate Strangers: Unseen Life on Earth
This PBS documentary provides an overview of the microbial world and offers an exciting glimpse into the field of microbiology. Meet scientists from around the world investigating the microbial world in diverse locations, from a termite's stomach to a hospital operating room to an African village, and even outer space. These programs - including The Tree of Life, Keepers of the Biosphere, Dangerous Friends and Friendly Enemies, and Creators of the Future - increase the microbial literacy of stud
Heritage: Civilization and the Jews
This lesson plan deals with the Ancient Near East, early civilization, and early Israelite history. Use maps to explore principal geographic features of the region and to trace migration, and compare the biblical story of the flood with a similar account in the Epic of Gilgamesh. All activities focus on key concepts explored in Heritage. Lesson plans have been designed to allow teachers to select activities appropriate to the grade levels of their classes. Each plan includes teacher's resource p
Circle of Stories
Welcome to the CIRCLE OF STORIES lesson plans. These lessons will allow students to examine the complex and rich oral tradition of Native American storytelling, create their own stories to share, explore indigenous and Native American cultures and the issues which face them today, and research and explore their own cultural heritage by recording their unique family stories and heritage. These lessons are directed toward grades 6 through 12, for use in the following subject areas: language arts,
This Land is Your Land? This Land is My Land! Mapping the History of Territory Acquisition in the US
In this lesson, students will research the many territory acquisitions in United States history and create an annotated map that tells the history of U.S. expansion.
