Indigenous Americans in the Archaic Period From: Cult of Pedagogy Grade Level: (HS), (College) Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1-2 Class Periods Length of Reading: Pages Link: Four Theater Games That Make Learning a Blast Assign a group of students to each region of Native peoples who lived in the present-day United States during the Archaic period (roughly 8,000 to 1,000 BC), well before the arrival of Christopher Columbus. Each group is to research the people in their region--Great Plains Bison Hunters, Great Basin Cultures, Pacific Coast Cultures, or Eastern Woodland Cultures. Instead of doing a write-up on their findings, students will play a theater game called "Slideshow" to act out 5 scenes (either frozen like photos or short skits like gifs) that best represent the people of that region. Then a student can narrate as students act out those scenes in front of the class. Or students can post photos and captions of their slideshows either into the discussion feature of your LMS directly or via a slide deck. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College): We put these in parentheses because there is no specified age group for the activity; however, we think it would be well suited for middle school, high school, and college students This Activity Involves: Research: This activity requires that students do research. Group Work: This activity calls for working in pairs or groups or having a group discussion. Image: Patrick Jennings, Tour of Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde National Park , File #24938345, Photo, Adobe Stock, 5/23/25, stock.adobe.com

John Brown From: Digital History Grade Level: (HS), College Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: Depends Upon Chosen Lesson Plan Length of Reading: Pages Link: John Brown: Hero or Terrorist? Students read right-sized docs by John Brown and docs about John Brown in an attempt to answer fundamental questions about John Brown, his raid, and slavery. There are several lesson plans available to choose from under the "Teacher Resources" tab. Options include analyzing different accounts of John Brown's raid and completing a Venn Diagram, debating John Brown's sanity, analyzing the song "John Brown's Body," and re-enacting the trials of John Brown and his associates. A few links no longer work, but there are workarounds and ample additional resources. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: (HS), College: This lesson is meant for college students; however, we think it would be excellent for high school students too This Activity Involves: Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Research: This activity requires that students do research. Map Activity: This activity asks students to examine map(s) (interactive or standard). Image: Washington, Augustus. “John Brown Photograph.” National Portrait Gallery. Durhttps://npg.si.edu/object/npg_NPG.96.123. Accessed June 10, 2020.

Examining Passenger Lists: Virginia vs New England From: Digital Inquiry Group Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College) Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1 Class Period or Less Length of Reading: Paragraphs Link: Examining Passenger Lists Have students compare a list of passengers headed to Virginia with another list of people headed to New England. They fill out a graphic organizer and answer a couple of questions in pairs or groups. You will need to sign up and log in with SHEG, but everything is free. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College): We put these in parentheses because there is no specified age group for the activity; however, we think it would be well suited for middle school, high school, and college students This Activity Involves: Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Group Work: This activity calls for working in pairs or groups or having a group discussion. Image: Vinckeboons, Joan. Map of Atlantic Coast of North America from the Chesapeake Bay to Florida. [?, 1639] Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/2003623403/.

Nightmare in Jamestown From : National Geographic Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College) Remote Ready: With Films on Demand Time: 51 min Length of Reading: None Link: None The documentary Nightmare in Jamestown provides an overview of the settlement of Jamestown and what went wrong there. It includes historical reenactments and CSI-style excavation of archeological evidence. Find it at your local library. Or, if your local library (college or community college library) subscribes to the Films on Demand database, you may be able to watch it online with your library card. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College): We put these in parentheses because there is no specified age group for the activity; however, we think it would be well suited for middle school, high school, and college students This Activity Involves: Movie: This activity involves a clip, film, or documentary. Highsmith, Carol M, photographer. Historic interpreters Chas Ritinski and Julie Power nearly obscured by smoke fire a cannon from a parapet at the Jamestown Settlement in Jamestown, Virginia . -11-24. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, .

Lives Bound Together: Slavery at George Washington's Mount Vernon From: MountVernon.org Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College) Remote Ready: Yes! Time: 7 min, 20 sec Length of Reading: None Link: Lives Bound Together The film provides a brief overview of slavery. Then it discusses the number of slaves living on Washington's plantation as well as the work that they did there. The films brilliance comes in its discussion of individual slaves and their stories. On the same page, you will find other short videos telling the stories of Washington's individual slaves. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College): We put these in parentheses because there is no specified age group for the activity; however, we think it would be well suited for middle school, high school, and college students This Activity Involves: Movie: This activity involves a clip, film, or documentary. Savage, Edward, Artist. The Washington family--George Washington, his lady, and her two grandchildren by the name of Custis / painted & engraved by E. Savage . Philadelphia: Published by E. Savage & Robert Wilkinson, London. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, .

Texas Revolution From: Digital Inquiry Group Grade Level: (MS), (HS) Remote Ready: With modifications Time: 1 class period or less Length of Reading: Pages Link: Texas Revolution Includes background info and slides for a brief lecture. Students read 5 short primary sources on why Texas revolted and answer provided questions (all 5 sources total 2 pages). < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: (MS), (HS): There is no specified age group for this activity; however, we think it would be well suited for middle school and high school students This Activity Involves: Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Robinson, Henry R., -1850. Houston, Santa Anna, and Cos . New York: Published by Henry R. Robinson. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, .

Columbian Exchange From: Parlay Universe Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College) Remote Ready: Yes! Time: 1 Class Period or Less Length of Reading: Paragraphs Link: Columbian Exchange Have students check out a very short 2-3 minute video as well as a short reading on the Columbian Exchange. They answer a couple questions (provided), and then respond to 2 classmates' answers. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College): We put these in parentheses because there is no specified age group for the activity; however, we think it would be well suited for middle school, high school, and college students This Activity Involves: Movie: This activity involves a clip, film, or documentary. Image: AliaWindi, [A stylized portrait of Columbus in front of an old-fashioned globe with aged paper textures], on a white background, high resolution, high detail, masterpiece, File #1014811331, AI Generated, Adobe Stock, 5/23/25, stock.adobe.com .

National Bank Debate From: Gilder Lehrman Grade Level: HS, College Remote Ready: With Modifications! Time: 1 Class Period Length of Reading: Pages Link: National Bank Debate Common Core aligned. Students read primary sources from Jefferson and Hamilton (4 pages total) concerning the creation of the National Bank. They fill in graphic-organizers in partners. Then the class discusses answers and additional questions. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: HS, College: This lesson is meant for high school and college students This Activity Involves: Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Group Work: This activity calls for working in pairs or groups or having a group discussion.

Be Washington: It's Your Turn to Lead Interactive Game From: George Washington's Mount Vernon Grade Level: MS, HS, (College) Remote Ready: Yes! Time: 3 scenarios, each takes about 20 min Length of Reading: None Link: Be Washington Choose to be George Washington in 1 of 4 interactive scenarios: The Battle of Second Trenton, The Newburgh Conspiracy, The Genet Affair, or The Whiskey Rebellion. In each scenario, players assess the situation, listen to advice, and make decisions. Each scenario takes about 20 minutes. You can elect to play "Host" style where the teacher controls the game and students vote on which decisions to make. Or you can let students play individually in single player mode. Because the game does not give much background, teachers should consider the supplementary materials. Click on the question mark at the beginning to find teacher materials, background info, primary sources, and lesson plans for each scenario. It's narrated by Christopher Jackson, Hamilton's George Washington. Has closed captions. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: MS, HS, (College): This lesson is meant for middle school and high school students; however, we think it would be well suited for college too This Activity Involves: Game: When this icon is present, students play a game (video, board, puzzle, strategy, etc). Leutze, Emanuel. Washington Crossing the Delaware . Wikimedia Commons, 19 August 2025, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Washington_Crossing_the_Delaware_by_Emanuel_Leutze,_MMA-NYC,_1851.jpg .

Twelve Years a Slave (2 Passages, 7 Pages) From: EDSITEment! Grade Level: HS, (College) Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1 Class Period Length of Reading: Pages Link: Twelve Years a Slave: Analyszing Slave Narratives 2 activities available. There is a short background text and a link to a 12 Years a Slave movie trailer. Students read two 3-4 page sections of Solomon Northup's narrative about being kidnapped into slavery and what he saw once enslaved. One section is about an enslaved mother losing her children. The other is about an enslaved woman being whipped. The activity contains good overarching questions for discussion though the discussion focuses on how slavery undermined families and this brings up mature and sexual themes. The second activity involves the editor's intro to Northup's narrative and his verification methods. Here is a more detailed breakdown of the 2 activities: Go to Lesson Activities. Activity 1: Students watch a 2 min trailer for the movie 12 Years a Slave. They then have the opportunity to read the synopsis at the beginning of the lesson . In pairs, students read from Northup's account about a woman named Eliza losing her children (3.5 pages) and answer/discuss questions at the bottom and/or the overarching question at the top. The teacher then may choose to assign the section of Northrup's text called "The Soul Murder of Patsey" (2.5 pages) about a brutal whipping (this can be found after an awkwardly placed heading labeled "Assessment"). The teacher may ask students to answer and/or discuss the overarching question at the top. Again, the overarching questions are good though they focus on how slavery corrupted the family and this brings up mature and sexual themes. Go to Lesson Activities. Activity 2: We prefer the first activity to the second. In the second activity, students read the 1/2 page editor's preface to the Northup narrative and discuss why the editor was so keen on verifying the story. Also, a quiz is available. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: HS, (College): This lesson is meant for high school students; however we think it would be well suited for college students too This Activity Involves: Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Group Work: This activity calls for working in pairs or groups or having a group discussion. Movie: This activity involves a clip, film, or documentary. Image: Frederick M. Coffin (engraved by Nathaniel Orr), Engraving of Solomon Northup "in his plantation suit," Wikimedia Commons, 5/23/25, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Solomon_Northup_engraving_c1853.jpg .

Stamp Act From: Digital Inquiry Group Grade Level: (MS), (HS) Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1 Class Period or Less Length of Reading: Paragraphs Link: Stamp Act Students read 3 primary sources (1 page each) about reactions to the Stamp Act then answer provided questions. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: (MS), (HS): There is no specified age group for this activity; however, we think it would be well suited for middle school and high school students This Activity Involves: Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Image: Bradford, William, Publisher. This Is the Place to Affix the Stamp. United States, 1765. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2004672606/.

Federalists & Anti-Federalists (Easy) From: Digital Inquiry Group Grade Level: (MS), (HS) Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: Less than 1 class period Length of Reading: Paragraphs Link: Federalists & Anti-Federalists 2 very short primary sources. Alexander Hamilton argues for the Federalist position. Melancton argues the Anti-Federalist position. Both docs combined fill barely a page. Students fill out a graphic organizer. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: (MS), (HS): There is no specified age group for this activity; however, we think it would be well suited for middle school and high school students This Activity Involves: Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. The federalist: a collection of essays, written in favour of the new Constitution, as agreed upon by the federal convention, September 17, 1787 (2 vols.; New-York: Printed and sold by J. and A. M'Lean .... 1788); 17.4 cm. Call # HU F31 1788. Yale Law Library on Flickr via Wikimedia Commons, 20 August 2025, https://www.flickr.com/photos/yalelawlibrary/6050052724/ .