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/ .

French and Indian War (7 Years War) From: Gilder Lehrman Grade Level: HS, College Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: Depends upon which lesson(s) you choose Length of Reading: Paragraphs Link : The French and Indian War There are 4 short primary sources spread across 3 separate lessons. But each involves reading the primary source(s), answering questions, and/or filling out the graphic organizer(s). The primary sources are bite-sized and excellent; you get the perspective of Native Americans and colonists. Gilder Lehrman resources are free but you must log in. < 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. Woollett, William, Engraver, and Benjamin West. The death of General Wolfe / painted by B. West, historical painter to His Majesty ; engraved by Wm. Woollett, engraver to His Majesty. London: Published as the Act directs by Messrs. Woollett, Boydell & Ryland, January 1st. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, .

Bill of Rights From: Parlay Universe and Bill of Rights Institute Grade Level: MS, HS, College Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1 class period Length of Reading: Paragraphs Link: The Bill of Rights Students watch a 4 min animated video on why the founders made the Bill of Rights. Students then read each amendment and amendment history from the Bill of Rights institute (BRI). Students answer questions then comment on the answers of 2 of their classmates < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: MS, HS, College: This lesson is meant for middle school, high school, and college students This Activity Involves: Movie: This activity involves a clip, film, or documentary. Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Writing Exercise: This activity requires a writing assignment such as a discussion post, journal entry, or lengthy response to a prompt. Almost all of our activities require students to answer questions with short responses, but this icon refers to a slightly longer writing assignments. Vanderlyn, John, "James Madison." Wikimedia Commons, 20 August 2025, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:James_Madison.jpg .

Frederick Douglass Autobiography Close Readings From: EDSITEment! Grade Level: HS, (College) Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1 Class Period Length of Reading: Pages Link: Frederick Douglass's "Narrative:" Myth of the Happy Slave Over 2 activities (and in 2 worksheets), students do close readings of 6 short (1/2 page each) passages from Douglass's autobiography. They answer questions. Students can write an essay about Douglass's rhetoric; a rhetoric definition sheet and rubric is included. < 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. Writing Exercise: This activity requires a writing assignment such as a discussion post, journal entry, or lengthy response to a prompt. Almost all of our activities require students to answer questions with short responses, but this icon refers to a slightly longer writing assignments. Image: “Sketchofdouglass.jpg.” Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. 29 Jan 2018, 00:49 UTC. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Sketchofdouglass.jpg&oldid=283646641. Accessed: 9 Jun 2020, 23:55.

Students Search the Civil War Database for Their Ancestors From: National Parks Service Grade Level: MS, HS, College Remote Ready: Yes! Time: 5 min Length of Reading: Paragraphs Link: Search for Soldiers Did your ancestors serve in the Civil War? Enter your last name here. If your last name is a common one, the first name of your ancestor will be helpful too. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: MS, HS, College: This lesson is meant for middle school, high school, and college students This Activity Involves: Two unidentified soldiers in Union cavalry uniforms with Sharps rifles and Colt revolvers. [Between 1861 and 1865] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, .

Clips from PBS Documentaries Online: Native Americans and White Farmers From: PBS Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College) Remote Ready: With minimal modifications Time: 1 class period or less Length of Reading: None Link: Native Americans Clip and White Farmers Clip Each link offers 3 clips from PBS documentaries. Each clip is 5-15 min long. One set is about white farmers in the West. The other set is about Native Americans. There are discussion questions and optional activities under "Support Materials." < 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. "Neva, Black Kettle, Bull Bear, White Antelope [sitting]. Bosse, Na-ta-nee, Heap of Buffalo [standing]" (Call Number X-32364). Denver Public Library Digital Collections, 18 August 2025, https://digital.denverlibrary.org/nodes/view/1040543?keywords=black+kettle&type=all&highlights=WyJibGFjayIsImtldHRsZSJd&lsk=46dd277b6bc676c9a3a10fc4799089d6

Slavery: American Revolution and Constitution From: SPLC Learning for Justice Grade Level: MS, HS, (College) Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: Depends Upon Lesson Length of Reading: Pages Link: Teaching Hard History Framework After clicking on the link above, scroll to the "We the People" artwork and the "The American Revolution and the Constitution (1763-1787)" Heading. And then choose the Summary Objective that most interest you. Also see "Summary Objective 7" below the "Slavery in the Early Republic (1787-1808)" heading and brick flag artwork. You will be linked to a short list of wonderful online resources and their descriptions. < 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: Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Secondary Source: This activity utilizes secondary sources. Movie: This activity involves a clip, film, or documentary. Image: Ilkay, Captivity , File #129222009, Photo, Adobe Stock, 5/23/25, stock.adobe.com .

King Phillip's War From: Digital Inquiry Group Grade Level: (MS), (HS) Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1 Class Period or less Length of Reading: Pages Link: King Phillip's War Examine 3 primary sources (one page each with large print) which shine light on what caused King Phillip's War. Then fill in the graphic organizers. < 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. Bodge, George M. Soldiers in King Philip's war; being a critical account of that war, with a concise history of the Indian wars of New England from 1620-1677, official lists of the soldiers of Massachusetts colony serving in Philip's war, and sketches of the principal officers, copies of ancient documents and records relating to the war, also lists of the Narraganset grantees of the united colonies, Massachusetts, Plymouth, and Conneticut; with an appendix, 3d ed., with additional appendix containing corrections and new material . Wikimedia Commons, 19 August, 2025, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Soldiers_in_King_Philip%27s_war;_being_a_critical_account_of_that_war,_with_a_concise_history_of_the_Indian_wars_of_New_England_from_1620-1677,_official_lists_of_the_soldiers_of_Massachusetts_colony_(14740588836).jpg .

For or Against: Mexican American War From: Gilder Lehrman Grade Level: HS, College Remote Ready: With modifications Time: 2-3 class periods Length of Reading: Pages Link: Mexican American War: Arguments for and Against Going to War Role play debate. Students read 2 primary sources (2 pages each), one for and one against the Mexican American War. Students then write a script for a mock debate in groups. In lesson 1, students read an excerpt from a James K. Polk speech advocating for war. In lesson 2, they read an excerpt from Congressman Joshua Giddings's speech arguing against war. Each speech is about 2 pages long. In each lesson, students fill out a graphic organizer and discuss. In lesson 3, students are divided into groups, and each group writes a script for a mock debate on the question of going to war. Finally, each group preforms their debate for the class. < 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. Writing Exercise: This activity requires a writing assignment such as a discussion post, journal entry, or lengthy response to a prompt. Almost all of our activities require students to answer questions with short responses, but this icon refers to a slightly longer writing assignments. Baillie, James S., Active , Lithographer. Genl. Scott's grand entry into the city of Mexico, Sept. 14th . New York: Published by James Baillie. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, .

Abolitionists From: Zinn Education Project Grade Level: (MS), HS Remote Ready: With Modifications for Part 2 Time: 1-2 Class Periods for All Activities Length of Reading: Pages Link: Who Fought to End Slavery? Meet the Abolitionists. This lesson comes in 2 parts. The first is a role-playing activity where each student is an abolitionist, and the second is "talk-back" journaling exercise based on an 8 page reading on the Abolition Movement. Role play: Each student is assigned one of 21 abolitionist historical characters. Students read their paragraph-long bio, slap on a name tag, and engage in a meet and greet as their character, asking provided questions and writing down answers. The class discusses their findings using provided discussion questions. Reading and talk back: Students read 8 pages from Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the Abolition Movement." Students then write a "talk-back" journal. They pick out several sections from the reading that they found interesting, important, confusing, or peculiar. Then they detail their reactions. The class discusses what they've written as well as student questions and provided questions. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: (MS), HS: This lesson is meant for middle school students; however, we thing it would be well suited for high school students too This Activity Involves: Secondary Source: This activity utilizes secondary sources. Group Work: This activity calls for working in pairs or groups or having a group discussion. Writing Exercise: This activity requires a writing assignment such as a discussion post, journal entry, or lengthy response to a prompt. Almost all of our activities require students to answer questions with short responses, but this icon refers to a slightly longer writing assignments. Image: “Thus saith the Lord, Execute judgement in the MORNING, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor,” in Anti-Slavery Almanac for 1838, Vol 1., Number 3, Page 1, N. Southard editor. Internet Archive . https://archive.org/details/americanantislav1838chil/page/n1/mode/2up. Accessed 6.10.2020.

Senaca Falls Convention From: Zinn Education Project Grade Level: HS, (College) Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 2-3 class periods Length of Reading: Chapter Link: Seneca Falls, 1848: Women Organize for Equality Students read chapter 6 from A People's History of the United States, by Howard Zinn (available online). Discussion questions are provided. Then students are divided into 5 groups. Each group is assigned an identity: white middle and upper-class reformers, mill workers in New England, Cherokee women in Oklahoma, Mexican women in New Mexico, and African American women who are enslaved. There is a one page description of each group. Students write resolutions from the perspective of the group they represent using the provided instructions. Next "traveling negotiators" from each group cycle through the other groups, attempting to build consensus on resolutions. Top resolutions are brought to the floor for group discussion. Finally, students discuss the actual resolutions at the Seneca Falls Convention. Students put each actual resolution into their own words. And students critique the actual declaration from the perspective of their assigned group. < 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. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. Source: Library of Congress.

Louisiana Purchase Objectors From: Digital Inquiry Group Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College) Remote Ready: With minimal modifications Time: 1 class period or less Length of Reading: Paragraphs Link: Louisiana Purchase 2 very short docs (less than 1 page each) by those who oppose the Louisiana Purchase and a graphic organizer for students to fill in. < 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. Lewis, Samuel, 1753 Or, and Aaron Arrowsmith. Louisiana . [S.l, 1805] Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, .