Jackson Vetoes the National Bank From: Teaching American History Grade Level: HS, (College) Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 3-4 class periods Length of Reading: Pages Link: Jackson Vetoes the National Bank This is a 4 day activity. Students debate whether Congress had the authority to create the Bank of the United States. They then read speeches from prominent folks on Jackson's veto of the Bank of the United States, summarize them, and share their summaries. Day 1: Students read Article II, Section 8 of the Constitution and answer questions about whether it gives Congress the authority to create a Bank of the US. Please note that the recommended link does not include this section. Try this link to Constitution Annotated instead. Day 2: Students are each given one of three speeches on the veto of the bank bill--Jackson's (7 pages printed), Henry Clay's (6 pages), or Daniel Webster's (2 pages). Be sure to look for the links to the excerpts of the speeches on the bottom of page 2; don't have students read the speeches in their entirety. Student writes a summary of their speech. Day 3: Students who read the same speech are grouped together. They read their summaries to each other, and groups vote on the best summaries. An alternative might be for students to be grouped with students who read the other speeches and read them to each other. Then 4th day activities would be shortened. Day 4: The best summaries are read to the entire class. Students then vote again on whether the Constitution gives Congress the authority to create a Bank of the United States. < 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. Imbert, Anthony, 1794 Or. The doctors puzzled or the desperate case of Mother U.S. Bank . New York: Published and for sale wholesale and retail by Anthony Imbert at his Caricature Store. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, .

Virginia Colony From: Gilder Lehrman Grade Level: HS, (College) Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1 Class Period or Less Length of Reading: Pages Link: The Virginia Colony Students read 3 primary sources on the starving time, the Virginia Company's instructions to settlers, and the supplies the settlers were encouraged to bring (1-4 pages each). Students then answer 3 overarching questions about the colony. Gilder Lehrman resources are free but you must log in. < 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. Image: J. Omar Hansen, Jamestown rifleman firing , File #284983353, Photo, Adobe Stock, 5/23/25, stock.adobe.com .

Constitutional Creation From: National Archives Grade Level: (HS), (College) Remote Ready: Yes! Time: 1 Class Period or Less Length of Reading: Chapter Link: Constitution of the United States-A History How about assigning this article to give your students a little background on the making of the Constitution before tackling any of these assignments. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: (HS), (College): There is no specified age group for this activity; however, we think it would be well suited for high school and college students This Activity Involves: Secondary Source: This activity utilizes secondary sources. Image: Howard Chandler Christy, Signing of the Constitution, Oil on Canvas, Architect of the Capitol, 5/23/25, https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/art/signing-constitution .

Perspectives on Trail of Tears From: Gilder Lehrman Grade Level: HS, (College) Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1-2 class periods Length of Reading: Pages Link: Perspectives on the Trail of Tears Students check out maps, a painting, primary sources (three 1-2 page docs) and secondary sources. The teacher provides a short introduction to the Trail of Tears. On day 2 of the activity, students make posters which answer provided questions. < 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: Map Activity: This activity asks students to examine map(s) (interactive or standard). Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Secondary Source: This activity utilizes secondary sources. Gene Thorp/Cartographic Concepts, Inc. © Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of the American Indian.

Kids' Perspectives on the Trail Westward From: Digital History Grade Level: (HS), College Remote Ready: With minimal modifications Time: 1 class period or less Length of Reading: Pages Link: Children and the Westward Movement Students read bite-sized docs from children headed to Oregon, California, Utah and the West from the 1840s through 1860s. Students answer 2 overarching questions. You could divide the documents up and Jigsaw. < 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. Emigrant party on the road to California . Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, .

13 Colonies Song From: Parlay Universe Grade Level: MS, HS Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: Depends upon which lesson(s) you choose Length of Reading: Paragraphs Link: Settlement of the 13 Colonies Check out the 3 min video, Settlement of the 13 Colonies , for a fun hip-hop summary of the economies of the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies. Then answer a couple questions (provided), and then respond to 2 classmates' answers. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: MS, HS: This lesson is meant for middle school and high school students This Activity Involves: Movie: This activity involves a clip, film, or documentary. Group Work: This activity calls for working in pairs or groups or having a group discussion. Image: Listen. , ca. 1901. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2012648364/.

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, .

Is the Union Binding Mock Trial From: EDSITEment! Grade Level: HS, (College) Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 2-3 Class Periods Length of Reading: Pages Link: Abraham Lincoln on the American Union: "A Word Fitly Spoken," Lesson 2: The First Inaugural Address (1861)--Defending the American Union Mock Trial. 3 groups: Unionists, Secessionists, and Judges. Question: "Is the Union of American States Permanent and Binding, or Does a State Have the Right to Secede?" Each side reads its own docs and fills in the worksheets. Docs include Lincoln's first inaugural address and South Carolina's secession doc, like the aforementioned lesson. But this lesson includes a couple more docs and worksheets to keep everyone's thoughts organized. Judges read both side's docs. < 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. Gates, Jas. , Publisher. Civil War envelope showing Patriot labeled "Secured" holding the Constitution and Zouave soldier labeled "Defended," with message "The Union forever" . [Cincinnati: Jas. Gates Pub] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, .

Louisiana Purchase and Manifest Destiny From: Parlay Universe Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College) Remote Ready: With minimal modifications Time: 1 class period or less Length of Reading: None Link: Louisiana Purchase and "Manifest Destiny" Students watch a 3 minute video on the Louisiana Purchase then look at the painting "American Progress." Students answer questions and then comment on the comments of 2 classmates. < 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. Jose Gil. "Louisiana Purchase." Adobe Stock, 15 August 2025, https://stock.adobe.com/images/louisiana-purchase/1357909?prev_url=detail .

Mission US Interactive Game: Mission 1 From: Mission US on PBS Grade Level: MS, HS, (College) Remote Ready: Yes! Time: 1 Class Period Length of Reading: Paragraphs Link: For Crown or Colony This immersive, interactive game is a hoot. In "Mission 1: For Crown or Colony," students become the avatar of a young apprentice as he does his job and observes revolutionary activities in Boston in 1770. Students will each need to sign up and log-on if playing online. An iPad app is also available. Teachers might just let students play and discuss afterward; this game has sneaky ways of teaching students history. More teaching activities based on the game can be found by clicking on "Educators" then "All EDUCATOR MATERIALS." < 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). MarySan. "Play Games have fun neon sign with game pad, bright signboard, light banner. Game logo neon, emblem. Vector illustration." Adobestock, 20 August 2025, https://stock.adobe.com/images/play-games-have-fun-neon-sign-with-game-pad-bright-signboard-light-banner-game-logo-neon-emblem-vector-illustration/442215355?prev_url=detail .

Bank War From: Gilder Lehrman Grade Level: HS, (College) Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 2-3 class periods Length of Reading: Pages Link: Andrew Jackson and the Bank War Each of 6 groups is assigned a particular topic to research (Jackson, panic 1819, second bank of US, etc). The site recommends links to 2-4 short to medium sized articles for each topic. The second part of the lesson recommends creating a panel discussion with 3 students for and 3 students against the Bank of the United States. You may want to make adaptations so that the whole class is included in the discussion; maybe there are multiple panel discussions happening simultaneously. You could jigsaw the research topics or just have an old fashioned debate. < 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. Research: This activity requires that students do research. Group Work: This activity calls for working in pairs or groups or having a group discussion. Imbert, Anthony, 1794 Or. Set to between Old Hickory and Bully Nick . Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, .

Lincoln's Inaugural Addresses From: Gilder Lehrman Grade Level: MS, HS, (College) Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1 Class Period Length of Reading: Pages Link: Lincoln's First and Second Inaugural Addresses Students first read Lincoln's second inaugural address using a graphic organizer that calls for a close reading. They then move backwards to do a close reading of Lincoln's first address (abridged to 6 pages) in groups. Students complete a second organizer that calls for comparing the two speeches with a partner (graphic organizer is 9 pages, including the text of both speeches). < 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. Group Work: This activity calls for working in pairs or groups or having a group discussion. Gardner, Alexander, photographer. Lincoln's Second Inaugural . [Between 1910 and 1920, from a photograph taken in 1865] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, .