Gettysburg Address From: Gilder Lehrman Grade Level: MS, HS, College Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1 Class Period Length of Reading: Paragraphs Links: The Gettysburg Address OR The Gettysburg Address: Identifying Text, Context, and Subtext There are 2 lessons on the Gettysburg Address available here. The first lesson is called "The Gettysburg Address." Common Core. This lesson plan is subdivided into 5 lessons, but there's no reason that it couldn't be synthesized into one class period. Lessons 1, 2, and 3: Students read the Gettysburg address (1/2 page) and then fill out graphic organizers for each of the 3 paragraphs. In lessons 4 and 5, students analyze how the word "dedicate"--used 6 times in the speech-- changes meaning. Finally, students answer 3 questions. The second lesson is called "The Gettysburg Address: Identifying Text, Context, and Subtext." In this one, students examine the Gettysburg Address with the help of worksheets that lead students through a literary/rhetorical analysis. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: MS, HS, College: This lesson is meant for middle school, high school, and college students This Activity Involves: Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Image: Nostrand, D. Van. “Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States of America” in Portrait Gallery of the War , Frank Moore, ed. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_Lincoln.jpg. Accessed 6.14.2020.

Slavery in the Constitutional Structure From: Gilder-Lehrman Grade Level: MS, HS, College Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1-2 Class Periods Length of Reading: Paragraphs Link: Making a Covenant with Death: Slavery in the Constitutional Structure Each group reads an assigned portion of the Constitution that deals with slavery. Students write the main ideas on a large sheet of paper. Hang these sheets of paper on the walls and have each group present on their overviews. Then debate, as the founders, which aforementioned portions to keep in or leave out of the Constitution. Finally Students create a written dialogue between a founder and a slave. Gilder Lehrman resources are free but you must log in. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: MS, HS, College: This lesson is meant 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. 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. Stearns, Junius Brutus, Artist. Life of George Washington--The farmer / painted by Stearns ; lith. by Régnier, imp. Lemercier, Paris . Paris: Lemercier. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, .

What Made George Washington a Good Military Leader? From: EDSITEment! Grade Level: HS, (College) Remote Ready: Yes! Time: 1 Class Period Length of Reading: Pages Link: What Made George Washington a Good Military Leader? There are 8 activities spread over 4 Lessons here. That's a lot. We like lesson 3, though you may want to check these out on your own. Lesson 3 involves giving each group a separate set of primary sources (written by GW) and a few secondary sources. Groups answer questions and then the class discusses the overarching question. < 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. Secondary Source: This activity utilizes secondary sources. Group Work: This activity calls for working in pairs or groups or having a group discussion. Image: Peale, Charles Willson. “George Washington.” The Met, 1779-1781, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/11707. Accessed: 7.16.2020.

New York City Draft Riots Mystery From: Zinn Education Project Grade Level: HS, (College) Remote Ready: No Time: 1 Class Period Length of Reading: Paragraphs Link: The Draft Riot Mystery Each student is given a clue. There are 30 clues; each clue is 1-3 sentences long. The class is asked to solve the mystery of why the 1863 New York City draft riots occurred based on these clues with minimal teacher intervention. Afterwards, students answer provided questions and discuss. As an extra option, students can talk or write about being scapegoated for something in their own lives. You'll need to log-in. Click "Download to Read in Full" two separate times. < 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: Secondary Source: This activity utilizes secondary sources. Group Work: This activity calls for working in pairs or groups or having a group discussion.

We Have a Story to Tell: Native Peoples of the Chesapeake Region From: The Smithsonian's Native Knowledge 360° Grade Level: (MS), HS Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 2-3 class periods for all activities Length of Reading: Chapter Link: We Have a Story to Tell: Native Peoples of the Chesapeake Region Students do a map activity. They then read a chapter on Native peoples in the Chesapeake, answer questions, and discuss. Finally, each of 3 groups is assigned a topic. They read 2 pages on that topic and then explain it to their classmates. Start with a map activity locating the locations of the Powhatan tribes and aligning them with modern boundaries. Then have students read 9 pages (including ample illustrations) on Native peoples in the Chesapeake region and the effects of colonialism. Thereafter the class can discuss answers to the provided questions. Next students are divided into 3 groups. Each group reads an assigned section of text on a given topic (2 pages on either treaty making, civil rights, or legal recognition). You can elect to have students conduct more research or go directly into group presentations on their assigned topics. < 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. Map Activity: This activity asks students to examine map(s) (interactive or standard). Image: Smith, John, and William Hole. Virginia. [London, 1624] Map. Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/99446115/.

Matthew Brady Photographs From: Docs Teach Grade Level: MS Remote Ready: Yes! Time: 1 Class Period or Less Length of Reading: Paragraphs Link: The Civil War as Photographed by Matthew Students review a few photos individually and then meet with their group members who have viewed the remaining photos to discuss (there are 15 photos total). Students list adjectives to describe their photos and answer overarching questions. Armed with their teacher's email address, students can write the answers to the provided questions and send them to their teacher within the Docs Teach site. Teachers will have to click through an email link from each student though. So Anti-textbook recommends paraphrasing the questions into your LMS so that written answers are easier to grade. We don't normally include extension activities, but we think this one is particularly good. Students are linked to the Mathew Brady collection at the National Archives. They search for documents that are particularly telling of Confederate life. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: MS: This lesson is meant for middle school 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: Brady, Matthew, Photographer. “Colors of 23rd Infantry, N.Y; ca. 1860 – 1865.” National Archives , Mathew Brady Photographs of Civil War-Era Personalities and Scenes, 1921 – 1940; Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, Record Group 111, Identifier: 529517, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/colors-of-23rd-infantry-ny/5078/1. Accessed: 6.15.2020.

Slave Trade From: Digital Inquiry Group Grade Level: MS, HS Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: Less than 1 class period Length of Reading: Paragraphs Link: Second Middle Passage This lesson plan contains 4 short primary sources on the slave trade, including the personal accounts of an enslaved person and a slave trader, and questions/worksheets for each. There is also a short outline for a mini-lecture. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: MS, HS: This lesson is meant for middle school and high school students This Activity Involves: Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Alexandria, Virginia. Slave pen. Interior view. [Between 1861 and 1869] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, .

Spirituals Song Lyrics From: Digital History Grade Level: (HS), College Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1 Class Period Length of Reading: Pages Link: Spirituals No dedicated activity here but several very interesting resources. Read Harriet Tubman's song lyrics and answer questions about their coded meanings. Read the story behind Amazing Grace, read the lyrics, and listen to a recording. Read spiritual lyrcis and identify the Biblical references. And check out Library of Congress collections related to Southern music. A few links are broken. And again, you'll have to come up with your own questions or assignment. < 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. Secondary Source: This activity utilizes secondary sources. Image: Listen. , ca. 1901. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2012648364/.

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 .

Slave Narratives and Primary Sources on Rights of Freed Slaves From: Investigating US History Grade Level: HS, College Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1 Class Period Length of Reading: Pages Link: The Meaning of Emancipation in the Reconstruction Era To begin, students look at political cartoons. Then students look at WPA Slave narratives and answer questions. This requires a little bit of searching because the Library of Congress Links have moved and the recording is broken. But you can find the missing resources with a Google search so we think it's still worthwhile. Next students read 10 primary sources on the debate over the rights of newly freed slaves and answer 3 overarching questions. Finally, students write an editorial assessing Reconstruction. < 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. Image: Nast, Thomas. “Emancipation.” Library of Congress , King & Baird (engraver), S Bott (publisher), J.W. Umpehent (copyright claimant), 1865, https://lccn.loc.gov/2004665360. Accessed: 6.17.2020.