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Lesson Plan
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Historical Thinking Matters

Spanish-American War: 5 Day Lesson

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Nine historical documents, an interactive online notebook, and a fantastic opportunity for historical inquiry await your pupils in this 5-day lesson plan. Class members identify and discuss various causes for the Spanish-American War...
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Interactive
DocsTeach

Apollo-Soyuz: Space Age Detente

For Teachers 6th - 12th
The Space Race saw the Soviet Union and the US go from competitors to partners. Scholars read a letter regarding the first docking of the US and Soviet space craft. Young historians also complete a written assignment and participate in...
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Lesson Plan
National Woman's History Museum

Fannie Lou Hamer and Social Activism

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Not all heroes wear capes. An impactful lesson focuses on the life and activism of Fannie Lou Hamer during the civil rights movement. Scholars read her speeches and other material, participate in group discussion, and complete a jigsaw...
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Interactive
iCivics

DBQuest: The Nashville Sit-In Movement

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
What was it like to be a part of the sit-ins during the Civil Rights Movement? Learners consider the question and whether the protests were effective using an online documents-based investigation. The program allows for virtual...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Declaration of Independence: From Rough Draft to Proclamation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discover how the Declaration of Independence transformed from a draft to a treasured historical document. In this Declaration of Independence lesson, students discuss the context in which Jefferson wrote the document and analyze...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Signature History

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars review the meaning and application of primary and secondary sources in research. They determine how researchers locate primary source documents before looking at signatures as a validating factor on many primary sources....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hydraulic Mining

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars explore reasons for supporting and opposing hydraulic mining. It was the most efficient and used mining method until 1884. A simulated court hearing is held where a decision is made whether to allow the continued use of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Powerful Signatures

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students experience famous historical documents that were initiated and propelled by signatures such as Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution. They create a school amendment using the information gathered.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constitutional Convention, 1875: Photographs as Historical Documents

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders compare and contrast the two photographs.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Tonkin Gulf Resolution (1964)

For Students 9th - 10th
Offers a summary of this resolution which supported President Johnson's actions in Vietnam and also provides an easy to read version of the complete text.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Test Ban Treaty (1963)

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains all the text and images of the original document. Also includes a summary of the history behind the signing of this treaty.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Desegregation of the Armed Forces(1948)

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a brief overview of the history behind this executive order that integrated the segregated military and then read a copy of the complete original text.
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Website
US National Archives

Our Documents: Boulder Canyon Project Act (1928)

For Students 9th - 10th
Informative site that tells about the act that authorized the building of the Hoover Dam. Read the complete text of the Boulder Canyon Project here.
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Website
US National Archives

Our Documents: Keating Owen Child Labor Act of (1916)

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the history behind the first child labor bill in 1916 and view the original document.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: George Washington Papers

For Students 9th - 10th
Largest collection of original Washington documents in the world, George Washington Papers collection from the Manuscript Division at the Library of Congress consists of approximately 65,000 documents. Document types include...
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Website
Other

Library of Congress: Teaching With Primary Sources

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st Standards
This website is an excellent resource for teaching with primary sources. This resource features Holocaust lessons, lesson plan strategies, and podcasts.