At all points in its history, a significant proportion of the population of the United States had been born in other countries and regions. This being the case, American history can never be understood by just looking within its borders. The culture and politics of the US have always been profoundly shaped by the material and emotional ties many of its residents have had to the places where they were born. This map will allow you to begin to explore those connections at the basic level of demographic statistics.

During this learning experience students will analyze and discuss a variety of sources related to Juneteenth and Independence Day. They will compare and contrast the two holidays and grapple with the question, “How do different people and groups celebrate freedom and independence in the United States?”

The students will see an overview of fundamental political principles in a graphic organizer and how these principles are the foundations of American constitutional government. The graphic organizer will help the students understand the principles of consent of the governed, limited government, rule of law, democracy, and representative government.

Students will be able to critically identify key tipping points in the evolution of political parties.  They will be able to connect this evolution to geographic elements and identify causation factors that led to this evolution. Key question: How did political parties impact the geography of the United States between 1792 and 1972? Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.

Lesson Plan for a Constitution Scavenger Hunt.Students will engage in discussion about the organization and importance of the Constitution. After, students will be given the Scavenger Hunt and, using a copy of the Constitution, answer all questions going through each Article. The Scavenger Hunt goes over basic information within the Cconstitution. Follow-up lessons could go into deeper, higher level inquiry.Includes Lesson Plan outline as well as Google Doc/PDF attachments of the Scavenger Hunt.

The student will apply social science skills to understand how the nation grew and changed from the end of Reconstruction through the early twentieth century by e) evaluating and explaining the social and cultural impact of industrialization, including rapid urbanization; Great Migration.

Students will read two secondary sources. The first is on Ida B. Wells and the second on Malala Yousafzai. Once they’ve read and analyzed these documents, they will create in collaborative groups a definition of “changemaker.” They will use that definition to identify and celebrate a changemaker in their world or in their community

 This collection uses primary sources to explore the impact of television on news media. Digital Public Library of America Primary Source Sets are designed to help students develop their critical thinking skills and draw diverse material from libraries, archives, and museums across the United States. Each set includes an overview, ten to fifteen primary sources, links to related resources, and a teaching guide. These sets were created and reviewed by the teachers on the DPLA's Education Advisory Committee.The remix includes a graphic organizer recording sheet to use with the videos. 

Students will examine the life of Phillis Wheatley. They will explore how as a woman, Phillis was able to fight for freedom during the American Revolution as enslaved, or formerly enslaved people. Students will analyze primary and secondary sources to learn more about the life and journey of Phillis, as well as her impact on historical events.

The students will see how earlier historical documents influenced the creation of the Constitution of the United States. The graphic organizers will help the students understand the influence of five documents: the Magna Carta, the Charters of the Virginia Company of London, the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.

The students will see how earlier historical documents influenced the creation of the Constitution of the United States. The graphic organizers will help the students understand the influence of five documents: the Magna Carta, the Charters of the Virginia Company of London, the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.

This learning tool was developed and designed to facilitate teacher/student and student/student discussion and recognition of significant events, holidays and celebrations within their lives, families and communities and those of their peers.

This article explains how interest groups differ from political parties, how to evaluate the different types of interests and what they do and to compare public and private interest groups. It also describes how interest groups influence the government through elections and through the lawmaking processes.
*Remixed to add student questions to engage them with the material.

This article explains how interest groups differ from political parties, how to evaluate the different types of interests and what they do and to compare public and private interest groups. It also describes how interest groups influence the government through elections and through the lawmaking processes.
*Remixed to add student questions to engage them with the material.

This article explains how interest groups differ from political parties, how to evaluate the different types of interests and what they do and to compare public and private interest groups. It also describes how interest groups influence the government through elections and through the lawmaking processes. Remix made to make it easier to understand.

Students will play an interactive game while learning how to be internet smart. Students will learn the fundamentals of digital literacy: sharing, kindness, security, determining what's real and what's fake, and reporting. This game comes with a full curriculum guide: https://storage.googleapis.com/gweb-interland.appspot.com/en-us/hub/pdfs/Google_BeInternetAwesome_DigitalCitizenshipSafety_2019Curriculum.pdf

The Aaron Burr treason trial in John Marshall’s court is one of America’s most important chapters. Just three years after the deadly Hamilton duel, President Thomas Jefferson had Aaron Burr charged with treason for plotting to carve out a kingdom for himself from parts of Louisiana and Mexico. The ensuing “trial of the century” in 1807 Richmond, VA, captivated a young nation. Accusations of treason. Claims of presidential privilege. The rule of law. Some things endure.What happened to Aaron Burr? Was he found guilty of treason? Watch The King of Crimes to find out.

Students will read General Order #3, the order that notified enslaved people in Texas that the Civil War had ended and they were to be emancipated. They will then analyze a primary source broadside from the Virginia Museum of History and Culture related to the earliest celebrations of Juneteenth. They will then be asked to write a letter to a member of their division’s central office regarding the celebration of Juneteenth.

The students will learn the reason for the creation of HBCUs in the United States. The students will analyze primary resource image frames through the two Google Jamboards: KWL and drag and drop the Virginia HBCUs and Fraternities and Sororities. 

The process of how a bill becomes law is a fascinating process that is much more than just a Representative or Senator introducing a bill and having it move through the process to its eventual demise or addition to another bill or to the bill ending up on the President’s desk itself.  An even more interesting question is: “What is the subject matter of MANY of these bills- researched, drafted, and introduced?  This lesson will tackle that question and many others!