ThinkfinityNY,
a Web-based resource that offers 2,500-plus lessons for
teachers, each lesson aligned with the New York State
Standards. This program, available to all N.Y. State
educators at no cost, was developed jointly with the New
York State Education Department (NYSED), New York State
Teacher Centers, New York Institute of Technology (NYIT),
Thinkfinity and MCI. ~
The lessons
are organized and can be accessed according to the state’s
Learning Standards, key ideas, performance indicators, grade
levels and content areas. A simple click of the mouse
navigates the user through the lessons.
You may
visit the program at
http://www.nyiteez.org/MarcoPoloNY/
or at Virtual Learning System
http://eservices.nysed.gov/vls
.
PBS:
Teacher Source
- Over 4000 lesson plans and activities for all grade
levels. Most a directly related to the hundreds of PBS
video presentations (most available through BOCES)
-
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/
PBS: Social
Studies Home Page Highly recommended--please visit.
-
ProTeacher Home Page for all US History Lessons
- Links to hundreds of lesson plans related to United
States History from a variety of sources. Search functions
allow for internal and external links to topical lesson
plans.
-
http://www.proteacher.com/090019.shtml
-
-
-
National History Education
Clearinghouse
- Welcome to the National History
Education Clearinghouse, the central online location for
accessing high-quality resources in K-12 U.S. history
education. This site began in 2008 and is rapidly becoming
one of the best sources for United State History Educators
including access to History Content, Teaching Materials,
Best Practices, Issues and Research, Professional
Development, and TAH Grants.
-
http://teachinghistory.org/
-
SELECTED
LESSON PLANS
These lesson plans have been reviewed and designated
as exceptional by educators participating in our Teach
American History Program.
Historical Time Period: Reconstruction and/or
Civil Rights
Title of the Lesson Plan: From Jim Crow to Linda
Brown
Grade Level: High School
(Grade 11)
General Description: This lesson traces the
African-American experience in the first half of the 20th
century to help lay a foundation for a broader understanding
of the modern Civil Rights Movement. It includes all the
resources needed and many activities to choose from. Can
easily be used in part and can include a student web
research component that utilizes books, documents,
manuscripts, maps, music, plays, and film.
URL:
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/learn/lessons/
97/crow/crowhome.html
Historical Time Period: Reconstruction
Title of the Lesson Plan: After Reconstruction:
Problems of African-Americans in the South
Grade Level: High School
(Grade 11)
General Description: This lesson makes use of
primary and secondary sources, including pamphlets, letters,
laws, interviews and timelines. These sources, combined
with research assignments and group work help students to
identify problems facing African-Americans during
Reconstruction and then generate possible remedies.
URL:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/lessons/rec/rhome.html
Historical Time Period: Reconstruction
Title of the Lesson Plan: The Economics of Jim Crow
Grade Level: High School
(Grade 11)
General Description: This lesson provides
activities to go along with the PBS documentary “The Rise
and Fall of Jim Crow.” Activity One offers a very
comprehensive look at the main ideas and events of the video
and generated excellent discussion.
URL:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/education_lesson1.html
Historical Time Period: Reconstruction
Title of the Lesson Plan: Black Pioneers: Building
African American Communities During Jim Crow
Grade Level: High School
(Grade 11)
General Description: This outstanding lesson
uses the documentary “The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow” to have
students examine the formation of planned African-American
communities in the United States. It introduces students to
main early leaders of the African American community, and
utilizes several written first-hand accounts in a primary
source activity. The lesson culminates with a debate over
the importance of black communities today.
URL:
www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/education_lesson3.html
Historical Time Period: Manifest Destiny or
Sectionalism
Title of the Lesson Plan: The Homestead Act of 1862
Grade Level: Middle or High
School
General Description: This lesson uses the
actual documents filed by Daniel Freeman in application for
his homestead. It includes several activities to choose
from, but it can be a very quick and comprehensive way to
teach the Homestead Act.
URL: www.archives.gov/digital_classroom/lessons/
homestead_act_1862/homestead_act.html
Historical Time Period: Reconstruction
Title of the Lesson Plan: Lynching in the American
South
Grade Level: Grade 11
General Description: This lesson examines the
practice of lynching, using Billie Holiday’s song “Strange
Fruit,” the video The Shadow of Hate, and many
internet resources. The lesson provides information on how
to receive the video for free, and a list of excellent
internet sites on lynching.
URL: www.eduref.org/cgibin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Social_Studies/US_History/USH0212.html
Historical Time Period: Reconstruction
Title of the Lesson Plan: Sectionalism in Early U.S.
Grade Level: Grade 11
General Description: This lesson sets up a
simulation of United States sectionalism. The lesson has
students conduct a meeting to make decisions for the new
government, representing the interests of the North, South,
and West. Students must try to work out a compromise of the
varied demands.
URL:www.eduref.org/cgibin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Social_Studies/US_History/USH0023.html