In this four lesson unit, students use primary source materials to gain insight and perspective about what it was like to live in the past.

Students are exposed to some of the key causes behind the start of the United States Civil War. Sudents will be able to analyze the impact of contributions made by diverse historical figures over time as well as the impact of major conflicts, battles, and wars on the development of our nation through Reconstruction. The values and principles of American democracy as well as the roles of woman and minorities are also identified.

Student will learn about the numerous contributions of African American soldiers to the Civil War, understanding the important impact they made to the Union. Students will then focus on a particular place, battle, or event where African American soldiers participated in the war effort and will create a historic site to educate the public regarding the "United States Colored Troops," as well as to honor their contributions.

Containing more than 50 articles from the award-winning Tar Heel Junior Historian magazine and over 40 lesson plans, this multidisciplinary Educator Notebook will enrich your exploration of North Carolina and American history with diverse perspectives. This resource's link takes you to a very short form that gives you free downloadable access to the complete PDF book.

In this activity, students complete a fill-in-the-blank worksheet featuring key events of the American Revolution, including the Boston Tea Party, the Crossing of the Delaware, and the Victory at Yorktown.

In this lesson, students explore Bacon’s Rebellion via poetry then act out learned facts of the rebellion using the performance challenges included with the lesson.

In this activity, students listen to a historical narrative and analyze other supporting primary sources in order to answer a series of questions about Louisa Susannah Wells and her experiences.

In these audio recordings of actual letters from parties involved in the Civil War, students will see two sides of the Civil War through the eyes of two soliders on the opposing sides. Chapter One: Enlisting shows students letters from a Confederate general, Braxton Bragg as well as the reply from Henry Hunt, Union Chief of Artillery. The audio recordings are accompanied by the letter itself.

In this activity, students examine a print of the famous engraving by Paul Revere and answer a series of questions. The questions are designed to guide students into a deeper analysis of the source materials and sharpen associated cognitive skills.

In this lesson, students will be able to use visual evidence to generate inferences; identify ways artists' choices (i.e., composition, scale, pose and facial expressions, and lighting) convey point of view; and compose a fictional field report from the perspective of a Hessian scout.

Students will develop a definition of civil war, recall the difference between the North and South which led to the South's secession from the Union, and understand the events which led to secession and the Civil War.

Students explain how John Brown's raid was an event that moved the South and the North closer to war. They will also review differences between a primary source and a secondary source and give several examples of each, then analyze different newspaper accounts of the raid and give two contrasting perspectives of the raid.

In this online interactive, students explore the events of the Civil War from the perspective of a soldier. Students are given the opportunity to choose the side from which their perspective will be as they join a regiment in either the Confederate or the Union army.

Students will analyze primary and secondary sources to compare and contrast conflicting versions of an historical event and increase their understanding of the importance of the Battle of Trenton.

Through images, reading, and class discussions, students will learn about the Edenton Tea Party, one of the earliest organized women's political actions in United States history that occurred in 1774 in Edenton, North Carolina. Students will then exhibit their understanding of the event by creating an invitation that combines artistic and creative measures with the learned facts of the protest. A brief quiz is available with an answer key

This lesson provides an examination of images and the creation of role plays through which students will explore the various perspectives of the Boston Massacre, understanding how this controversial day in history played a part in the outbreak of the American Revolution.

In this lesson, students explore how the French and Indian War affected the American Revolution.

In this lesson, students read about one of 14 primary documents or artifacts associated with the French and Indian War, and then analyze the document or artifact.

In this lesson, students investigate and analyze the historical context of the Revolutionary War song, "Yankee Doodle." As a culminating activity, students will be asked to create their own additional verses about George Washington to the tune of the song.

In this lesson, explore the political, economic, and social factors that influenced the writing of the Declaration of Independence and the importance of this document. They look at the events of the American Revolution, and look forward to elements that should be included in the new government in order to assure that the grievances in the Declaration of Independence are addressed.