In this lesson, students are introduced to the importance of consumerism in the 1920s and recognize the connections between commodities and culture in the American past and present.

In this activity, students examine an advertisement from 1847 and answer a series of questions. The questions are designed to guide students into a deeper analysis of the source and sharpen associated cognitive skills.

Students see firsthand that stars and constellations are not arranged in a flat, 2-D pattern in this Moveable Museum unit. The five-page PDF guide includes suggested general background readings for educators, activity notes, step-by-step directions, and a Big Dipper map. Students make their own 3-D models of the Big Dipper using readily available materials and examine their models, observing the 3-D constellation from new perspectives.

A 2-D map is a great guide here on Earth—and virtually worthless for finding your way around in outer space. Take a 3-D look at mapping our solar system and universe. This Moveable Museum article, available as a printable PDF file, looks at how astronomers use data to create 3-D models of the universe. Explore these concepts further using the recommended resources mentioned in this reading selection.

This article provides some lesser known information about Vikings in order to dispel a few myths and lend insight to how things really were.

In this lesson, students will: 1. Review and understand multiple perspectives of slavery (the slaves' point of view, the abolitionist point of view and the view of the slave holder). 2. Learn three abolitionist leaders and their contribution to the movement against slavery. 3. Read and interpret primary documents having to do with the abolitionist movement. 4. Demonstrate understanding of primary documents through written assessment.

This page contains a transcript of President Harry S. Truman's address before Congress seeking $400 million in military and economic assistance for Turkey and Greece.

This page contains a transcript of a speech by President John F. Kennedy regarding the installation of Soviet missiles in Cuba.

In this activity, students examine a journal excerpt and answer a series of questions. The questions are designed to guide students into a deeper analysis of the source and sharpen associated cognitive skills.

In this 2 day lesson plan from Voices Across Time: American History Through Music , students will explore the song "Black and Blue" from the musical review Hot Chocolates and "Brown" form the musical Rang Tang and analyze how the harlem Renaissance affected African Awmerican expression in artwork, poetry, music, and pictures.

In this lesson plan from the National Humanities Center site, Freedom's Story: Teaching African American Literature and History, students will explore how poetry allowed African American to critique and draw to light the injustices of slavery, discrimination, and disenfranchisment.

In this lesson from the UMBC Center for History Education Teaching American History Lesson Plan site, students will use primary sources to analyze how African Americans shifted party loyalty from the Republican party to the Democratic party, in part due to Roosevelt and his New Deal programs.

This comprehensive guide to the Paleontology section of OLogy, the Museum's science Web site for kids, explains how after-school educators can make the most of the site. It focuses on dinosaurs because that's what kids are most familiar with. An introduction to the Big Ideas in Paleontology brings educators up to speed on how scientists study early life on Earth, what kind of information the fossil record contains, and why dinosaurs are not extinct. A Site Map shows where to locate all Paleontology resources, from stories to quizzes to hands-on-activities. Paleontology units offer ways to combine different types of resources around a topic. Follow-up questions encourage inquiry-based learning. Wrap-Up Paleo Projects suggests fun ways to wrap up any of these units. A Links and Resources section lists recommended paleontology-related books and Web sites for educators and for kids. A glossary of paleontological terms wraps up the guide.

In this lesson, students examine two reform movements - anti-slavery and women's rights. In addition to learning about the beliefs and motivations of each group, students will seek cultural connections among the various reform impulses.

This page contains a transcript of a document describing the need for the United States to help South Vietnam fight for freedom.

In this lesson, students understand the provisions of the Alien and Sedition Acts within their political and constitutional contexts. Students will explore the issues raised by the prosecutions under these acts and the larger constitutional issues they raised, including a comparison of antebellum political conflicts and current issues.

In this lesson, students will be divided into groups and asked to analyze and evaluate editorial cartoons pertaining to late 19th and early 20th century American imperialism. Students are expected to determine the perspective of the artists. After group evaluation, students will present their finding to the entire class.

Students will analyze primary source images of Native Americans interacting with the environment. The images show different aspects of how Native Americans dressed, hunted, and lived.

In this activity, students will delve into some of the revolutionary documents and consider the ideas of "authority" and "power" from the perspectives of those who had such a great stake in America's revolutionary struggle.

In this lesson focused on 1960's American youth counterculture and the war in Vietnam, students will explore the divide between the classes, with politicians enforcing strategies largely executed by working class young men. Students will analyze the cultural context and impact of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s song, “Fortunate Son.” Extension activities include comparing this song to other protest songs and exploring how songs lend themselves to social commentary.