The National Park Service originated with the passage of the Organic Act of 1916. Since then the National Park Service and the U.S. government have designated many places to be protected, either because of their historical significance or natural significance to the nation. In Kentucky, Mammoth Cave National Park is one of four national parks.…

The Washington Monument (District of Columbia) is one of the most recognizable structures in the United States. Its prominence comes because it commemorates George Washington, who remains one of this country's most admired leaders. The history of the monument reflects Washington's contributions to the development of the United States and shows how…

This eighth grade lesson plan asks students to research and analyze primary source documents about early factory labor (mill workers during the period between 1840-1860) showing their hours of labor, ages of laborers, reasons for working, and working conditions. The lesson plan asks students to read a historical novel about the time,…

Beginning in the mid-19th century, several generations of woman suffrage supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and practiced civil disobedience to achieve what many people considered a radical change in the U.S. Constitution. Militant suffragists used tactics such as parades, silent vigils, and hunger strikes. In 1870 the 15th amendment to…

Tension has existed between the legislative and the executive branches of the U.S. government over war powers since the United States Constitution simultaneously vested Congress with the power to declare war and the President with the power of Commander in Chief. When Texas declared its independence and claimed additional territory to the Rio…

On the battlefield during World War II, maintaining military secrecy went far beyond poster campaigns because it was essential for victory and breaking enemy codes was necessary to gain the advantage and shorten the war. The ability to send and receive codes without the risk of the enemy deciphering the transmission was the most desirable end…

Designed for use with students in grades 6-12, this curriculum guide uses primary source materials from the experience of Peace Corps volunteers in countries, such as the Dominican Republic, to enliven the study of geography, culture, and service. The guide aims to engage students in an inquiry about the world, themselves, and others as they focus…

This curriculum packet contains two teacher-developed lesson plans, for use in the upper elementary grades, which focus on urban life. The first lesson plan, "Connecting Downtown" (Michael Gray), studies how engineering and design can make cities more efficient places. It provides a brief discussion on how people travel within large…

This packet contains the Louisiana state standards-based lessons presented on the Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB) series "Reaching for Results: Teacher-to-Teacher." The lessons in the packet are for high school classroom teachers and include necessary handouts and references (the video is not required), as well as detailed procedures…

The appeal of the novel "The Red Badge of Courage" is both historical and universal. It is historical in its Civil War setting and universal in its relating of the experiences of a young man who is thrust into a situation he does not understand and cannot cope with. This collection of historical documents, collateral readings, and…

This teacher's guide gives practical and realistic ideas for teaching and learning about art. Creating artwork need not be seen as an activity in isolation but can be used to reinforce historical understanding or to support cross-curricular work. The aim of the guide is to help teachers recognize the potential of the historic environment to:…

This lesson describes President Woodrow Wilson's struggle with and his ultimate failure at achieving lasting world peace through the League of Nations. The lesson focuses on November 23, 1923, the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Armistice that concluded World War I, when a frail and ill Wilson was ready to deliver a commemorative address by…

The purpose of this book is to discuss and demonstrate how primary sources found on the Internet can be used to teach critical thinking skills for U.S. history and world history students in grades 7-12. The volume also provides guidelines and sample suggestions and questions for using primary sources in a variety of formats to stimulate critical…

From Cajun bayou country to Creole New Orleans, gumbo is a culinary tradition in south Louisiana, a gift from the state's rich, multicultural heritage. There are as many recipes for gumbo as there are households that make it, and every family has its own "secret" recipe. This teaching guide suggests that incorporating oral history into…

There are eight volumes in this series on the Holocaust. Volumes 1-6 recount the history of the Jewish people in various year groupings: (1) "Ancient 1935"; (2) "September 1935 to December 1938"; (3) "January 1939 to December 1941"; (4) "January 1942 to June 1943"; (5) "July 1943 to April 1945";…