United States History

Picturing America at the turn of the twentieth century

Students link together the literature and the history of the United States at the turn of the twentieth century. Questions guide students as they study visual documents. Students also read the teacher's choice of two widely anthologized short stories and an excerpt from a best-selling novel of the period. Two exercises will raise student awareness of the impact that visual images have on their lives: one that is based on internet advertising and a second that results in a student-produced scrapbook.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Scott Culclasure.

Tobacco bag stringing: Secondary activity five

In this activity for grades 7–12, students will evaluate primary source photographs from the tobacco bag stringing collection and some of Lewis Hine's photographs from the George Eastman House collection.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 and 11–12 Social Studies)

By Pauline S. Johnson.

Turning the century

Students will create a museum display illustrating life during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Social Studies)

By Lisa Stamey.

Lesson plans on the web

Human migration within and into the United States

In this Xpeditions lesson, students analyze 1980 and 1990 demographic data from the U.S. They determine net migration for the southern, northeastern, western, and midwestern regions of the United States and analyze the impact of migration shifts in these regions. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Social Studies)

Provider: National Geographic