Learn how to design history lessons that foster students' knowledge, skills, and dispositions for civic engagement. Each section of this practical resource introduces a key element of civic engagement, such as defending the rights of others, advocating for change, taking action when problems are observed, compromising to promote reform, and…

Late in the 19th century, American communities were in a state of flux. As northern abolitionists fought against slavery, relationships among diverse members of society rapidly changed, forcing historical figures to adopt new leadership strategies. Like communities of the pre- and post-Civil War era, modern educational contexts reveal growing…

Currency is a powerful cultural artifact; the imagery portrayed on bills and coins depict a nation's values and ideals. The process of selecting an American woman to appear on a U.S. Treasury bill began when a nine-year-old girl wrote to President Obama about her concern that no women were depicted on U.S. paper bills. The Treasury announcement to…

This issue's "Middle Level Learning" section presents two articles. The first is "Harriet Tubman: Emancipate Yourself!" (by Steven S. Lapham and Peter Hanes). "Argo," which won the 2012 Oscar for best picture, was about a daring escape of six U.S. diplomats from Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis. Now imagine the…

Suitable for elementary level students, this study unit helps increase students' comprehension of the risks involved in a black person's flight from slavery and of Harriet Tubman's success in leading more than 300 slaves to freedom via the Underground Railroad. Five activity suggestions are followed by a reading on the life of Harriet Tubman.…

This article presents a survey designed to investigate what young people know about history. The survey was administered to 2,000 high school juniors and seniors across all 50 states. The students were asked to "jot down the names of the most famous Americans in history," with the caveat that they could not include U.S. Presidents or First Ladies.…

This guide presents biographies of the following women: Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Queen Liliuokalani, Amelia Earhart, Maria Tallchief, and Sonia Manzano. The use of biographies as history provides historical information and role models in a form comprehensible to young students. The personal history booklet that concludes this document…

This book offers a series of lesson plans and resources for teaching young learners (K-3) about heroines in U.S. history. The book offers general guidelines for presentation of the materials as well as specific suggestions for individual lessons. Each lesson focuses on a particular historical figure and includes a biography, a lesson plan outline,…

Designed to dramatize constitutional issues in the history of Rensselaer County, New York, the struggle for women's rights is the focus of this play that is intended for fourth grade students as part of their local history curriculum. The play has four objectives: to enable students to understand the meaning of inequality, to show how the lives of…

Part of the National Women's History Project funded to promote the multi-cultural study of women in history, this unit will help kindergarten students learn about the contributions that women have made to U.S. society. The developers believe that equality cannot be achieved until equality is expected and until the contributions of all women are…

Designed for elementary and secondary level use, the ideas, materials, and resources in this guide are intended to facilitate teachers' first efforts at expanding the study of women in U.S. history. The cross-cultural guide provides introductory information and suggestions to help develop classroom observances for the National Women's History Week…

This collection for children tells the stories of 16 African Americans who helped make America what it is today. African Americans can take pride in the heritage of these contributors to society. Biographies are given for the following: (1) Sojourner Truth, preacher and abolitionist; (2) Frederick Douglass, abolitionist; (3) Harriet Tubman, leader…

This booklet contains selected background materials, biographical information, anecdotes, and statements documenting contributions made by blacks to American history. Objectives are to call attention to information about blacks which has been systematically excluded from United States history books and to help people understand the life, heritage,…

Readers Theater is a presentation by two or more participants who read from scripts and interpret a literary work in such a way that the audience imaginatively sense characterization, setting, and action. Traditionally, the primary focus of readers theater is on an effective reading of the script, not on a dramatic presentation. The scripts in…

This resource is designed to enhance learning about topics in United States history. The reproducible time lines are easy to use and is designed to encourage students to research other dates and events of the era under study. Suggestions are given for classroom use. The introduction has instructional subjects, such as: "12 Great Ways To Use…