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Chamizal National Memorial sits on land that once belonged to Mexico. What is now a park was once the focus of a century-long border dispute that began when the Rio Grande River changed course. In 1963, a treaty ended that standoff and three years later this park was created as a monument to the friendship between the U.S. and Mexico and the culture we share.

In this lesson, students explore a variety of documents highlighting various issues and perspectives that led to the Cold War and address the question: Who was primarily responsible for the Cold War, the United States or the Soviet Union? Students will read and analyze four primary documents about the Cold War including excerpts from Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech and the Truman Doctrine, to answer the essential question. 

The website includes lesson plans, PowerPoint presentations, primary source documents, and student graphic organizers. Teachers will need to create a free account to access the materials. 

In this interactive game from iCivics, students will decide a tough case while learning about what jurors discuss in the deliberation room. Students will choose from different civil cases, analyze evidence, weigh testimony, and use the right arguments to reach a fair and impartial verdict. This game can be played during a lesson on the responsibilities of citizens for reinforcement or after as an assessment. The game can be played in a whole group or individually.

You will need to create a free account in order to access some of the content on this site.

In this video from PBSLearningMedia, explore Alaska Native history and culture using the 11-minute story "Grandpa's Drum" in this episode from the PBS KIDS series MOLLY OF DENALI™. (Move the cursor over the video progress bar to locate the story at 01:00.) An old photograph sends Molly and friend Tooey on a mission to find out why Grandpa Nat no longer sings or plays his drum. As they uncover Grandpa's past, using visual clues and the internet, they understand more about their own heritage and the importance of cultural identity. As students explore the importance of diverse cultures and honoring traditions, as well as Alaska Native lives then and now, they also learn about finding and using informational texts.

John Green explores exactly when Rome went from being the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire. Here's a hint: it had something to do with Julius Caesar, but maybe less than you think. Find out how Caesar came to rule the empire, what led to him getting stabbed 23 times on the floor of the senate, and what happened in the scramble for power after his assassination. John covers Rome's transition from city-state to dominant force in the Mediterranean. While Rome's expansion took hundreds of years, he explains it in just under 12 minutes. The senate, the people, Rome, the caesarian section, the Julian calendar, and our old friend Pompey all make appearances, but NOT the Caesar Salad, as Julius had nothing to do with it.

**Sensitive: This resource contains material that may be sensitive for some students. Teachers should exercise discretion in evaluating whether this resource is suitable for their class.

John Green teaches you about Sub-Saharan Africa! So, what exactly was going on there? It turns out, it was a lot of trade, converting to Islam, visits from Ibn Battuta, trade, beautiful women, trade, some impressive architecture, and several empires. John not only covers the West African Malian Empire, which is the one Mansa Musa ruled, but he discusses the Ghana Empire and even gets over to East Africa as well to discuss the trade-based city-states of Mogadishu, Mombasa, and Zanzibar. In addition to all this, John considers emigrating to Canada.

This is a series of lessons focusing on the Civil Rights Movement. The lessons include photographs depicting images of the Jim Crow laws. Students will take a closer look at the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments of the United States Constitution and at court cases that brought about changes during the Civil Rights Movement. Be sure to click "Read More" at the top of the collection to view the lesson that can be used with this collection.

This is a video from Khan Academy which gives an overview of the Byzantine Empire under its greatest strength under Justinian and then eventual slow decline over the next 900 years. Code of Justinian, Hagia Sophia, Empress Theodora's role in putting down the Nika Riots. This video can be used to introduce a lesson on the Byzantine Empire and Emperor Justinian.  This video is 8 minutes 51 seconds in length.

In this video from PBSLearningMedia, students see how Scarcity Cat learns to set the price for her stinky cheese. If she prices too low, demand will be too high. If she prices too high, demand will be too low.

Craig Benzine teaches you about the United States Congress, why it's bicameral, and what bicameral means. Learn what the senate and house of representatives are for, some of the history of the institutions, and just how you can become a representative. It's not that easy.

This collection includes photographs and flyers from the Progressive Era. Photos depict the "modern woman", consumer goods from the Era, and political candidates.

This video from Khan Academy is an overview of the Cold War which was a period of increased tensions and competition for global influence between the United States that lasted from approximately 1945 until 1991. Tensions increased in the aftermath of World War II when the United States dropped the atom bomb and Russian forces took over Eastern Europe. During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union never directly attacked one another but instead fought proxy wars in order to repel or spread communism, respectively. This video can be played to introduce a lesson on the Cold War. The video is 11 minutes and 57 seconds in length.

In this lesson from iCivics, students learn about the different forms of government that exist, including democracy, autocracy, oligarchy, and others. They compare and contrast these forms, and they look at real-life examples in the world today.  

This week we introduce sociology’s three major theoretical paradigms, and some of the advantages and disadvantages of each paradigm.

In this activity, students are challenged to discover why Mrs. Pickersgill sewed the original Star-Spangled Banner so large. Students will measure and mark off the dimensions with strings and then create a "human" flag using as many students as needed.  Students can research information and photos of the Star-Spangled Banner at the following link included in the activity: https://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/. 

This video from Khan Academy provides an overview of Federalism in the United States including exclusive and concurrent federal and state powers. This video can be used to introduce a lesson on Federalism.  It is 6 minutes and 3 seconds in length.

In this video, students learn about Benjamin Franklin.  What do the light bulb, the post office, the lightning rod, the Constitution, and the modern fire department have in common? They were all invented by Ben Franklin. He was the genius behind most of modern-day life and technology. Amazing, isn't it?

This lesson looks at the legacy of George Washington, perhaps the most influential leader in the creation of the American nation. Through his achievements as commander-in-chief during the Revolution, in support of the drafting and ratification of the Constitution, and as the first president, Washington was instrumental in transforming the ideals of the Revolution into reality. His career as a soldier, revolutionary, constitution-maker, and chief executive of a new nation demanded a range of skills and talents with few precedents in history.

When students have completed this lesson, they will be able to evaluate, take, and defend a position on the contributions of the "Father of His Country" to the nation's traditions of constitutional government and citizenship.

This video from the Daily Dose provides a 3-minute micro-learning film on the fall of the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Empire was Constantine I's extension of the Roman Empire until its overzealous military exhausted resources and economic conditions weakened the political environment, leading to the fall of the Byzantine Empire.

In this learning activity, students explore the First Thanksgiving and focus on the declining relationship between the European settlers and the Native Americans. Additional resources for this learning activity can be found by clicking on Download PDF or DOC.

In this interactive activity, students will be led through steps to tell time using a calendar. There are teaching activities as well as practice activities available. A handout that reviews the steps taught during the interactive is available to be printed.  After utilizing this resource, the students can complete the short quiz to assess their understanding.

This clip provides a succinct overview of the founding of the 13 original U.S. colonies.

This clip explains the history behind the holiday known as Cinco de Mayo and dispels misconceptions that the holiday celebrates Mexican independence.

In this lesson, students watch a video and examine a collection of primary sources and curator interviews to gather information on the history of voting rights in the United States. Students use the information they gather to create a virtual exhibit. Additional voting resources and links are included.

In this video from PBSLearningMedia, John Green teaches students about the beginnings of the American Revolution. John argues that the Seven Years War, which is often called the French and Indian War in the US, laid a lot of the groundwork for the Revolution. Other stuff was going on in the colonies in the 18th century that primed the people for revolution. One was the Great Awakening. The religious revival was sweeping the country, introducing new ideas about religion and how it should be practiced. At the same time, thinkers like John Locke were rethinking the relationship between rulers and the ruled. So in this highly charged atmosphere, you can just imagine what would happen if the crown started trying to exert more control over the colonies.  This video can be used when teaching students about the role of essential documents in the establishment of colonial governments, including the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, and the Mayflower Compact

This clip from the Smithsonian Channel discusses the Trail of Tears and how it got its name. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 resulted in the forced relocation of over 15,000 Cherokee people--a third of whom died during the journey to Oklahoma.

This free, interactive website helps middle and high school-aged students explore the effects of the Tennessee Valley Authority during the Great Depression and New Deal Era. The website includes videos, photographs, handouts, primary resources, and more. 

This lesson provides information on the impact that the Tennessee Valley Authority had on the Tennessee Valley region during the Great Depression. Lesson plans are provided on the website including introductory activities and extension activities. Lesson plan powerpoints are also available. Full-length videos are provided on the website with video response questions as well as interactive graphics for student use.