Project Based Learning for World & US History

If you didn't already know, both the Students of History World and US History curricula include Project Based Learning (PBL) to use throughout the year. This highly engaging strategy has students taking on real-world roles to investigate topics throughout history.

You can learn more about PBL for both World and US History here on this page.

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Civil War Guided Notes Map

I have found that it helps most of my students to visualize important information. This is especially true with geography and mapping. When we cover the Civil War and important battles in my classes, I use this 2-page interactive notebook page:

After students glue it in, we color the Union, Confederate, and Border States. Then I use a PowerPoint to cover important aspects of each battle and students take notes in the boxes and draw arrows to where the battles took place. This helps them to better understand the geography of the Civil War and how it affected both the North and the South.

In my lesson, we mostly focus on the battles of:

• Ft. Sumter
• Bull Run / Manassas
• Antietam
• Gettysburg

However, we will also briefly cover Shiloh, Chancellorsville, Vicksburg, and Sherman's March to the Sea. You can also see sections of notes on Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and Emancipation Proclamation as well as notes on how life was for soldiers.

My students have often remarked how helpful notes like these are for them!

This lesson plan is included in my Complete American History subscription plan with resources for the entire school year! That's over 600 amazing teaching resources - project based learning, PowerPoints, primary source activities, interactive notebooks - they're all there waiting to be download and used. Join today and you'll never have to worry about planning a lesson again!

Amistad Lesson Plan for American History

This excellent activity for the famous Amistad case is an excellent way to get your students to engage with primary source documents and learn about this fascinating moment in American History!

This download includes a 1-page introduction reading that explains all about the case of the Amistad, from the capture of Africans in Sierra Leone through to the Supreme Court case. There are then 6 excellent primary source documents for your students to analyze. Each includes an actual image of the document along with a typed, easy-to-read transcription of the text. Additionally, each includes a QR code that links to a full-color online high-resolution version of the document. Great for getting your students to put their devices to educational use in class!

Finally, there is a worksheet that students complete based on the documents that can be done in cooperative learning groups or individually.  A brief directions page explains how I use the resource in my classes. An answer key is included as well for your convenience.

You can download this awesome lesson plan here!

Thanks so much for looking!

PS: This lesson plan is also included in my Complete American History subscription plan with resources for the entire school year! That's over 600 amazing teaching resources - project based learning, PowerPoints, primary source activities, interactive notebooks - they're all there waiting to be download and used. Join today and you'll never have to worry about planning a lesson again!