Overview
At Anti-textbook.org, we have curated the best active learning lesson plans for American History Teachers. For over a year, we’ve been sifting through the resources on amazing free sites like Stanford History Education Group (S.H.E.G.), Gilder Lehrman, and Facing History and Ourselves. We’ve picked the best activities and given you a brief description. You could skim through these sites yourself and read each of the 15-page activity descriptions. Or you can let us do the work of searching and synthesizing so that you can get some sleep.
Because your teaching might be remote or in-person or both, we’ve added a description of the remote readiness of each lesson. In many lessons, compelling primary sources from multiple perspectives have been edited for length and combined with an activity, often times a group activity. For remote students, teachers can easily post or email a link to the primary sources and/or the full activity. Students can work together via phone or video conferencing to complete the assignment or do it themselves. When they’re done, they can post the completed assignment to your LMS or email it to you. And in many cases, the very same lesson can be printed and completed in class.
Each box below contains a lesson. The icons at the top of each box tell you if the lesson contains primary sources, secondary sources, research, group work, a writing assignment, maps, videos, or games. The description tells you which free site the lesson comes from, what grade level it is intended for, how much class time it will take, and how much reading is required. Click the blue button at the bottom of each box for more information and the ability to bookmark the lesson to your profile.
Lessons on this page are about British Colonies in America. We have divided the Activities into 3 categories, and there’s a heading at the end of every page for OER Textbooks and Primary Source centers:
Jamestown, Virginia, and Southern Colonies
Jamestown Song
From: Mr. Betts
Check out Mr. Betts song about the Jamestown colony set to Walk the Moon's "Shut Up and Dance." It's super catchy and funny, and it helps students remember important stuff! In fact, you won't be able to forget the lyrics, even when you try. The YouTube video has one ad before the video begins.
Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College)
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: 3 min
Length of Reading: None
Lesson Identifier: 4A
Examining Passenger Lists:
Virginia vs New England
From: Stanford History Education Group (SHEG)
Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period or Less
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
Our Summary of:
Examining Passenger Lists
Have students compare a list of passengers headed to Virginia with another list of people headed to New England. They fill out a graphic organizer and answer a couple of questions in pairs or groups.
You will need to sign up and log in with SHEG, but everything is free.
Lesson Identifier: 4B
Virginia Colony
From: Gilder Lehrman
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period or Less
Length of Reading: Pages
Our Summary of
The Virginia Colony
Students read 3 primary sources on the starving time, the Virginia Company's instructions to settlers, and the supplies the settlers were encouraged to bring (1-4 pages each). Students then answer 3 overarching questions about the colony.
You'll need to log-on. Accounts are free for K-12 educators and cost $25/yr for everyone else.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your ProfileLesson Identifier: 4C
John Smith and Pocahontas
From: Stanford History Education Group (SHEG)
Grade Level: (MS), (HS)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period or Less
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
Our Summary of
Pocahontas
:
Did Pocahontas really rescue John Smith? Play the clip of the rescue from the animated movie; you might find this on YouTube. Then read 2 very short accounts from the actual John Smith. Both describe his capture and encounter with Powhatan (Pocahontas's father). But the accounts have some key differences. Students fill in the graphic organizers with a partner.
Teachers have the option to assign short documents on what a historian said about each account in the longer version of this lesson.
You will need to sign up and log in with SHEG, but everything is free.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your ProfileLesson Identifier: 4D
We Have a Story to Tell:
Native Peoples of the Chesapeake Region
From: The Smithsonian's
Native Knowledge 360°
Grade Level: (MS), HS
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 2-3 class periods for all activities
Length of Reading: Chapter
Our Summary of
We Have a Story to Tell: Native Peoples of the Chesapeake Region
Students do a map activity. They then read a chapter on Native peoples in the Chesapeake, answer questions, and discuss. Finally, each of 3 groups is assigned a topic. They read 2 pages on that topic and then explain it to their classmates.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your ProfileLesson Identifier: 4E
Hero or Traitor?
HSI: Bacon's Rebellion
From: Historical Scene Investigation (H.S.I)
Grade Level: HS, College
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: 1-2 class periods for all activities
Length of Reading: None
Our Summary of
HSI: Bacon's Rebellion:
This one makes teaching easy. Video clips show an actor in period-specific clothing portraying Elizabeth Bacon, Nathaniel Bacon's wife, as she describes Bacon's Rebellion. Each video is 2-3 minutes long; there are 12 videos. Videos need to be downloaded from the website.
Teachers can choose to have students discuss whether Bacon was a hero or traitor, answer the provided questions, and/or fill out the provided chart in partners.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your ProfileLesson Identifier: 4F
Inventing
Black and White:
Bacon's Rebellion
From: Facing History and Ourselves
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: 1-2 Class Periods
Length of Reading: Page
Our Summary of:
Inventing Black and White
Check out this short reading and questions surrounding race and Bacon's Rebellion. If you log-in, there's a link to a 1-hour documentary on the left side of the screen that you can pair with the reading. The film is called Race: The Power of an Illusion (Episode 2: "The Story We Tell").
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your ProfileLesson Identifier: 4G
Drawing the Color Line:
How was the Idea of Race Constructed?
From: A People's History of the United States, History is a Weapon, and Zinn Education Project
Colonial elites created laws to keep poor white indentured servants, blacks, and Indians apart. Read about it in
Chapter 2: "Drawing the Color Line" from A People's History of the United States. This chapter from Howard Zinn's book is made available for free online by History is a Weapon.
The Color Line activity
at Zinn Education Project goes with this chapter.
Using a list of questions (see last page of download), students first predict laws that would keep these parties apart. Then they check their answers by reading the chapter mentioned in the previous paragraph.
Grade Level: (HS), (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period if reading is done for homework
Length of Reading: Chapter
Lesson Identifier: 4H
Hit the Library for This Jamestown Documentary
From: National Geographic
The documentary Nightmare in Jamestown provides an overview of the settlement of Jamestown and what went wrong there. It includes historical reenactments and CSI-style excavation of archeological evidence.
Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College)
Remote Ready: With Films on Demand
Time: 51 min
Length of Reading: None
Find it at your local library. Or, if your local library (college or community college library) subscribes to the Films on Demand database, you may be able to watch it online with your library card.
Here's a worksheet for yout students to fill out as they watch.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile
Lesson Identifier: 4I
Jamestown Museum Resources
The Jamestown Settlement & American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
Even if you don't visit the museum in person, you can check out lots of cool, short videos with historical reenactors.
Lesson Identifier: 4J
Antonio a Slave: A Story of Diminishing Progress from Father to Son
From: Historical Scene Investigation (H.S.I)
Grade Level: (HS), (College)
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: 2-3 class periods
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
Our Summary of:
HSI: Antonio a Slave
Analyze how slavery changed overtime in Virginia through the story of one family of African Americans, sections of 10 primary source laws on slavery in Virginia from 1639-1705, and brief historian answers to questions about slavery (about 16 pages total). Students attempt to answer an overarching questions.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your ProfileLesson Identifier: 4M
Interactive, Online Jamestown Game
From: History Globe
Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College)
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: 10 min per game
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
Our Summary of:
The Jamestown Online Adventure
Unfortunately, Jamestown Online Adventure's site is not secure. Use at your own risk. As would-be Jamestown settlers, students choose from options: where to settle, what kind of housing to build, what to plant, etc. They can consult the company charter, a colonist, or a Native American. They are then rated on how their settlement might have fared.
Students will learn the most if they consult the charter, a colonist, or a Native American. They should play the game a couple of times through to see how different settlements fare. Still, one game will not take long (maybe 10 min).
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your ProfileLesson Identifier: 4K
Jamestown in the News!
Check out this National Geographic Magazine article "It was America's First English Colony. Then it was gone" about some newer evidence on the lost colony of Roanoke.
Also check out this short article "Extreme Droughts Played Major Role In Tragedies At Jamestown, 'Lost Colony'" from Science Daily
Lesson Identifier: 4L
Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay, and New England
Examining Passenger Lists:
Virginia vs New England
From: Stanford History Education Group (SHEG)
Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period or Less
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
Our Summary of:
Examining Passenger Lists
Have students compare a list of passengers headed to Virginia with another list of people headed to New England. They fill out a graphic organizer and answer a couple of questions in pairs or groups.
You will need to sign up and log in with SHEG, but everything is free.
Lesson Identifier: 4N
Hit the Library for this Plymouth Documentary
From: History Channel
Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower provides an overview of the Pilgrim's voyage and settlement. It uses historical re-enactors and commentary from historical experts to tell its story.
Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College)
Remote Ready: No
Time: 3 hrs (see shorter clip recommended below)
Length of Reading: None
At 3 hours long, the film has time to examine in depth the religious situation in England. I usually skip that part and start at the segment where the Pilgrims land ("Scouts on Land" at the 1 hr 29 min mark).
Have students fill out this worksheet while watching the film.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile
Lesson Identifier: 4O
King Phillip's War
From: Stanford History Education Group (SHEG)
Examine 3 primary sources (one page each with large print) which shine light on what caused King Phillip's War. Then fill in the graphic organizers.
Grade Level: (MS), (HS),
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period or less
Length of Reading: Pages
Our Summary of:
King Phillip's War
You will need to sign up and log in with SHEG, but everything is free.
Lesson Identifier: 4P
Thanksgiving Mourning
From: Teaching Tolerance
Read 2 short secondary sources by modern day Native American people on what Thanksgiving means to them. Discuss with a partner and then with the class.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile
Grade Level: MS, HS,
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period or less
Length of Reading: Pages
Our Summary of:
Thanksgiving Mourning
Lesson Identifier: 4Q
Salem Witch Trials Archive
Our Summary of:
They've got court documents, maps, and images.
Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project.
Lesson Identifier: 4R
Hit the Library for This Salem Witch Trials Documentary
From: History Channel
In Search of History: Salem Witch Trials, from the History Channel, provides an overview of concerns about witchcraft, the accused girls' actions, and the trials themselves.
Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College)
Ready: with Films on Demand
Time: 50 min
Length of Reading: None
Find it at your local library. Or if your local library (college or community college library) subscribes to the Films on Demand database, you may be able to watch it online with your library card.
Lesson Identifier: 4S
Who's a Salem Witch?
Informal Game
Our Summary: The teacher hands out slips of paper (or goes around the room and whispers) indicating whether each individual student is a witch or not. Students won't know which of their classmates are witches, but they are tasked with guessing.
They must develop a method for deciding if classmates are witches and, to the best of their abilities, form the largest group possible that does not consist of any witches. The biggest group wins, but if a witch is ultimately found in a group, that group will lose the game. The irony is, of course, that the teacher has not made anyone a witch.
Grade Level: MS, HS
Remote Ready: No
Time: 30 min or less
Length of Reading: None
Lesson Identifier: 4T
All Colonies
Early Contacts:
Native American and European Women
From: Gilder Lehrman
Fave! 3 Activities. In the first, students read short primary sources about European and Native American women to determine what rights they had. In the second activity, half the
class reads lengthy primary and secondary sources about particular white women while the other half of the class reads primary and secondary sources about white women held captive by Native Americans. Each half teaches the other, and the class writes a textbook section. In the third activity, the class reads excerpts of European accounts of Native American women and discusses.
You'll need to log-on to Gilder Lehrman. Accounts are free for K-12 educators and cost $25/yr for everyone else.
Grade Level: HS, College
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 3- 5 class periods if you assign readings as Homework. More if you don't.
Length of Reading: Chapters
Our Summary of:
Early Contacts: Native American and European Women in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries
Lesson Identifier: 4X
Slave Voyages
From: Slavevoyages.org
Our Summary: Slavevoyages.org has amazing resources, including databases on the Trans-Atlantic and Intra-America slave trades, maps, images, and lesson plans.
Grade Level: MS, HS, College
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: Depends upon which lesson(s) you choose
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
Watch the
Slave Ship in 3D Video,
a 4 1/2 minute film, which shows a digital recreation of a slave ship voyage.
Then either:
-
Try Researching the Transatlantic Slave Trade, a database scavenger hunt from slavevoyages.org. It acquaints your students both with the slave trade and database searching skills.
-
Check out Slave Voyages Lesson Plans here. Each lesson plan has an abstract you can read before downloading it.
-
Check out these slave trade maps on slavevoyages.org and have students answer these questions from Cheryll Cody, featured on the AHA website.
Lesson Identifier: 4U
An Early History of Slavery (African and Indigenous)
From: Teaching Tolerance, Teaching Hard History
Grade Level: MS, HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: Depends Upon Lesson
Length of Reading: Pages
Our Summary of:
Teaching Hard History Framework
Follow the link (above), and scroll to the ship artwork and the "Pre-Colonial and Colonial Era (to 1763)" Heading. And then choose the Summary Objective that most interest you. You will be linked to a short list of wonderful online resources and their descriptions. We do NOT recommend clicking on the red "DOWNLOAD THE 6-12 FRAMEWORK" icon; it shows the same online resources, but its links are broken.
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your ProfileLesson Identifier: 4T
13 Colonies Song
From: Parlay Universe
Check out the 3 min video, Settlement of the 13 Colonies, for a fun hip-hop summary of the economies of the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies.
Then answer a couple questions (provided), and then respond to 2 classmates' answers.
Grade Level: MS, HS
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: Depends upon which lesson(s) you choose
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
Lesson Identifier: 4V
Early Encounters between Native Americans and Europeans
From: Gilder Lehrman
12 primary sources (including 7 docs, 4 drawings, and 1 chart) mostly on European perceptions of Native Americans, although one doc contains the perceptions of a Native American man observing Europeans. The primary source documents are a half page to 1.5 pages each. Students read the docs in groups then answer questions
You'll need to log-on to Gilder Lehrman. Accounts are free for K-12 educators and cost $25/yr for everyone else.
Grade Level: HS, (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 2 Class Periods for All Docs and Questions
Activities
Length of Reading: Pages
Our Summary of:
Early Encounters between Native Americans and Europeans
Lesson Identifier: 4W
Which Colony's Which?
From: Kahoot or Quizlet
Quiz your students on the colonies. Offer a piece of information from one colony and then ask which colony it is. Kahoot or Quizlet might be a good platform here. If there's a pre-existing Kahoot or Quizlet set of questions that you use, please tell us about it by first clicking on the button below.
Grade Level: MS, HS, College
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: 20 min
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
Lesson Identifier: 4AA
Democracy in Early America: Servitude and the Treatment of Native Americans and Africans
From: Gilder Lehrman
3 Day Activity. Students are divided into 5 groups. Each group is assigned one of the following topics: Indentured Servants, Native Americans, African Americans, Religion, or Early Signs of Democracy. Students read a number of lengthy, predetermined primary and secondary sources on their topics (mostly secondary sources). Each group discuss a the most important facts in their readings in order to create a museum exhibit on their subject. Each group presents to classmates. Finally, each students writes an essay or op-ed answering the 2 overarching questions.
You'll need to log-on. Accounts are free for K-12 educators and cost $25/yr for everyone else.
Grade Level: HS, College
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: At least 3 class periods if you assign readings as Homework. More if you don't.
Length of Reading: Chapters
Our Summary of:
Democracy in Early America: Servitude and the Treatment of Native Americans and Africans prior to 1740
Lesson Identifier: 4Y
Have Students do a
One Pager (graphic organizer) on the Colonies!
From: Cult of Pedagogy
Help your students remember the colonies and keep their thoughts organized by making a one pager. How about a chart that highlights the similarities and differences between each colony?
Grade Level: MS, HS, College
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: 30 min.
Length of Reading: None
More Info, Reviews, Bookmark it to Your Profile
Lesson Identifier: 4Z
French and Indian War (7 Years War)
From: Gilder Lehrman
There are 4 short primary sources spread across 3 separate lessons. But each involves reading the primary source(s), answering questions, and/or filling out the graphic organizer(s). The primary sources are bite-sized and excellent; you get the perspective of Native Americans and colonists. You'll need to log-on. Accounts are free for K-12 educators and cost $25/yr for everyone else.
Grade Level: HS, College
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: Depends upon which lesson(s) you choose
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
Our Summary of:
The French and Indian War
Lesson Identifier: 4AB
General
(OER Textbooks, Individual Primary Sources)
OER Textbooks
American Yawp
U.S. History Textbook
From:
American Yawp:
This excellent textbook, which was written and edited by history professors and published by the Stanford University Press, is available online for FREE. It includes a FREE primary source reader, beautiful images, and footnotes (which are always good as an example to show students how to cite their own research). The only issue is that the website is not secure. You do not, however, input any personal information, not even a log on.
A Massively Collaborative Open
U.S. History Textbook
Grade Level: HS, College
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: Quite a bit!
Length of Reading: Chapters
Lesson Identifier: 4AC
Openstax
U.S. History Textbook
From: Openstax
The good people at Rice University, with several charitable organizations, have made this American History Textbook, written by legit history professors, available online for FREE.
Check out the "Instructor Resources" tab. You can access slides, test questions, and even plug the book into your Canvas or Blackboard LMS.
Grade Level: HS, College
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: Quite a bit!
Length of Reading: Chapters
Chapter 3: "Creating New Social Orders: Colonial Societies 1500-1700"
Lesson Identifier: 4AD
Openstax
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
U.S. History Textbook
From: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness and the Bill of Rights Institute
Check out Openstax latest endeavor, in partnership with the Bill of Rights Institute. This book is intended for Advanced Placement (A.P.) U.S. History courses. You can elect to incorporate online courseware with the book for an additional per student fee.
Grade Level: Designed for A.P. US History
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: Quite a bit!
Length of Reading: Chapters
Lesson Identifier: 4AD
MI Open Book Project
United States History Textbook
Revolution Through Reconstruction
From: Michigan Open Book Project
This book was created by the Michigan Open Book Project. In Michigan, the entirety of US History is divided across several grades. And there's a different book for each section of the course, intended for a different age group.
The 5th grade edition, United States History:
Beginnings Through Revolution, starts with early American History and goes through the American Revolution.
The 8th grade edition, Revolution Through Reconstruction, Starts with the American Revolution and, obviously, ends with Reconstruction.
The High School edition, Reconstruction to Today ends the trilogy.
Because these books are written by the teachers of the grades they are intended for, the language they use and subjects they broach are age appropriate and concise. The chapters are inquiry based; they start with questions. And there are links to video explanations and subjects of interest within the text. Depending on the apps particular to your device, students may even be able to highlight and take notes on their online or PDF textbook.
Grade Level: MS, HS
Remote Ready: Yes!
Time: Quite a bit!
Length of Reading: Chapters
Lesson Identifier: 4AE
Individual Primary Source Resources
Primary Sources at Teaching American History
We would recommend the above mentioned primary source sets from Stanford History Education Group and Gilder Lehrman. They're pre-edited for length, paired with other relevant primary sources, and many already have activities or questions for students to answer.
But if you need primary sources for another purpose, check out
primary sources from the Teaching American History site. They are sorted first by era and then by category. Plus, each one has an introductory description AND study questions at the end! If you sign up for a free account, you can put documents together to create your own collections.
Lesson Identifier: 4AF
Primary Sources at American History from Revolution to Reconstruction and Beyond
We would recommend the above mentioned primary source sets from Stanford History Education Group and Gilder Lehrman. They're pre-edited for length, paired with other relevant primary sources, and many already have activities or questions for students to answer.
But if you need primary sources for another purpose, check out
primary sources at American History from Revolution to Reconstruction and Beyond provided by the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Choose the appropriate time frame on the left side of the screen. Primary sources are both relevant and bite-sized.
Lesson Identifier: 4AG
Primary Sources From Digital History
We would recommend the above mentioned primary source sets from Stanford History Education Group and Gilder Lehrman. They're pre-edited for length, paired with other relevant primary sources, and many already have activities or questions for students to answer.
But if you need primary sources for another purpose, check out
the
the Digital History
site from the University of Houston, which includes primary sources (click on "Documents" across the top and the appropriate time period on the left) as well as a textbook, quizzes, music, and a variety of other valuable resources, sorted by era.
Lesson Identifier: 4AH
Top Image: photograph taken at Plimouth Plantation in 2011. They’ve recently changed their name to Plimoth and Patuxet. Check them out in person or at https://www.plimoth.org/