Lesson Plans
Whiskey Rebels: Champions of the Common Man or Treasonous Traitors?
Students will analyze primary sources to investigate the causes of the Whiskey Rebellion in 1791-1794 and consider if the protest actions of the rebels were protected by the 1st amendment as well as if the federal government treated the rebels justly according to the 6th and 8th amendments. Next, students will rewrite a textbook description of this historical event to more accurately reflect multiple perspectives that they learned about through their analyses of primary sources. Then students will select a person from their neighborhood, city, or state that they think deserves a historic monument and create a persuasive proposal advocating for that.
African American Monument
Students review scenes from African American history through analysis of a poster created as a type of monument. After, students create a brief sketch and a write caption for a scene from recent times and explain why they feel the scene is an important addition to the poster.
Pulling Down the Statue
Students analyze, then compare and contrast primary source images to investigate the historical removal of a monument. Next students read articles to to investigate contemporary events related to statue removals, then write an op-ed article that links their study of the past to the present situation.
The Art of Tribute
What can you learn about people by analyzing statues created to memorialize them? Who is worthy of a monument? Students consider these questions and more as they analyze primary sources. After, students research and evaluate the building of historical statues and monuments in the United States. Students then either create a drawing or small prototype of a statue of someone to be installed in the National Garden of American Heroes or write a short op-ed against the construction of the National Garden of American Heroes, sharing their work with their congressional representative.
Monumental Men
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt made significant contributions to the United States. Through the lens of both primary and secondary sources, students learn about the characters and contributions of these presidents and determine for themselves the qualities and accomplishments that make someone, including themselves, worthy of a lasting tribute. The lesson also includes extension activities for ELA, math, science, and music connections.