Smithsonian's History Explorer Resources Related To "Preparing for the Oath: Famous Citizens"

Drafting the Declaration: The Jefferson Desk and the Declaration of Independence

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:29:44 GMT

This teacher resource challenges students to think about the Jefferson desk and the Declaration of Independence as objects that are valuable sources of historical information. It includes a preliminary activity intended to introduce students to doing history with objects and lesson plans focusing on the Jefferson Desk and the Declaration of Independence. Also included are annotated links to other online resources that are related to the Revolution, Thomas Jefferson, and the Declaration of Independence.

This resource is from The Object of History, a cooperative project between the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History and George Mason University's Center for History and New Media.

General George Washington, Military Leader

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:35:34 GMT

Use artifacts and a historical letter to discuss George Washington’s leadership during the War of Independence and the qualities of great leaders. This lesson plan, which includes background information, full color primary sources, and a transcript of a letter about George Washington, was produced to accompany the exhibition The Price of Freedom: Americans at War, by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life Homepage

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 20:23:58 GMT

This online exhibition commemorates the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. The website covers each major period of Lincoln's private and public life, especially his years in Washington when he made the crucial decisions that ended slavery and preserved the nation. Also included are the artifacts of Lincoln's assassination-his top hat, the prison hoods of the conspirators, and other sobering reminders of this tragic story.

Winning the Vote for Women

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:50:48 GMT

For more than a century, women in the United States struggled to obtain the right to vote. In 1920, the suffrage movement finally achieved victory with the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution. By using this OurStory module, children and adults can enjoy exploring the history of the women's suffrage movement and women's role in civic life today. Focused on actively reading Mama Went to Jail for the Vote, a historical fiction picture book about the women's suffrage movement, this module also includes links to a hands-on activity, field trip, object-based learning experience, and technology exploration.

Stories of Freedom & Justice: Learning Resources

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:07:52 GMT

With the right resources, learners of any age can engage with the topics of nonviolence and civil rights. This webpage is a gateway to lesson plans, videos, family activities, and instructional media related to the nonviolent civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. The content within these resources will help students build familiarity with the civil rights movement and encourage them to think critically about civil rights in the past and today.

Featured resources include videos and a teacher guide of the Museum's award-winning Join the Student Sit-Ins program, literacy-based family activities on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the student sit-ins in Greensboro, North Carolina, and an archived webcast of an oral history of the three surviving members of the Greensboro Four.

Preparing for the Oath: Symbols & Holidays

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 10:46:56 GMT

Discover America’s key symbols and holidays through short videos, mini-activities, and practice questions in this segment of Preparing for the Oath: U.S. History and Civics for Citizenship. The seven questions included in this segment cover topics such as national holidays, the American flag, the national anthem, and the Statue of Liberty.

This site was designed with the needs of recent immigrants in mind. It is written at a “low-intermediate” ESL level.