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

Jamestown, Québec, Santa Fe: Three North American Beginnings

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:17:24 GMT

Students will learn about the virtually simultaneous introduction of English, French, and Spanish culture to this vast area and tells the stories of Native and European societies through 1700. Downloadable PDFs are included to relate the themes addressed in the exhibition to standards of learning. This website explores the international origins of the societies of Canada and the United States and commemorates the 400th anniversary of three lasting settlements in Jamestown, Québec, and Santa Fe.

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.

Vote: The Machinery of Democracy Homepage

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:09:00 GMT

In this online exhibition, students will explore the history of voting methods in the United States, study how ballots and voting systems have evolved over the years as a response to political, social, and technological change, transforming the ways in which Americans vote. The exhibit includes sections on paper ballots, reform, the gear & lever voting machine, Florida 2000, and present and future ballots.

Dear Mr. President

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 15:13:56 GMT

In this activity, students will analyze the letter Grace Bedell wrote to President Abraham Lincoln, then write and send their own letters to the president of the United States. This activity is included in an Ourstory module entitled A Letter to Abraham Lincoln. OurStory is a series of modules designed to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of objects from the Museum's vast collections, quality children's literature, and engaging hands-on activities. Ideal for afterschool use, OurStory resources will allow students to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom.

History of Voting in the United States: Create a Virtual Exhibit

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 15:40:28 GMT

This activity challenges students to think about the 1898 Standard Voting Machine and the democratization of the voting process in the United States. It includes a preliminary activity intended to introduce students to doing history with objects and three lesson plans focused on the history of voting in the United States. Also included are annotated links to other online resources that are related to voting and the extension of voting rights to women and African-Americans.

This resource is included in 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.

Preparing for the Oath: Responsibilities

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 10:45:54 GMT

Explore the civic responsibilities of Americans through short videos, mini-activities, and practice questions in this segment of Preparing for the Oath: U.S. History and Civics for Citizenship. The four questions included in this segment cover taxes, selective service, jury duty, and the Naturalization Oath.

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