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Treasures of American History: Creativity and Innovation

Treasures of American History: Creativity and Innovation

Grade Range: 5-12
Resource Type(s): Reference Materials
Date Posted: 8/23/2009

In this section of the online exhibition entitled Treasures of American History, students will learn how the creative and innovative genius of Americans has led to the reinvention of daily and business life, the redefinition of popular culture and the creation of artistic masterpieces. A Spanish version of the exhibition is available on the exhibition's homepage.

National Standards

United States History Standards (Grades 5-12)

Era 4: Expansion and Reform (1801-1861)

2: How the industrial revolution, increasing immigration, the rapid expansion of slavery, and the westward movement changed the lives of Americans and led toward regional tensions

Era 6: The Development of the Industrial United States (1870-1900)

1: How the rise of corporations, heavy industry, and mechanized farming transformed the American people

Era 7: The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930)

3: How the United States changed from the end of World War I to the eve of the Great Depression

Era 8: The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945)

3: The causes and course of World War II, the character of the war at home and abroad, and its reshaping of the U.S. role in world affairs

Era 9: Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970s)

3: Domestic policies after World War II

Era 10: Contemporary United States (1968 to the present)

1: Recent developments in foreign and domestic politics

2: Economic, social, and cultural developments in contemporary United States

World History Standards (Grades 5-12)

Era 7: An Age of Revolutions, 1750-1914

2: The causes and consequences of the agricultural and industrial revolutions, 1700-1850

5: Patterns of global change in the era of Western military and economic domination, 1800-1914

Era 8: A Half-Century of Crisis and Achievement, 1900-1945

3: The search for peace and stability in the 1920s and 1930s

Historical Thinking Standards (Grades 5-12)

Historical Thinking Standard 1: Chronological Thinking

1F: Reconstruct patterns of historical succession and duration; explain historical continuity and change.

1G: Compare alternative models for periodization.

Historical Thinking Standard 2: Historical Comprehension

2I: Draw upon the visual, literary, and musical sources.

Historical Thinking Standard 3: Historical Analysis and Interpretation

3D: Draw comparisons across eras and regions in order to define enduring issues.

Historical Thinking Standard 4: Historical Research Capabilities

4B: Obtain historical data from a variety of sources.

Instructional Strategies

Multimedia instruction

Museum education

Thematic approach

Verizon Foundation

Support for Smithsonian's History Explorer is provided by the Verizon Foundation