Students will learn about slavery, slave life and the Underground Railroad in this OurStory module. OurStory is a series of modules designed by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of objects from the Mu

In this activity, students will analyze images of tools that were used on rice plantations to determine each tool's purpose. These objects can tell us a great deal about slavery and the lives of the slaves who worked on rice plantations. It is included in an OurStory module entitled Slave Lif

In this post, readers will discover the man and the reasoning behind what is now Black History Month, observed around the country every February.  Dr. Carter G. Woodson spent my of the early decades of the 20th century promoting the study and seriousness of African American histor

In this post, students will learn about Celia Cruz's life, music, and impact on Caribbean and Latino immigrants in America. In a career that spanned six decades and took her from Cuba to the United States, Cruz became known around the world for her piercing and powerful voice and larger-than

This post helps teachers understand how to both memorialize September 11 and contextualize the history of the day through five essential questions. Targeted toward secondary students, the questions can help teachers and students compare aspects of September 11 to other events in American his

Explore the role of squash in early American history, beyond its common use as fall decor. As a natively grown vegetable cultivated by the Wampanoag Indians, squash holds a special place in American history. There are dozens of squash varieties, ranging in shape, size, and color. Squash have