Additional Teacher Resources - US History

By popular demand, I am sharing additional resources for U.S. History teachers, found below. All of my assignments and activities are student-led, have academic purpose, and require a certain degree of critical thinking. If you are a US History teacher, feel free to use these resources during your lesson planning:

At the start of the 2022-2023, my principal included a photograph of me in her weekly newsletter - I felt honored and, despite how tired I am, am still incredibly blessed to work in a pleasant environment with a supportive network of administrators, veteran teachers, and talented students. Author's Collections.

Muckrakers Worksheet - I usually use this worksheet after a lecture on the Progressive Era Muckrakers. Students read brief biographies on Ida Tarbell, Lincoln Steffens, and Upton Sinclair, among others, and apply their new knowledge on significant reformers to answer several questions. Originally found on the Teachers Pay Teachers website.

Analyzing Booker T. Washington v. W.E.B. DuBois - this is another worksheet that I found online; this assignment gives students an opportunity to look further into the lives of two radically-opposed giants of the early African American Civil Rights Movements (in the Gilded Age/Progressive Era), Washington and DuBois. Additionally, I enjoy discussing with my students the connections to this early crusade with the later movement we see in the 1950s/1960s with MLK Jr. and Malcolm X.

America: The Story Of Us, Heartland - worksheet that is completed by students as they watch this episode of the America: The Story Of Us documentary - this video offers a fantastic survey of westward expansion and industrial boom after the Civil War (commonly known to historians as the Gilded Age).

America: The Story Of Us, Cities - worksheet that is completed by students as they watch this episode of the America: The Story Of Us documentary - this video offers a superb introduction to the Progressive Age, including the Titans of Industry and immigration. I remember watching this fascinating series in my 5th grade classes at Denton Creek Elementary and falling in love with American history - I persuaded my parents to buy me the DVD box set... I am a history nerd! My students also thoroughly enjoy these videos!

Study Of The Titanic/Social Classes - my wife and I are Titanic nerds, and immediately booked our movie tickets when James Cameron announced he was re-releasing his 1997 blockbuster in theaters in 3D/4K - and it was fantastic! The movie's score always gives me goosebumps! Since my APUSH were studying the Gilded Age at the time of the film's re-release, I decided it would be a great idea for us to examine the social class hierarchy on the RMS Titanic. My students watched various clips from the movie, comparing the dress, mannerisms, and customs of both Rose and Jacks' worlds - small group discussions followed.

USA Imperialism Graphic Organizer - this may be completed by students after a lecture on the Spanish-American War and U.S. Imperialism; the worksheet encourages students to understand the big ideas and factors that motivated America to create their own mini empire in the early twentieth century.

Flappers Video Notes - when time permits, I usually show an old, yet interesting documentary on the 1920s flappers and task my students to take video notes; I discuss the evolution of American women dress, mannerisms, and sexuality during the 1920s lectures, and this video is an appropriate resource to show in class that surveys this episode of major societal change.

Major Modern Events Worksheet - since time catches up on us at the end of the academic year, I usually do not have adequate time to discuss the events at the start of the 21st century in detail; therefore, my class and I have a productive yet brief discussion on major modern events (2000 presidential election, 9/11, Iraq invasion, Hurricane Katrina, and the 2008 presidential election - i.e. significant events in George W. Bush and Barack Obama's presidencies). During the discussion, I assign my students this worksheet to fill out.

1970s/1980s/Modern Era Teacher Resources

I am currently wrapping up the TEKS & content in my on-level U.S. History classes - students will take the state STAAR exam next week. Although I have felt that we were rushed for time (the "no school" ice week in February did not help our schedule), I have constantly reviewed the content as well as given many End-Of-Course Exam resources to my students. I strongly believe that my U.S. History students are fully prepared to ace this state exam! I am happy to report that we made it to the historic 2008 presidential election - we covered a lot of content between the end of the Civil War in 1865 and 2008. Below, you will find some of the assignments I created for the final unit of our course (Modern Era) to familiarize my students with the United States' changing role in global affairs at the end of the Cold War and into the new century - teachers, please feel free to use my resources to help you while planning lessons:

Our last unit in the on-level U.S. History course surveys the modern presidents, including Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama...the state curriculum has yet to reach Donald Trump nor Joe Biden. (History)

UGTP Nixon/Ford Questions - students answer the questions while watching the Nixon/Ford segment of Ultimate Guide to the Presidents, episode 8. Video is one of the best teaching tools to streamline content!

UGTP Carter/Reagan Questions - up next... students answer the questions while watching the Carter/Reagan segment of Ultimate Guide to the Presidents, episode 8.

UGTP Modern Presidents Questions - students answer the questions while watching the final segment of Ultimate Guide to the Presidents, episode 8 (surveying the presidencies of Bush Sr., Clinton, Bush Jr., and Obama - essential question: how has the Office of the Presidency changed since the days of Lincoln?).

Carter/Reagan Cartoon Analysis - students closely examine political cartoons of the Carter/Reagan Era and survey the political climate that existed in the nation at the end of the Cold War. Again, I consider political cartoons as useful primary source tools for students to study in order to grasp an understanding of what life was like from a particular era.

CounterCulture/Vietnam Geography Worksheet - in this assignment, students briefly learn about the 1960s and 1970s CounterCulture Movement (aka the Hippies) and the geography of Southeast Asia (the latter part of the worksheet encourages students to acquire new geography skills, which in turn later helps them visualize the conflict in Vietnam and South China Sea).

Examining Watergate Worksheet - this is a reading comprehension assignment, where students read a synopsis of the infamous Watergate Scandal before answering several questions. Students also become familiar with Nixon's response, and ultimately consider how the Watergate Scandal led to public distrust of the Office of the Presidency.

1960s/1970s STAAR Practice - this is a warm-up activity where students may become familiar with STAAR questions and test their knowledge on American politics during the 1960s/1970s.

Vietnam War Review - also, this is a warm-up activity where students have the opportunity to further master content from the Vietnam War Era. I enjoy letting the kids loose for 10-15 minutes and allow them to have those highly-productive conversations before discussing answers/test-taking strategies as a class.

Carter/Reagan Review - a warm-up activity focusing on the presidencies of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. I love content reviews with my students!

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1960s Civil Rights Teacher Resources

In March, I guided my U.S. History students through the significant Civil Rights Movements of the 1950s, 1960s & 1970s. We discussed the importance of the African American civil rights marches throughout the South, which spawned other civil rights campaigns, including Asian Americans, Native Americans, gay Americans, disabled Americans, Hispanic Americans & the elderly. Also, we engaged in provoking chats on the civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr., Betty Friedan, Cesar Chavez, and Malcolm X. At the end of the unit, we reviewed the material and I emphasized the fact that the civil rights movements in the United States never officially ended - the campaigns are active today, most notably the Black Lives Movement and abortion/Planned Parenthood crusades, among others. The resources I have attached below were created by me, and include lecture presentations (which are tied to Texas standards), worksheets, and student-driven (fun) activities. If you are a high school history educator, feel free to use these resources in your class, and let me know how your students responded to each report - enjoy!

In August 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I have a dream" speech, one of the most famous addresses in American history. The March On Washington event attracted some 250,000 people. (History)

Lectures (created by Mr. Chanin, 2023) - each lecture includes content and academic vocabulary that the state requires U.S. History students to be familiar with (Unit 8 of the 11th grade curriculum). Images and embedded videos provide students with a fuller, colorful picture of what happened in the United States at this time. Each lecture has a recap slide at the end, where the teacher may highlight the important parts of that presentation (and allow the students to "connect the dots"). My lectures emphasize content as well as critical thinking/application opportunities. Each lecture (20-30 minutes in duration) was presented on the projector and the students were tasked to answer questions on the content. After the lectures, I reviewed the material with my students and ensured everyone was familiar with the main people, places & events of this unit before moving on.

Segregation in Post-WWII Period - this lecture covers the Jim Crow Laws & methods Southern officials used to suppress the black vote, the Green Book, the NAACP & CORE, Thurgood Marshall, and the 1954 landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education.

The Civil Rights Revolution - this lecture surveys the heart of the African American crusade, including Rosa Parks and the bus boycott, Martin Luther King Jr, freedom riders, sit-ins, Little Rock Nine, Selma, 1963 March on Washington, and LBJ's 1964 Civil Rights Act & 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Redefining Equality: Black Power & Affirmative Action - this lecture covers black ghettos & the Kerner Commission, Malcolm X, black power & Black Panther Party, Afrocentrism (including the hit TV series Roots), and the 1968 Civil Rights Act.

The Widening Struggle - the final lecture in this unit surveys the other civil rights campaigns in America after WWII, including women, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, disabled & gay Americans, and the elderly. In all my classes, I strive to foster a diverse & inclusive atmosphere by discussing histories and viewpoints from every culture in the U.S.A. - our nation's history is not only the story of the white men!

JFK & LBJ - a short presentation on John F. Kennedy & Lyndon B. Johnson, the presidents in the 1960s. It is important for students to become familiar with the White House occupants and politics of this era so that a higher level of content immersion can occur.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Lyndon B. Johnson in the Oval Office, 1964 - despite their tense relationship, the two giant leaders respected one another and jointly vowed to create/sign the biggest pieces of civil rights legislation in history into law. In this unit, I highlighted LBJ's perseverance in social politics & foreshadowed his ultimate political demise via the Vietnam War. (History)

Notes/Assignments (created by Mr. Chanin, 2023) - lecture notes are given to the students prior to the start of each lecture; students then answer each question according to the information in the lecture. The many student-driven assignments in this unit were designed to give students the opportunities to not only become more familiar with the content, but also apply the material to real-life scenarios.

Segregation in Post-WWII Notes - the notes worksheet that pairs with the first lecture.

Civil Rights Revolution Notes - the notes worksheet that pairs well with the second lecture.

Redefining Equality Notes - the notes worksheet that pairs with the third lecture.

Widening Struggle Notes - the notes worksheet that pairs well with the fourth & final lecture

Brown v. Board of Education Cartoon Analysis - I consider political cartoons to be invaluable primary resources to study the past - these "doodles" give us a unique window into how the media and public were feeling about a particular event, person, or topic in time. In this worksheet, students analyze a few political cartoons on the famous 1954 Supreme Court case, and answer questions that require critical-thinking skills. The analysis activity pairs well with the first lecture.

Civil Rights Road Trip Timeline - this is a massive assignment - students create a timeline/roadmap on the events from the African American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s/1960s. Students observe the cause & effect relationships, as well as the dramatic buildup of this great American crusade. This assignment links to the content found in the second lecture.

MLK "I have a dream" Speech Analysis - I enjoy discussing the importance of great speeches in American history; these passionate and timely outbursts illustrate a person's emotions and plans for a brighter future. MLK's "I have a dream" speech is an essential primary resource for students to examine during this unit. In this assignment, students will grasp the sincere gravity of the situation many African Americans found themselves in during the 1960s. The assignment pairs well with the third lecture after students have compared MLK's peaceful marches with Malcolm X's abrasive/direct campaign.

A Farmer's Tale Activity - after students have learned about the various other Civil Rights crusades that were happening across America in the latter-half of the twentieth century, they are tasked to imagine being a Hispanic-American farmer in either California or Texas and document their story (i.e. a journal entry). Students are asked to get creative, and write down everything they do, every person they meet (including Cesar Chavez), and every union/labor organization they join. Students who enjoy writing and using their imagination will love this brief writing activity. This assignment pairs well with the fourth lecture.

Review Presentation #1 & Review Presentation #2 - these may be used as warm-up activities for students where they are able to informally test their prior knowledge without looking at notes. Class discussions about correct & wrong answers/test-taking strategies follow the reviews.