Independence Day

Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence
Tomorrow is July 4th. To celebrate, I give you the document that started it all. Here, here, and here are transcriptions of the Declaration of Independence.

However, what worth is the document if you can't teach it? As good citizens, your students should learn about the document by examining and evaluating it. Therefore, here, here, and here are some good lesson plans that you can use to teach them how to do that.

Oh, by the way, would you like to buy a copy of the document so that you can put it on your classroom wall?

Teaching with Music: U2's "Pride"

"Early Morning, April 4..."

U2 lyricist and lead singer Bono might not be the most accurate historian, but he did write a good song about Martin Luther King. Dr. King was shot in the evening, not the morning, of April 4, 1968.

Here are the lyrics to Pride (In the Name of Love).

I am not sure if high school students still listen to U2, but it might be a good way to segue into a discussion about MLK and civil rights.

Video for MLK Day

On this MLK Day, MSNBC has posted video of newsreports, speeches and interviews about, by and with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. Although Dr. King was not the only important civil rights leader in American history, he is certainly the most celebrated. Have students discover why we celebrate Dr. King's legacy with a national holiday.

Photo Credit: MSN Slate: Today's Pictures