Oh, say can you see...

Here is the history of the "Star Spangled Banner." It includes lesson plans that you can use.

Photo Credit The Star Spangled Banner (The Story of the Flag)

All of American History on one Web Site

From Revolution to Reconsturction ... and What Happened Afterwards is a great website that includes Outlines of American History, Documents and Biographies . Don't let the name confuse you either. It has stuff from 1492 to the present.

The French and Indian War...

... or if you wish, you may call it the Seven Years War. This war did two things: it expanded British Territory in the New World and helped create a furvor for Indepence in the colonists.

There's a great television program that I discovered a few months ago on PBS about the war called "The War that Made America". The website has a lot of resources that the teacher can use, which can be found by clicking on here.

I've got one point that I would like to make about the French and Indian War. Isn't it interesting that the war was caused by a British military action that was led by George Washington? After the war, the British would begin taxing the colonies, which would lead to protests about "taxation without representation". These concerns would be among the major causes of the Revolutionary War. After winning the war, delegates from the states would write a constitution that would include the creation of the office of the President of the United States. Geo. Washington would be our first President.

So it could be said that Washington in starting the French and Indian War ensured that he would eventually become President of the United States.

Hmmm ... very interesting.

So, You Say You Want a Revolution....

It's a living history museum, it's a research center, it's a website ... it's Colonial Williamsburg. This site is a great resource for U.S. colonial and revolutionary history.

Check out the Teacher Resources which includes lesson plans, journal articles and activities.

Archaeology Teacher Resources

Here are some archaeology teacher resources from The Achaeology Channel.

Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks

Speaking of Civil Rights: how about having students learn about Rosa Parks? There is an excellent video issued by "Teaching Tolerance" called Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks. It shows the true history of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. For instance, it is often taught that Rosa Parks was tired one day coming home from work and decided on the spur of the moment to sit down in the white section of the bus. Because she was arrested for breaking the law, blacks spontaneously protested her unfair treatment by refusing to take the city buses. The true history is that this was not the first time that Mrs. Parks deliberately broke the law regarding bus segregation. Also, she was not some random person who decided to challenge the system. She was very active in the civil rights movement. For years civil rights leaders were looking for the ideal case to challenge segregation. Mrs. Parks was the perfect person for this cause - she was strong willed and idealistic. They knew she could handle herself when death threats came her way.

Best of all: the video is FREE to schools and teachers!

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.