This lesson is an excerpt from the teacher’s guide of One Survivor Remembers, a teaching kit built around the incredible life story of Holocaust survivor Gerda Weissmann Klein.

The War of 1812 is often referred to our country’s second war of independence. As a young nation, the United States’ economy, territory, and rights of individual citizens were again threatened by the British. A Sailor’s Life for Me! presents life at sea during the War of 1812 for those serving aboard USS Constitution, one of the few naval vessels in America’s young navy, and now a national symbol, through interactive games, primary sources, and Museum resources.

The United States’ role in the world has been a source of debate throughout the nation’s history. As the US has experienced growth and development in its global influence, unparalleled economic gains, and dramatic shifts in both immigration and social movements, citizens have argued over how the US should act internationally.

A documents-based exploration of European contact with Native Americans during the 16th Century, with guiding essay questions, documents representing different and often conflicting views on the same issue, and full audio recordings of all documents.

Pop-up cases are short, one-page scenarios based on issues reverberating in the news today. Use one of the cases to spark discussion and put your students in the shoes of policymakers. This case asks students to consider the following scenario: at the start of a new presidential term in 2021, the United States reassesses its policy toward China in light of the ongoing repression of Uighurs in Xinjiang.

Pop-up cases are short, one-page scenarios based on issues reverberating in the news today. Use one of the cases to spark discussion and put your students in the shoes of policymakers. This case asks students to consider the following scenario: at the start of a new presidential term in 2021, the president must decide whether to prioritize a multilateral or unilateral approach to foreign policy over the next four years.

U.S. History pop-up cases are short, one-page scenarios based on foreign policy issues in U.S. history. Use one of the cases to spark discussion and put your students in the shoes of policymakers. This case asks students to consider the following 1917 scenario: British intelligence has decoded a secret German telegram to Mexico that proposes an alliance against the United States and shares Germany’s plans to resume submarine warfare against U.S. shipping in the coming month. How should the United States respond?

U.S. History pop-up cases are short, one-page scenarios based on foreign policy issues in U.S. history. Use the cases to spark discussion and put your students in the shoes of policymakers. This case asks students to consider the following 1845 scenario: with thousands of American settlers migrating west to the contested Oregon Country and a campaign promise from President James K. Polk to annex the entire territory, how should the United States respond to British naval buildup in the region and a deteriorating U.S.-British relationship?

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) among Canada, the United States, and Mexico took effect on January 1, 1994. Students may be aware of current debates about the trade deal but may not know that the agreement has been contentious since its inception. In this lesson, students read different perspectives on free trade and globalization to answer the question: What were arguments in the U.S. against ratifying NAFTA?

In 1898, the U.S. officially annexed Hawaii—but did Hawaiians support this? In this lesson, students read two newspaper articles, both hosted on the website Chronicling America, which make very different arguments about Hawaiians’ support for—or opposition to—annexation. Students focus on sourcing as they investigate the motivations and perspectives of both papers and why they make very different claims.

Students examine the global footprint of everyday items to better understand how they are connected to the people who make and transport them. They explore a case study demonstrating the impact of their purchasing habits on the people who make and transport the things they buy, prompting them to identify strategies that will help them become more responsible consumers.

A module of explainers and lesson plans on forms of government and why they matter.

A module of explainers and lesson plans on international trade and how it is relevant to us.

Go on a virtual field trip to the Museum of the American Revolution with Lauren Tarshis, author of the I Survived… books! You’ll go behind the scenes to meet a museum curator and a museum educator, to examine real and replica artifacts, and to learn stories of real people – including kids and teens – who lived during this dynamic time. This program is presented in partnership with Scholastic, Inc.

In this lesson, students read a text that examines recent research into the question of whether democratic forms of government are in decline in the world and whether young people have less affinity for democracy than in the past. Next, they participate in a Civil Conversation (CivCon) based on the reading; in this structured discussion method, participants are encouraged to engage intellectually with challenging materials, gain insight about their own point of view, and strive for a shared understanding of issues.