Teacher Resources for Instructional Planning


Grade 6, Social Studies Std 3.2: Locating major territories which were part of the treaty that ended the Spanish-American War

Lesson Plans: The Age of Imperialism In addition to other objectives in this unit, students will locate and describe the historical significance of Edo Bay, Nagasaki, Hawaiian Islands, Pearl Harbor, Cuba, Havana, Philippine Islands, Manila Bay, San Juan hills, Kettle Hill, Santiago, Puerto Rico, Guam, China, Forbidden City, Beijing, Panama, and Nicaragua. Playing By Different Rules: Examining American Imperialism Abroad In this lesson, students learn about the concept of American imperialism by researching and analyzing historical examples of American imperialism. Imperialism This lesson provides classroom activities developed by a teacher committee (funded through a grant from the Jesse Ball Dupont Fund) involve students in a study of Imperialism utilizing the collection of primary sources in the archives of the General Douglas MacArthur Memorial. The focus is on the period of the Spanish-American and Philippine-American wars. The Demise of the Great American Frontier: Westward Spread of American population from 1790 to 1900 In this lesson, students interpret Census data and combine maps to visually see how increased population put an end to the great American frontier. American Frontier Although this lesson plan is at the high school level, it may be modified in order to illustrate what the concept of "frontier" meant in the nineteenth century. Gold Fever! Seattle Outfits the Klondike Gold Rush Students examine how the discovery of gold in the Canada's remote Klondike region touched off the last great gold rush, creating an economic boom that changed the city of Seattle forever, thereby influencing the demise of the frontier. Castolon: A Meeting Place of Two Cultures In this lesson, students compare the Spanish and Anglo influences on settlements along the Texas-Mexico border region of the Rio Grande and speculate as to how this was a factor contributing the "end of the frontier." The Freeman School: Building Prairie Communities In this lesson, students, examine this one-room school in Nebraska and consider the important role it played in the community, and westward expansion, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Skagway: Gateway to the Klondike Join the stampede for gold when over 100,000 prospectors set out for the Klondike. Students draw inferences to how this late 19th century Alaskan gold rush contributed to the end of what was then known as the "last frontier." Bryce Canyon National Park: Hoodoos Cast Their Spell Explore the natural wonders of this once remote area in Utah and learn how it became a popular tourist destination in the early 20th century and finally a national park. Spanish American War from the Organization of American Historians Magazine In Birth of the American Empire as Seen Through Political Cartoons 1898-1905 students review and discuss six (6) political cartoons. Spanish American War Educational Activities The PBS Crucible of Empire site offers essay questions and a Spanish American War quiz. Debate: Should the U.S. Annex the Philippines? In this activity, students analyze primary documents from a variety of perspectives to gain an understanding of contemporary arguments for and against U.S. annexation of the Philippines. After reading the documents, students choose one document, prepare their arguments, and debate U.S. annexation of the Philippines from the perspective of the author of their document. Poetry Analysis: "The White Man's Burden:" This activity asks students to consider Rudyard Kipling’s “The White Man’s Burden”, which urged the U. S. to take up the “burden” of empire. Designed for high school students, but adaptable for middle school, this interdisciplinary activity will help students to examine differing perspectives on imperialism at the turn of the century. Provided by the American Social History Project. Activity: A Soldier's Letter Home From the Philippines This activity asks students to read and analyze letters written by U.S. soldiers serving in the Philippine-American War. Designed for high school students (but adaptable), it uses primary documents from the perspective of frontline soldiers to explore questions of imperialism, racial difference, and war in the early twentieth century. Playing By Different Rules: Examining American Imperialism Abroad In this lesson, students learn about the concept of American imperialism by researching and analyzing historical examples of American imperialism. They then draft a set of laws that would govern the actions of powerful nations in other countries. Imperial Notions: Examining the Effects of Colonialism on Peoples Around the World In this lesson, students research how and why different parts of the world were colonized, considering the pros and cons for both the rulers and the ruled. The four lessons below were originally written for elementary students. However, they can be modified for use in middle school, or used for inclusion, special needs purposes, or used simply for remediation: Symbols and Legends Students will become familiar with the concepts of symbols. Students will earn to use a legend to identify features on a map. Learning Directions on a Map Students will learn to use north, south, east, and west to identify relative locations and provide directions. Map Grid Students will learn how grids are created and used to locate positions of objects or features on a map. Map Scale Students will learn about scale and what it does. Students will also learn how to use the scale on a map to determine distance and to measure the size of objects.

Resources: Boundaries of the Contiguous United States This animated map illustrates the expanding boundaries of the American continent. Animated Atlas Animated Atlas portrays history by animating maps. This site features a ten minute, interactive movie which is a geographic history of the United States, locating major events and the admission of every state. Shock-ing Geography At this site, students can quiz themselves on physical, current political and some historical map information. Instructors can have results of student self-quizzes emailed to them. Requires Shockwave software plug-in (available download free). Historical maps of the United States This site contains "Territorial Growth" which includes the time period from the Spanish American through the 1920s. From Isolation to Empire: Multiple Choice Quiz, Fill-in-the-Blank, Flashcards, American History Glossary, American History Appendix The Student Resources section of The American Nation companion web site features introductions to chapters, interactive quizzes, flashcards, web links, an American History Glossary, and an American History Appendix. Interpreting Primary Sources Digital History provides brief excerpts from primary sources and statistics and also questions to think about: Imperialism and the Spanish American War. Digital History Resource Guides The Digital Resource Guides provides links to American history web sites by period and provide historical overviews, readings (online textbook chapter, Reader's Companion) primary source documents (documents, maps, cartoons), teaching resources (chronologies, maps, quizzes), audio-visual resources, and additional resources. It is an excellent and comprehensive teaching resource. Stereoscopic Visions of War and Empire An interpretive archive of 3-D stereoscopic photographs of the Spanish-American and Philippine-American wars and the colonies acquired by the United States at the turn of the century first decades of the twentieth. American imperialism This site contains PowerPoint Presentations on American Imperialism. It is part of the online companion to The American People (Click PowerPoint Presentations, then Chapter 20). American Memory A gateway to rich primary source materials relating to the history and culture of the United States. The site offers more than 7 million digital items from more than 100 historical collections. Panama Canal Here one can find an interesting Smithsonian Institution PowerPoint presentation on the construction of the Panama Canal. Digital History This site provides links to American history web sites by period and provide historical overviews, readings, primary source documents, maps, cartoons, teaching resources, and audio-visual resources. The Age of Imperialism This site contains a good mix of text, photos, links, and video clips about American imperialism at the turn of the century. Crucible of Empire: The Spanish-American War This site offers a timeline of the major events before, during, and after the war. Spanish-American War in Motion Pictures This presentation features 68 motion pictures produced between 1898 and 1901 of the Spanish-American War and the subsequent Philippine Revolution. The American Nation: Internet Activities Prentice Hall's phschool.com offers internet activities based on their The American Nation textbook chapters.
© 2005 Mobile County Public Schools MCPSS is not responsible for the content of links beyond the initial levels in this site and does not officially endorse any software or other products mentioned on the linked sites.