Discovering American History

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo k
• Leerjaar 2

Discovering American History

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will have a better understanding of the major events and figures that shaped American history.

Introduce the learning objective of the lesson to the students.

What do you already know about American History?

The First Americans

The first humans in America arrived more than 12,000 years ago from Asia. They were hunters and gatherers who lived in small groups.

Show a map of the migration of the first humans to America.

The American Revolution

The American Revolution was a political upheaval in the 18th century in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British rule and formed an independent nation, the United States of America.

Show images of the Declaration of Independence and the American flag.

The Civil War

The Civil War was a war fought in the United States from 1861 to 1865 between the North and the South. It was fought over the issue of slavery and ended with the abolition of slavery.

Show images of the Union and Confederate flags and the Emancipation Proclamation.

The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was a period of major industrialization that took place during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It transformed the economy, society, and culture of the United States.

Show images of factories, steam engines, and other inventions of the Industrial Revolution.

The World Wars

The United States played a major role in both World War I and World War II. The country entered World War I in 1917 and World War II in 1941.

Show images of soldiers, tanks, and airplanes from World War I and World War II.

The Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement was a struggle for social justice that took place mainly during the 1950s and 1960s for African Americans to gain equal rights under the law in the United States.

Show images of Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and other Civil Rights leaders.

The Cold War

The Cold War was a period of political and military tension between the United States and the Soviet Union that lasted from the end of World War II until the early 1990s.

Show images of the Berlin Wall, nuclear weapons, and the Space Race.

The 21st Century

The 21st century has seen major events such as the September 11 attacks, the election of the first African American president, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Discuss with the students how these events have shaped American history.

Conclusion

American history is a rich and complex tapestry of events and figures. By understanding this history, we can better understand the country we live in today.

Recap the major events and themes of American history with the students.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.