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Identify pre-Colonial Native American groups (i.e., Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Aztec, Mayans, Olmec, and Mississippi Mound Builders). 4.1.1 USP1
American Indians and the Natural World - four different visions of living in and with the natural world (those of the Tlingit of the Northwest Coast, the Hopi of the Southwest, the Iroquois of the Northeast, and the Lakota of the Plains)
Ancient Architects of the Mississippi - Wonders of Geometric Precision, the earthworks of the lower Mississippi were centers of life long before the Europeans arrived in America.
The Creek Portraits Index - Before the camera was invented, artists were relied on to preserve images Different Tribes - Compare daily life of Native American tribes from different regions and times. (Author - Laurie Ayers)
Empires Past: Aztecs - The Aztecs were in many ways more advanced than Cortez and his men
The Mayan Calendar - Among their other accomplishments, the ancient Mayas invented a calendar of remarkable accuracy and complexity.
Mound Builders - a general term referring to the American Indians who constructed various styles of earthen mounds for burial, residential and ceremonial purposes
The Sport of Life and Death - the Mesoamerican Ball game (an online journey into the ancient spectacle of athletes and gods)
Identify cultural groups who inhabited North America in the 17th century (i.e., Puritans, Quakers, Spanish, and French). 4.1.2
USP1, 2
Cotton Mather - insight into him will give your students insight into the Puritans
The Goody Parsons Witchcraft Case - Her story is a fascinating one that sheds light on the workings of the Puritan mind and the complicated social and cultural situation of the period.
Personal Reflections - reflections on conflicts from those who have experienced them firsthand
Examine how Native American culture changed as a result of contact with European cultures (i.e., decreased population, spread of disease, increased conflict, loss of territory, and increase of trade.) 4.1.4
USP1
Identify various racial and ethnic groups in Tennessee at the founding of statehood (i.e., Cherokee, Creek, Shawnee, English, Scottish, French, and American born pioneers). 4.1.5
USP1
First Nations: Histories - detailed histories of the nations living in early North America including the Cherokee, Creek and Shawnee
Identify major industries of colonial America using a map of the original thirteen colonies. 4.2.3
E
The 13 American Colonies: Characteristics of the Colonies - Each colony had its own unique characteristics, but historians lump them into groups based on where they were, why they were founded, and what kinds of industry they had.
Recognize the difference between a barter system and a money system. 4.2.4
E
Follow an Explorer - "Theme Project: Choose a route of an explorer from the unit. Think about what you would see today if you traveled that route." - worksheet to print
Are We There Yet? - students answer ten questions by reading information from maps
Interactive map of the various types of features on the Earth's surface
Label Maps at iKnowThat.com - Note: this link takes you to an index of activities. To work on this SPI, select any of the five entries in the Physical Features section, click on the green Maybe Later button to go to the activity, and then select either Puzzle or Labels to begin.
What’s On a Map? - eight questions about using various parts of a map
Land Formation - learn how various land forms were shaped.
Use latitude and longitude to identify major North American cities on a map (i.e., Boston, Mexico City, Toronto, Charleston, Savannah, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Sante Fe, and Los Angeles). 4.3.6
G
Blank U. S. Map - This map could be used with a list of latitude and longitude values for U. S. Cities.
Identify cause and effect relationships between population distribution and environmental issues (i.e., water supply, air quality, and solid waste). 4.3.8
G
The Bill of Rights - a twenty question multiple choice quiz, graded online [Caution: Read the Bill of Rights before attempting to answer these questions]
Seeing Time (Using timelines as a resource) - gives students a chance to refine and extend their ability to construct, read, analyze, and draw conclusions from timelines (Author - Richard Johnson)
Timelines: Timeless Teaching Tool - Timeline resources right at your fingertips in this article from Education World! Included: Activity ideas for teachers of all grades.
Determine the hardships faced by early Tennessee settlers in the late 1700's (i.e., security, isolated communities, lack of access to goods, and natural geography). 4.5.4
USP1
Examine the events that contributed to the outbreak of the American Revolution (i.e., taxation, judicial process, lack of representations, and quartering of troops). 4.5.6
GC
Liberty and Justice - [this link opens on a new page] Students discover reasons Americans went to war to win independence from England . (Author - Julie Thompson)
United We Stand - [this link opens on a new page] Students take a look at how the thirteen original colonies joined to form the United States of America . (Author - Julie Thompson)
Determine why the United States Constitution was necessary (i.e., no single currency, no judicial branch, no enforcement of laws, and small and large states having unequal representation). 4.5.7
USP2
Constitutional Convention - A summary of each of the states constitution that led to the making of the U.S. Constitution
Lewis and Clark's Great Adventure - Timelines, the expedition, the importance of the expedition and more! - a fill-in-the-blank activity
Recognize the accomplishments John Sevier contributed to Tennessee history (i.e., State of Franklin's one and only governor, Tennessee’s first governor, United States Congressman, and soldier). 4.5.10
USP1
John Sevier - This slide show gives a brief history of John Sevier and includes a writing assignment.
Analyze how the Louisiana Purchase influenced the growth of the United States (i.e., increased size, encouraged expansion, and increased natural resources). 4.5.13
USP2
Individuals Groups and Interactions Standards 4.6.1 | 4.6.2 |
4.6.3
Recognize how groups work cooperatively to accomplish goals and encourage change (i.e., American Revolution, founding of Tennessee, the failure of the Articles of Confederation, and colonies). 4.6.1
GC
The 13 American Colonies: Beliefs and Revolution - The Pilgrims in Massachusetts and the Quakers in Pennsylvania were examples of people who had left England so they could practice the religion they chose.
Determine how the issue of slavery caused political and economic tensions between government policy and people's beliefs (i.e., abolitionists, plantation owners, state's rights, and central government). 4.6.2
USP2
The Two Williamsburgs - Unit plan; see how different each side lived. Uses book "A Williamsburg Household"
Slavery in America - interactive slavery environment - Audio with pictures walks you through Melrose in Natchez, Mississippi in this time period. Be sure to click on the interactive map and use the arrows to walk your way through the mansion.
Read and interpret a passage about a political or economic issue which individuals may respond to with contrasting views (i.e., state taxes, federal taxes, slavery, and Bill of Rights). 4.6.3
E
What Responsibilities Accompany Our Rights? - lesson plan with questions for individual views to be debated. "Discuss some important questions about the responsibilities of citizens. You must develop your own answers to these questions."
a site for teachers | 
a PowerPoint show | 
Adobe Acrobat document | 
a Word document
sound | 
video format | 
interactive lesson | 
a quiz | 
to print
