History

Lesson Plans

Middle School Lesson Plans

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Winslow Homer's "Blackboard," 1877
National Gallery of Art.

The First Census: America in 1790

During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the Founding Fathers were forced to compromise on two major issues concerning how to determine representation in the new nation. Students will understand why there was tension between states with large and small populations and how slavery played a roll in the Constitutional Convention.

George Washington and the First Census of Agriculture

Students will read excerpts from a letter George Washington wrote about agriculture in the United Sates in 1771 and compare his evaluation with agricultural data over time.

George Washington and Slavery: The 1799 Census of Slaves

This lesson will use George Washington's 1799 Slave Census to reveal Washington as a meticulous businessman and slave owner and provide information about the institution of slavery in the 18th century.

Measuring the Growth of Slavery: 1790-1860

Researching for numerical data and then displaying that data in a logical way are important social studies skills. The purpose of this lesson is to allow students to develop these necessary skills, while getting a picture of the newly independent nation. This was our nation's first attempt to ascertain just who we were. Looking at data from the 1790 through 1860 censuses will allow students to see the increasing issue of slavery in our nation's life.

Census, Pie Charts and Music in the United States

Explore the trends in population and migration in the United States using pie charts, census data and music.

Poverty, Labor, and Liberalism

In this lesson, students recognize the distinction between liberal and conservative political views. They use household income data from the U.S. Census Bureau to gain an understanding of the economic range of households today. Students then imagine what their lives might be like given a particular income. They discuss whether their income affects their perspective as a liberal or conservative. They express their views by writing a persuasive letter on a contemporary political issue.

1870s Population Census

Students examine and analyze a historic document and make inferences about history based on information given in a primary document.

Cities (Grades 6-8)

Students will learn that the U.S. Census Bureau counts the population of the United States in a formal way once every 10 years. Students will look at a 50-year span of census figures to see trends within a city and across cities, and compare populations in cities across a period of time using graphs.