Modern U.S. History Curriculum
Are you overwhelmed by planning? Is your time limited? Do you need simple step-by-step processes for meeting the expectations of your students?
 This curriculum includes supporting activities and you will receive Instant Access to Lesson Plans and Activities in both Print and Google Versions.Â
Let’s be honest, teachers are the hardest workers out there. These ready to use activities will just help you work smarter, not harder.Â
Over the years I have created so many step-by-step lessons that I have used to teach diverse students and ensure engagement! Â
Planning is time consuming and stressful! This curriculum will save you time and eliminate the stress of creating engaging lessons for a variety of learners.
I was overwhelmed with the expectations to differentiate, keep all students engaged, ensure standards were taught and assessed, and know all the different teacher jargon.  It was a bit consuming of my time. My students got less of me because I was up all night planning and making lessons.
U.S. HISTORY RESOURCES THAT ARE DIVERSE
CONTENT RICH
Bellwork
- Anchor Charts and Activity Pages
Background Content
- Guided Notes & PowerPoints with Videos
- Bullet Notes
- Close Readings, DBQ, Textbook Replacement Background
ENGAGING
Engaging ActivitiesÂ
- Choice Boards
- Mapping ActivitiesÂ
- Vocabulary Matching Puzzles
- Picture Puzzles
- Vocabulary Puzzles
- Biography ProfilesÂ
- Wheel of Knowledge
- Timeline Activities and Wall Decor
DIFFERENTIATED
Review ActivitiesÂ
- Digital Escape Rooms
- Game Cards
Projects
- Foldable Brochures
- End of the Year QuiltÂ
Assessments
As I worked on creating resources to engage my learners, I realized I had a knack for making complicated processes simple. I begin to not only have success with my own planning, but I found myself helping other teachers to plan as well. My students were engaged and my peers started reaching out for assistance. Â
I know that these lessons, activities, and games will help make your job a bit less overwhelming. Â
The use of these activities led to great gains in student achievement! Â
Take the stress off and get started now!
Let’s be honest, teachers are the hardest workers out there. These ready to use activities will just help you work smarter, not harder.Â
Ready-to-use activities in print and digital (Google links) for the start, middle and end of every lesson. Full units with everything you need to teach, engage, differentiate and assess.
Wow, teachers are really amazing when you think about everything do! It should not be overwhelming, it should be fun! Teacher should have time to engage with their students, not sit behind a computer and create activities that are already done for them. Â
Step-by-Step Planning
Step-by-Step Planning: Engagement activities that walk you through planning and assessment, so your students stay active and you get your planning time back.
Unit by Unit
Unit by Unit: Every unit comes with a variety of differentiated lessons, so each day of learning is fun and meaningful.
Modern U.S. History Curriculum Units
Every unit includes easy-to-find links to the print and Google version of each activity, with pacing suggestions to help you plan.
Western Frontier
- Understand the concept of Manifest Destiny and its impact on the expansion of the United States.
- Analyze the effects of the expansion on Native American communities and their responses.
- Evaluate the economic and social development of the West during the period.
Pacing Suggestion: 2 weeks
- Plains Indians, Settling the West (1 day)
- Restrictions on Native Americans (1 day)
- Sand Creek, Bozeman Trail, Assimilation, Battle of Wounded Knee (1 day)
- Cattle Industry (1 day)
- Homestead Act, Innovations (1 day)
- Farmers &Â Railroads (1 day)
- Populism, “Cross of Gold” Speech (1 day)
Industrial Age
- Describe the transformation of the American economy through industrialization.
- Identify key inventions and technological advancements and their impact on society.
- Discuss the rise of labor unions and the fight for workers' rights.
Pacing Suggestion: 1 week
- Industry Expansion and Railroads (1 day)
- Big Business, Robber Barons (1 day)
- Organization of Workers (1 day)
- Government vs. Labor Unions (1 day)
Immigration and Urbanization
- Examine the causes and effects of the surge in immigration during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Analyze the challenges and opportunities faced by immigrants in urban areas.
- Evaluate the impact of urbanization on American society, including changes in living conditions, social stratification, and cultural diversity.
Pacing Suggestion: 2 weeks
- Immigration to Ellis and Angel Island (1 day)
- Ethnic Communities, Melting Pot, Nativism, Exclusions (1 day)
- Urban Culture (1 day)
- Urban Problems & Reformers (1 day)
- Political Machines (1 day)
- Hayes, Garfield and Arthur Reforms ( 1day)
Progressive Era
- Identify the key leaders and movements of the Progressive Era and their goals.
- Discuss the major reforms enacted during this period, including those related to labor, suffrage, and government.
- Assess the successes and limitations of the Progressive Era reforms.
Pacing Suggestion: 2 weeks
- Expansion of Cities, Education, Culture (1 day)
- Segregation and Discrimination in 1900 (1 day)
- Mass Culture (1 day)
- Progressive Goals (1-2 days)
- Women and Suffrage (1 day)
- Roosevelt’s Square Deal (1 day)
- Taft, Wilson, and the Election of 1912 (1 day)
Imperialism
- Explain the reasons behind the United States' expansion overseas during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Evaluate the consequences of American imperialism for both the U.S. and the territories it acquired.
- Discuss the debate over imperialism in American society.
Pacing Suggestion: 2 week
- Global Imperialism, Hawaii, Cuba (1 day)
- Spanish-American-Cuban War (1 day)
- US & Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Philippines (1 day)
- China (1 day)
- Imperialism to Americans (1 day)
- Panama Canal & Roosevelt Corollary, Taft’s Dollar Diplomacy, Wilson’s Moral Diplomacy (1-2 days)
World War I
- Understand the causes of World War I and the reasons for American neutrality.
- Examine the factors that led to American entry into the war and its role in the conflict.
- Analyze the effects of the war on American society and the global balance of power.
Pacing Suggestion: 2 weeks
- Main Cause of WWI (1 day)
- Assassination and Fighting in Europe Begins (1 day)
- American Neutrality to Entering War (1 day)
- Fighting Techniques and Tools à End of War (1 day)
- The War on the Home front, Civil Liberties ( 1day)
- Wilson’s Fourteen Points & League of Nations (1 day)
- Treaty of Versailles (1 day)Â Â
- Legacy of the War (1 day)
1920s
- Describe the economic, cultural, and social changes of the 1920s, including the Roaring Twenties and the Harlem Renaissance.
- Discuss the impact of Prohibition and the rise of organized crime.
- Examine the causes and effects of the 1929 stock market crash.
Pacing Suggestion: 2 weeks
- Postwar Issues, Bolsheviks, Red Scare (1 day)
- KKK, Labor Unions, Need for “Normalcy” (1 day)
- War Debts (1 day)
- Immigration (1 day)
- Business & Changing Landscape (1 day)
- Roaring Life of the the 1920s (1 day)
- Women, Education, Culture (1day)
- Writers “The Lost Generation” (1 day)
- Harlem Renaissance (1 day)
Great Depression/New Deal
- Analyze the causes of the Great Depression and its impact on American society.
- Evaluate the New Deal policies implemented by Franklin D. Roosevelt and their effectiveness in addressing the Depression.
- Discuss the long-term impacts of the New Deal on American government and society.
Pacing Suggestion: 2 weeks
- Financial Collapse (1 day)
- Effects on Americans & Hoover’s Response (1 day)
- FDR & the 1st New Deal (1 day)
- New Deal is Attacked (1 day)
- The 2nd New Deal (1 day)
- Opportunities the New Deal Offered, Coalition (1 day)
- Society and Culture (1 day)
- Impact of the New Deal (1 day)
World War II
- Understand the causes of World War II and the reasons for American involvement.
- Examine the major events and turning points of the war, including the Holocaust and the use of atomic bombs.
- Analyze the impact of World War II on the United States and the world.
Pacing Suggestion: 4 weeks
- Dictators in Europe & Alliances (2 days)
- Isolationism (1 day)
- War in Europe (2 days)
- The Holocaust (2 days)
- American Joins War (Pearl Harbor) (2 days)
- Home Front (1 day)
- War in Europe and North Africa (1 day)
- Allies Liberate Europe (1 day)
- War in the Pacific ( 1 day)
- Manhattan Project, Atomic Age Begins (1 day)
- Yalta, Nuremberg, Occupation of Japan ( 1 day)
- The Impact of the war (2 days)
Cold War
- Describe the origins and key events of the Cold War, including the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
- Discuss the impact of the Cold War on American domestic and foreign policy.
- Evaluate the strategies used by the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
​​Pacing Suggestion: 2 weeks
- U.S. vs. Soviets, Germany (1 day)
- China (1 day)
- Korean Conflict (1 day)
- Communism at Home (1 day)
- Spies & McCarthy (1 day)
- Brinkmanship (1 day)
- Middle East and Latin America (1 day)
- Eisenhower Doctrine (1 day)
- Space Race (1 day)
1950s, JFK, LBJ
- Examine the social, economic, and political changes of the 1950s, including the civil rights movement.
- Analyze the presidencies of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, focusing on domestic policies and the Vietnam War.
- Discuss the impact of the space race and technological advancements on American society.
Pacing Suggestion: 3 weeks
- US After WWII, Baby Boom, Election 1948 (1 day)
- 1950s Business, Automobile, Culture (1 day)
- The Other America (1 day)
- Election 1960 (1 day)
- Kennedy and the Cold War (1 day)
- Camelot and New Frontier, Race to the Moon (1 day)
- JFK Assassination (1 day)
- LBJ’s Great Society (1 day)
- 1964 Election (1 day)
- Warren Court (1 day)
Civil Rights Movement
- Identify the key figures and events of the Civil Rights Movement.
- Evaluate the strategies used by civil rights activists and their effectiveness.
- Discuss the major legislative achievements of the Civil Rights Movement and their impact on American society.
Pacing Suggestion: 3 week
- Segregation, Brown v. Board of Education (1 day)
- Bus Boycott, Little Rock (1 day)
- SCLC, Dr. King, Sit-Ins (1 day)
- Freedom Riders, Ole Miss (1 day)
- Birmingham, JFK’s stance (1 day)
- March to Washington, Civil Rights Act 1964 (1 day)
- Freedom Summer, Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party ((1 day)
- Selma Campaign, Voting Rights Act 1965 (1 day)
- North Segregation, Urban Violence (1 day)
- Malcolm X vs. MLK (1 day)
- SNCC & Stokely Carmichael (1 day)
- Legacy (1 day)
Vietnam
- Understand the reasons for American involvement in Vietnam and the war's unpopularity at home.
- Analyze the impact of the Vietnam War on American society, including its effect on the military and public opinion.
- Evaluate the legacy of the Vietnam War in American history and foreign policy.
Pacing Suggestion: 2 weeks
- Roots of War since 1800s (1 day)
- US Enters War (1 day)
- Johnson and Vietnam (1 day)
- Life on the Home Front, Split Nation (1 day)
- Tet Offensive (1 day)
- 1968 Election (1 day)
- Fighting in Vietnam (1 day)
- End of the War and Legacy (2 days)
Era of Social Changes (Nixon, Carter, Ford)
- Discuss the political and social challenges faced by the presidencies of Nixon, Ford, and Carter.
- Examine the impact of Watergate on American politics and society.
- Analyze the changes in American society during this period, including environmentalism, the women's movement, and the rise of conservative politics.
Pacing Suggestion: 2 weeks
- Minorities (1 day)
- Counterculture (1 day)
- Nixon’s New Conservatism (1 day)
- Nixon’s Southern Strategy & Economy (1 day)
- Nixon and Foreign Policy (1 day)
- Watergate to Resignation (2 days)
- President Ford and President Carter (1 day)
- Carter and the Economy, Civil Rights, and Foreign Policy (1 day)
- The Environment (1 day)
Conservatives (Reagan/Bush)
- Evaluate the domestic and foreign policies of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
- Discuss the impact of conservative policies on the economy, military, and American society.
- Analyze the end of the Cold War and its implications for the United States.
Pacing Suggestion: 1 week
- Conservative Movement and Reagan (1 day)
- American Society during the 1980s (1 day)
- The Cold War Ends (1 day)
- Middle East(Iran and Gulf War) (1 day)
Clinton/Bush
- Examine the domestic and foreign policies of the Clinton and George W. Bush presidencies.
- Discuss the impact of globalization and technological advancements on American society.
- Analyze the events and aftermath of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Pacing Suggestion: 1 week
- Election 1992, Clinton Presidency (1 day)
- Republican Congress, Government Shutdown, Election 1996 (1 day)
- Election 2000, September 11, 2001 (1 day)
- Election 2004 (1 day)
Modern US
- Discuss the major political, social, and economic developments in the United States in the 21st century.
- Evaluate the impact of social media and the internet on politics and society.
- Analyze the challenges and opportunities faced by the United States in a globalized world, including issues of immigration, climate change, and international relations.
Pacing Suggestion: 1 week
- Global Issues (1 day)
- Election 2008, President Obama, Healthcare Reform
- Election 2016, National Debt
This has helped me so much this year with having 2 preps and having to focus on civics with the new standards, this resource has made my life so much easier –Anita
This bundle is amazing! Has everything you need to have a fun and engaging year! –Alexandria
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What Is Being Said About This Modern U.S. History Curriculum
Extremely thorough, good for general and special education students
Thank you
Perfect for what I needed. This bundle makes me sad that I'm not teaching American History next year. It was perfect! I hope to one day be able to use it again. Thank you!
Getting prepared for next year and feeling very ready already with this purchase. –Leslie
Amazing curriculum. I am only sad I didn't find it earlier in the year. I will definitely use it in the coming years. –Lisa
Pricing Options
One purchase gets you the full year of lessons and activities in print and Google formats. Each license is for one teacher.
How to Video Library: How to best use each resource library.Â
Modern U.S. History Overview and How to Use and Find Resources
Units: Western Frontier, Industrial Age, Immigration and Urbanization, Progressive Era, Imperialism, World War I, 1920s, Great Depression/New Deal, World War II, Cold War, 1950s, JFK, LBJ, Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam, Era of Social Changes (Nixon, Carter, Ford), Conservatives (Reagan/Bush), Clinton/Bush, Modern US
What is holding you back?
Do you need ready to use activities to meet the needs of your students?Â
Are you struggling to find the tools you need to pace out a lesson?Â
Do you need organizational tips to have a focused year?Â
Is your classroom budget limited, but you still want it to look nice? Â
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Do you have a variety of resources to meet all requirements of a complete lesson cycle?Â
Are you ready for observations this year?
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Are you prepared to offer standards-based lessons that provide equity?
