About the store
Welcome to Lessons in Humanities, where quality meets engagement. Over the past two decades, I've dedicated myself to creating top-tier educational resources that span a broad spectrum of academic subjects, including American and World History, Geography, Economics, Literature, and various humanities disciplines. Each resource is meticulously crafted to make learning both enjoyable and effective, engaging even the most reluctant learners with dynamic and interactive content. My profound understanding of academic needs and a practical approach to teaching are the cornerstones of my products. Whether you're looking for detailed lesson plans, interactive activities, or comprehensive study guides, Lessons in Humanities provides high-quality resources designed to elevate the teaching and learning experience. With a background in prestigious leadership roles, including six years as an academic manager, I ensure that every product meets the highest standards of educational excellence. Join a community of educators who trust Lessons in Humanities for reliable, engaging, and effective teaching materials.
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Primary Source Activities
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Resource type
Standard
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"Corrupt Bargain" Investigation - Primary Source Activity
This is an excellent primary source activity for American history teachers that want students to better understand about the Election of 1824 which Andrew Jackson called the "Corrupt Bargain." It includes ten short secondary and primary source excerpts that help students better understand why Jackson accused Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams of corruption. Since it is an investigation, it is fun as the students need to decide whether corruption actually took place or whether history has misrepres
10th - 12th
English Language Arts, Social Studies, U.S. History
CCSS
RH.9-10.1
, RH.9-10.2
, RH.9-10.3
+3
Also included in: APUSH Essentials: Comprehensive Timelines & Primary Sources Bundle
Russia-Ukraine War Primary Source Activities | World History
These engaging primary source activities will teach your students about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Students will not only learn about the Russia-Ukraine War, but they will understand the origins of Russia and Ukraine, and they will understand the perspectives of Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. It's a great resource for improving historical thinking skills! This activity includes three pages of background information on the origins of Russia and Ukraine. This background information
8th - 12th
Other (Social Studies), Social Studies, World History
CCSS
RH.9-10.6
, RH.9-10.7
, RH.9-10.10
+2
Also included in: History of Russia Primary Source Activities | World History
Boston Massacre Primary Source Activities
If you're looking for a compelling primary source activity to teach your students about the Boston Massacre, which was one of the key events that led up to the American Revolution, then look no further! Our Boston Massacre DBQ is a fantastic teaching resource that will help your students develop their critical thinking and analysis skills. This lesson works for both History and English classes, making it a versatile and engaging addition to any curriculum. With this lesson, students will have a
8th - 10th
English Language Arts, Social Studies, U.S. History
CCSS
RH.9-10.6
, RH.9-10.9
, RH.9-10.10
Also included in: APUSH Essentials: Comprehensive Timelines & Primary Sources Bundle
Federalist Paper No. 10 Primary Source Activity | American History
Great way to learn about the Constitution and Federalist Paper No. 10 by James Madison. This activity includes the full Federalist Paper No. 10 and an abridged version, so you can choose what is more appropriate for your class. Reading this document and doing the activities will help students understand the importance of the Constitution and the fear the Founding Fathers had concerning factions. These activities not only work for an American history class, but it also works for English reading
10th - 12th
English Language Arts, Social Studies, U.S. History
CCSS
RH.9-10.1
, RH.9-10.2
, RH.9-10.4
+2
Also included in: APUSH Essentials: Comprehensive Timelines & Primary Sources Bundle
Bartolomé de Las Casas Primary Source Activity
This activity includes:Bartolomé de Las Casas Primary SourceQuestions about the text that encourage students to think like a historianAnswer key with suggested answersHow to use this activitySpend some time going over the history of Native Americans and the arrival of the SpanishEither read the primary source as a class or let students read it by themselves; go over difficult languageStudents answer the questionsDiscuss as a classAlternative use cases:Assign this activity as homework Assign thi
8th - 11th
Social Studies, U.S. History, World History
CCSS
RH.9-10.10
Also included in: APUSH Essentials: Comprehensive Timelines & Primary Sources Bundle
Rasputin Primary Source Activities | World History
This engaging primary source activity will teach your students about Rasputin and the Russian Revolution. It's a great resource for every World History class! Students will first be given some background information on the Russian Revolution and Rasputin (Rasputin died just three months before the revolution, and historians believe there was a connection). Students then will read some primary sources involving Rasputin and his life including his assassination. This activity is relevant to geopol
8th - 12th
English Language Arts, Social Studies, World History
CCSS
RH.9-10.10
, RH.11-12.10
Also included in: History of Russia Primary Source Activities | World History
Cold War Spies & Secrets: Primary Source & Historical Thinking Activities
Engage your students with the thrilling world of Cold War espionage through these comprehensive Primary Source & Historical Thinking Activities! Perfect for upper middle and high school history classes, this resource brings the high-stakes world of spies, classified missions, and intelligence warfare to life. Your students will analyze real declassified documents, intercepted communications, and spy testimonies to uncover the hidden battles between the CIA and KGB during the Cold War. This res
8th - 11th
English Language Arts, U.S. History, World History
CCSS
RI.8.1
, RI.8.2
, RI.8.4
+22
Common Sense by Thomas Paine: Primary Source & Historical Thinking Activities
Engage your students with Common Sense by Thomas Paine through these comprehensive Primary Source & Historical Thinking Activities! Perfect for upper middle and high school history classes, this resource will help your students analyze one of the most influential documents of the American Revolution. Featuring Common Sense excerpts, comprehension questions, historical context, and critical thinking activities, this resource is designed to build historical analysis skills while keeping students
8th - 10th
Government, U.S. History, Writing-Essays
CCSS, TEKS, VA SOL
RI.8.1
, RI.8.2
, RI.8.4
+28
Russian Empire Primary Source Activities | World History
This engaging primary source activity will teach your students about different parts of the Russian Empire with a focus on Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, and the institution of serfdom. It's a great resource for every World History class! Students will read some primary sources involving Peter the Great (written by a French historian in the early 1700s), a decree from Catherine the Great herself, and a Bolshevik historians analysis of how the emancipation of serfs led to the 1917 Russian
8th - 12th
Other (ELA), Social Studies, World History
CCSS
RH.6-8.1
, RH.6-8.6
, RH.6-8.10
+5
Also included in: History of Russia Primary Source Activities | World History
John Winthrop's “City on a Hill” | Primary Source Activities
Great way to learn about the sermon given by John Winthrop to the Puritans as they made their way from England to the New World in 1630. Students will have a much clearer idea of how the Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded and the way the settlers lived their lives. This lesson works for History and English classes! This activity works great in the classroom and for distance learning (it's very adaptable). The files are compatible for simply printing or uploading to Google Drive and using in Go
9th - 12th
English Language Arts, U.S. History, World History
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.R.2
, CCRA.R.4
+10
Also included in: APUSH Essentials: Comprehensive Timelines & Primary Sources Bundle
Spanish and Aztecs - Primary Source Activities
Great way to learn about the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs. Encourages students to think like a historian. This activity works great in the classroom and for distance learning (it's very adaptable). The files are compatible for simply printing or opening as a Google Doc and using in Google Classroom. Also works with Canvas, Schoology, Blackboard, or any Learning Management System (LMS). Zero prep! Files are editable, if you desire to make some changes. Materials includePrimary Source Excerpts
9th - 12th
English Language Arts, U.S. History, World History
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.R.2
, CCRA.R.4
+11
Also included in: APUSH Essentials: Comprehensive Timelines & Primary Sources Bundle
History of Russia Primary Source Activities | World History
These engaging primary source activities on Russian history will teach your students about Russia from the ancient Kievan Rus days to the Russian Federation of today. The topics of the primary sources include the Russian Primary Chronicles during the Kievan Rus, Russian Empire (Catherine the Great, Peter the Great, and the emancipation of serfdom), Rasputin, Soviet Union and Joseph Stalin, and the Russia-Ukraine War and Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. These activities will help students b
9th - 12th
Other (Social Studies), Social Studies, World History
CCSS
RH.9-10.1
, RH.9-10.2
, RH.9-10.3
+10
Daughter of Joseph Stalin Primary Source Activities | World History
This engaging primary source activity will teach your students about the Stalinist Era under Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union, the Great Purge, and the Gulag System. It will all be from the perspective of his daughter. It's a great resource for every World History class! This activity includes primary source reading excerpts from Svetlana Alliluyeva, memoir: Twenty Letters to a Friend. Svetlana Alliluyeva was the daughter of Joseph Stalin. After the death of her father, she moved to the Unit
8th - 12th
European History, Social Studies, World History
CCSS
RH.9-10.1
, RH.9-10.7
, RH.9-10.10
Also included in: History of Russia Primary Source Activities | World History
Middle Passage Primary Source Activities (Classroom or Distance Learning)
Great way to learn about the horrible conditions for African slaves traveling from Africa to the New World on the Middle Passage. Students will get a first-hand account of what it was like for the slaves. This works great for a class teaching about the history of slavery in the New World. This activity works great in the classroom and for distance learning (it's very adaptable). The files are compatible for simply printing or opening as a Google Doc and using in Google Classroom. Also works with
8th - 11th
U.S. History, World History
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.R.2
, CCRA.R.4
+12
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral: A Primary Source Investigation & Analysis
Was the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Lawful Justice or an Act of Revenge? Your Students Become the Investigators!Transform your history classroom into a historical crime scene investigation with this engaging, inquiry-based primary source analysis and mock trial activity. Students will step into the role of historians, analyzing eyewitness testimonies, legal documents, and newspaper reports to uncover the truth behind one of the most infamous shootouts in the Wild West. Did the Earps uphold the l
8th - 11th
Close Reading, Social Studies, U.S. History
CCSS, VA SOL
RI.8.1
, RI.8.2
, RI.8.4
+27
Russian Primary Chronicle Primary Source Activities | World History
This engaging primary source activity will teach your students about Kievan Rus which was the origins of Russia and Ukraine. Students will read some stories from the Russian Primary Chronicle to learn about early Russian and Ukrainian history and improve their historical thinking skills. The Primary Chronicle is one of the main sources historians have used to understand the history of Kievan Rus. This activity is relevant to geopolitical events in the 21st century. There is ZERO prep needed. Ju
8th - 12th
English Language Arts, Social Studies, World History
CCSS
RH.6-8.10
, RH.9-10.6
, RH.9-10.9
+4
Also included in: History of Russia Primary Source Activities | World History
Cherokee Creation Story Primary Source Interactive Activities | American History
Learn abou the Cherokee creation story with this engaging and interactive primary source activity for your history class! Your students will dive deep into the culture of the Southeast Native American tribe and understand the importance of creation stories for indigenous peoples. It's a great resource for improving historical thinking skills! This comprehensive resource includes background information on the Cherokee people. This background information helps learners understand the Cherokee tri
7th - 10th
Native Americans, Social Studies, U.S. History
CCSS
RH.9-10.1
, RH.9-10.2
, RH.9-10.3
+3
Also included in: APUSH Essentials: Comprehensive Timelines & Primary Sources Bundle
Frederick Douglass & Kale - Comparing Primary Sources
This is a great primary source activity for high school American history and world history students. Students compare Frederick Douglass's "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" speech to a letter written by an eleven-year old boy named Kale from the La Amistad ship. The purpose of this activity is to compare a primary source from somebody very famous (i.e., Frederick Douglass the influential abolitionist) to somebody very few people know (i.e., Kale). This activity works great in the cla
9th - 11th
Social Studies, U.S. History
CCSS
RH.9-10.1
, RH.9-10.2
, RH.9-10.4
+4
Also included in: APUSH Essentials: Comprehensive Timelines & Primary Sources Bundle
John Smith - Primary Source Activities
Jamestown Settlement Activity | Early Colonial America | Atlantic Voyage & Survival | Primary Source & Historical Thinking (PDF + Google Docs) Great way to learn about the struggles of the early Jamestown settlers and their voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. Encourages students to think like a historian. This activity works great in the classroom and for distance learning (it's very adaptable). The files are compatible for simply printing or opening as a Google Doc and using in Google Classroom.
8th - 11th
Reading, U.S. History, World History
CCSS
CCRA.R.1
, CCRA.R.2
, CCRA.R.4
+2
Also included in: APUSH Essentials: Comprehensive Timelines & Primary Sources Bundle
Engage Your Students with Early American History Primary Source Activities
Early American History Primary Source Bundle | Boston Massacre, Common Sense, Federalist No. 10, Election of 1824, Frederick Douglass | APUSH & DBQ Activities (PDF + Google Docs) Help students analyze early American history through engaging, ready-to-use primary source activities. This bundle covers key events and documents from the American Revolution through the early republic, including the Boston Massacre, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, Federalist No. 10, the Election of 1824, and Frederick Do
7th - 10th
Other (Social Studies), Social Studies, U.S. History
CCSS
RH.9-10.1
, RH.9-10.3
, RH.9-10.4
+5
Showing 1-20 of 22 results
About the store
Experience
Welcome to Lessons in Humanities, where quality meets engagement. Over the past two decades, I've dedicated myself to creating top-tier educational resources that span a broad spectrum of academic subjects, including American and World History, Geography, Economics, Literature, and various humanities disciplines. Each resource is meticulously crafted to make learning both enjoyable and effective, engaging even the most reluctant learners with dynamic and interactive content. My profound understanding of academic needs and a practical approach to teaching are the cornerstones of my products. Whether you're looking for detailed lesson plans, interactive activities, or comprehensive study guides, Lessons in Humanities provides high-quality resources designed to elevate the teaching and learning experience. With a background in prestigious leadership roles, including six years as an academic manager, I ensure that every product meets the highest standards of educational excellence. Join a community of educators who trust Lessons in Humanities for reliable, engaging, and effective teaching materials.
Teaching style
Within the lively and interactive walls of my history classroom, I glean immense pleasure in meticulously crafting a plethora of stimulating lessons designed to captivate and challenge my students. Each lesson is anchored in clear learning objectives, fostering an environment where students can actively apply their newly-acquired knowledge and immerse themselves in enriching educational journeys. My top priority is transforming each class into a captivating historical narrative, filling lessons with a varied assortment of interactive activities and diverse content that keeps my students constantly engaged. This dynamic teaching approach makes each class a thrilling adventure through time, cultivating a vibrant and joyful learning environment where every student is empowered to flourish.
Awards & shining teacher moments
At numerous prestigious educational institutions, I have received multiple “Teacher of the Year” awards. These awards were given to teachers who developed the best results from students in addition to being responsible and dedicated to the profession. Moreover, almost half of my teaching experience is as an academic principal, further expanding my impact on my more students.
My own education history
Embarking on my teaching career as an ESL instructor, I found great joy in developing students’ proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, and listening, also working with students on pronunciation and phonics. My experience extends beyond teaching, having played pivotal roles in managing numerous language schools, thereby making substantial contributions to the ESL field. In addition to ESL, I have detailed experience teaching American and World History, and Literature. My teaching philosophy goes beyond simply teaching about the past; instead, I guide students to critically analyze and engage with historical narratives, encouraging them to think like historians. Further, my experience includes delivering courses in AP American History and AP World History. I have also led humanities departments which included the creation and development of teaching resources for my team.
Additional biographical information
I am driven by curiosity and adventure. I find great joy in traveling to historical destinations, from Gettysburg to Rome, absorbing the stories of the past and then bringing those experiences and knowledge back into the classroom, enriching my lessons and teaching resources. Yet my thirst for knowledge extends beyond the field of history. In the pursuit of preserving time into perpetuity, I've found a haven in photography—a space where I capture stories within a single frame, creating a powerful blend of art and reality. This passion for artistic expression carries over into my hobby for reading as well. My literary choices, mostly non-fiction and history, serve as windows into different epochs, further fueling my drive to share these insightful experiences and perspectives with my students.
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