High School Educational Materials

Materials for upper level students ask them to critically think about essential questions around American identity. Students will explore subjects with a focus on a subtheme of the American identity: race, religion, gender, or national origin.

Optimized for Illinois 8th-12th grade standards

Looking for more lesson plans for 9th-12th grade? Visit Exploring the Writing Process with Primary Source Materials for more.

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A woman with a tattoo on their arm looks at a swinging door at the American Writers Museum that says Gertrude Bonnin/Zitkala-Sa "Why I Am A Pagan," 1902

American Identities Teacher Materials

Field trip materials for upper middle and high school students focus on an exploration of the theme of identity. Best for grades 8-12.

A student on a field trip at the American Writers Museum, looking at a timeline in the middleground with his classmates in the foreground and background.

American Identities Student Materials (Grades 8-12)

These materials ask students to critically think about essential questions of American identity. Students will explore the Museum with a focus on a subtheme of the American identity: race, religion, gender, and national origin.

Frederick Douglass: Agitator Educational Material Instructions

These instructions help guide educators through the materials on which standards are met by each activity, and how to support students completing work virtually.

The top of a worksheet for students about the Frederick Douglass: Agitator exhibit at the American Writers Museum

Frederick Douglass: Agitator Worksheet

This worksheet can be used by grades 5-12, as it can be scaled for the topic your student is currently working on.

Further Recommended Readings

Download this short list of further recommended readings to explore other works on the lives of enslaved people in the United States.

A student listening to a video in the My America: Immigrant and Refugee Writers Today exhibit at the American Writers Museum

My America: Teacher Curriculum

Our teacher materials are designed to help educators create a structure that will benefit students who view our newly designed exhibit virtually.

Two children learning at an exhibit

My America: Student Materials

Use this graphic organizer to keep your findings in order as you watch the My America videos. Please read the instructions at the top of the first page before beginning.

Esbozo del Currículo "Mi América" para Profesores (Español)

A student listening to the "Journey" kiosk of the My America: Immigrant and Refugee Writers Today exhibit at the American Writers Museum

Currículo "Mi América" para Estudiantes (Español)