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Middle School Educational Materials

Materials for upper elementary and middle school students focus on the American Voices exhibit. The Museum aims to encourage students to explore various authors and their writings, and determine what purpose or motivation each author had to write.

Optimized for Illinois 5th-7th grade standards

Inquiry-Based Curriculum

In partnership with the Great Books Foundation, we have created a range of activities for grades 6 and up that bring their Shared Inquiry™ method of learning together with the American Voices and My America exhibits. Whether you want to lead your students in discussion of an open-ended question, engage them in inquiry-based close reading, or help them develop their own connections and responses to an author’s work, you’ll find simple, flexible resources in our activity guides.

For Inquiry-Based Curriculum activities, please watch the orientation videos first.

Looking for more lesson plans for 6th-8th grade? Visit Exploring the Writing Process with Primary Source Materials for more.

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A photo of Louisa May Alcott in profile with her arms up on the arm rest of a chair, hands folded. She is only visible from the waist up.
Shared Inquiry

Louisa May Alcott Inquiry-Based Curriculum

In partnership with the Great Books Foundation, this Shared Inquiry™ activity was developed for grades 6 and up. This activity focuses on the life and writing of Louisa May Alcott (
Download Activity Guide
A sketch of William Apess from the chest up
Shared Inquiry

William Apess Inquiry-Based Curriculum

In partnership with the Great Books Foundation, this Shared Inquiry™ activity was developed for grades 6 and up. This activity focuses on the life and writing of William Apess (1798-1839).
Download Activity Guide
Sojourner Truth seated, pictured from the waist up with arms on arm rests
Shared Inquiry

Sojourner Truth Inquiry-Based Curriculum

In partnership with the Great Books Foundation, this Shared Inquiry™ activity was developed for grades 6 and up. This activity focuses on the life and writing of Sojourner Truth (c.1797-1883).
Download Activity Guide
A photo from behind of a girl writing on a worksheet in the Nation of Writers gallery at the American Writers Museum
Instructions

American Voices Teacher Materials

Field trip materials for 5th through 7th graders focus on the American Voices exhibit, which can be viewed in-person or online.
Download
A group of students poses with words projected on them at the Word Waterfall in the American Writers Museum
Worksheet

American Voices Student Materials (Grades 5-7)

This field trip aims to encourage students to explore various authors and their writings, and determine what purpose or motivation each author had to write.
Download
An image of a worksheet that allows students to create a bookmark
Fun

Bookmark Activity for Students

After exploring the breadth of American Writing, create a bookmark explaining what you would like to write and who inspires you.
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Instructions

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

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.
Download
Reading

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

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.
Download
Two children learning at an exhibit
Worksheet

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.
Download
Instrucciones

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

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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)

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180 N. Michigan Avenue, 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60601

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To Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation Mind of a Writer Gallery

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