The State Historical Society offers open access lesson plans and classroom materials for grade levels 3-12. Lesson plans follow both Common Core and Missouri State Educational Standards. Each lesson highlights different resources and collections from the State Historical Society of Missouri’s holdings. They can be used in remote or fully in-person classrooms. Technology access is encouraged but not required for all lessons.
These lessons highlight Missouri’s cultural heritage and history, but many of the collection materials are also related to larger American historical eras and events. Lessons can be adapted as necessary for classroom needs.
Grade 3 Lesson Plans
- Introduction to Historic Missourians
- Historic Missourians and their Contributions
- Map making Activity - Boone's Lick Road
Grades 9-12 Lesson Plans
- Compare and Contrast Primary vs Secondary Sources
- Exploring SHSMO's Digital Collections
- Impacts of Transportation
- Introduction to Oral Histories
- Research and Writing for the Missouri Encyclopedia
- Westward Expansion / Wagon Train Letter Analysis
- Compare and Contrast World War I Messaging