| Agriculture and Textiles | Agriculture and textiles remain two of North Carolina’s major industries. Studying and identifying the characteristics of these industries within our state’s history can provide a unique perspective on major historical events. This lesson plan includes photographs and worksheets to facilitate discussion and analysis. |
| Flights of the Wright Brothers | On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first machine-powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. With Orville aboard, the flight lasted about 12 seconds and covered 100 feet. The brothers made 3 other flights that day with the final one lasting 59 seconds and covering 852 feet. A version of this lesson plan is also available through the online project North Carolina Educational Resources. |
| George Moses Horton | George Moses Horton was a slave who composed poetry and sold his poems to university students. His initial book was the first one published in the South by an African American. The sample acrostic is one written for Sion Hart Rogers, a University of North Carolina student in the 1840s, to give to Miss Mary E. V. Powell. A version of this lesson plan is also available through the online project North Carolina Educational Resources. |
| Hang Down your Head | On May 1, 1868 Tom Dula (pronounced Dooley) was hanged for the murder of Laura Foster. The hanging followed several sensational trials, including two in the North Carolina Supreme Court. A version of this lesson plan is also available through the online project North Carolina Educational Resources. |
| Life in Colonial North Carolina (Primary Source Sets) | This collection of primary source sets allows students to select a topic of interest and evaluate themed primary sources from the Colonial Court Records collection. Students will transcribe digital images of the primary source records, interpret and analyze the text, and use the discussion questions provided to develop a deeper understanding of what life was like in colonial North Carolina. |
| North Carolina in the Civil War (Primary Source Sets) | These primary source sets consist of records found in the North Carolina Digital Collections that are related to North Carolina during the American Civil War. Each set includes links to digital items, descriptions of the items, and general subjects. These sets are meant to serve as a guide for teachers to find materials to supplement their lesson plans. |
| Tiny Broadwick Pioneer of Aviation | Tiny Broadwick was a daring young woman who parachuted for the first time from a hot air balloon in 1908, when she was fifteen years old. During her lifetime she made over 1100 jumps from balloons and airplanes. She is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for first person to perform a “premeditated free-fall” and first women to parachute from an airplane into water. |
| World War I | While North Carolina made strong contributions to the fight in WWI, it is important to understand the differing perspectives regarding the United States’ war effort. Read about the many Americans who preferred to be isolated from troubles abroad versus those sought to join the war. This lesson plan includes photographs, posters, and newspaper articles, as well as activities to help with analysis. |
