Lesson Plans

This lesson teaches students the strategic importance of New York State during the Revolutionary War with a focus on the Hudson Highlands. It is designed for grades 7 through 12 and is suitable for in person or remote learning.

The lesson can be taught in one to two class periods. It features a map activity to help students understand New York’s location within the 13 states, and a document based questions worksheet based on Hudson Highlands primary sources. The final activity allows students to work on their reading comprehension and presentation skills by sharing information on a historical figure with the class.

Follow the links below to download the lesson plan, PowerPoint presentation, and worksheets.

This three lesson unit uses the history of the West Point Foundry to explore the causes and impact of industrial production in the United States. It is designed for United States high school history courses and can be taught remotely or in-person.

The first two lessons provide an overview of the Industrial Revolution and teach students key vocabulary words. The lessons also feature a gallery walk of the PHM exhibition WPF: Trailblazer of Industrial America. The final lesson allows students to apply their knowledge by engaging with visual and recorded primary sources.

Follow the links below to download the lesson plans, PowerPoint presentation, and worksheets.

This lesson plan uses the history of the West Point Foundry to teach students how humans have adapted their environment. It addresses the consequences of these adaptations and what people have done to protect the environment. It is designed for Third Grade Social Studies courses and can be taught remotely or in-person.

The lesson includes a Think-Pair-Share activity, engaging PowerPoint Presentation, and a Cause and Effect worksheet. Follow the links below to download the lesson materials.

This two lesson unit addresses the United States Environmental Movement at the local and national level. It is designed for United States high school history courses.

In the first lesson, students will learn: key vocabulary, the impact of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, and the history of Consolidated Edison’s proposed power plant on Storm King Mountain. In the second lesson, students will apply this knowledge in a classroom debate and discuss the national impact of the environmental movement

Follow the links below to download the lesson plans, PowerPoint presentations, and debate materials.

Prepared utilizing materials from the New-York Historical Society traveling exhibition Hudson Rising

This lesson helps to teach students about the Women’s Suffrage Movement and how key events built upon one another. It is suitable for students Grade 8 and up in an in-person, remote, or home school setting.

For more information on the Women’s Suffrage movement, view a virtual version of the PHM exhibition Her Story: Putnam County Women and the Vote Here.