Educational Resources

Thank you for visiting our educational resources. This series of lessons—or, more specifically, activity sheets—was started by the John Locke Foundation to bring to life many of the unsung or unnoticed features of North Carolina history. We believe that in our schools a vast number of good ideas and exemplary personalities have been forgotten, and possible solutions to current societal problems overlooked. Thus, here we offer themes from history such as entrepreneurship, problem-solving by the private sector, the importance of individuals, their ideas, and the freedom to pursue them. We show how personal wealth is created, the benefits of private property, and the positive influence of religious and free market ideas, to name some examples. We do this by identifying those parts of North Carolina history that reveal these themes.

We believe that parents and teachers are looking for such information. (For overall information about the North Carolina History Project, see the “About” page linked to the front page.)

Some of these lessons meet the North Carolina fourth- and eighth-grade standards for North Carolina history. However, the history and traditions of North Carolina extend beyond the limited political and economic standards of the Department of Public Instruction. As indicated above, we include topics such as entrepreneurship and the founding of our state and country. We also introduce what may seem offbeat: intriguing lessons on such topics as clog dancing and lotteries in colonial and early statehood.

Produced by the John Locke Foundation in partnership with educator Michael Kauder and encyclopedia editor Jane Stroup.

A Brief Guide to the Activity Sheets

Elementary school activity sheets are currently available here. They represent the beginning of a set of more than 30 sheets with stories about North Carolina history, aided by simple art, and review questions.

View elementary school activity sheets

Middle school activity sheets are designed to amplify the North Carolina history lessons taught in the eighth grade in public schools.

VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL ACTIVITY SHEETS

High school activity sheets are designed to educate high school students about important issues in North Carolina history such as the Declaration of Rights in the state constitution (our bill of rights). These lessons will also acquaint them with some of North Carolina’s important but little-known figures, including signers of the Declaration of Independence and the U. S. Constitution, and will introduce high schoolers to use of primary sources.

VIEW HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITY SHEETS

Our Lessons and the DPI Standards

Many of our history lessons meet the teaching standards of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for North Carolina history in the fourth and eighth grades. We think that the standards fail to cover much valuable history, however. Thus we have created a new collection. Yet many of our lessons meet DPI standards. They are identified below.

Fourth Grade

The following are the standards set by the Department of Public Instruction for North Carolina History in the fourth grade. (Source: Department of Public Instruction Social Studies Standard 4.H.1.)

4.H.1. Understand the role of various people, events, and ideas in shaping North Carolina.

  • 4.H.1.2 Summarize the changing roles of women, indigenous populations and racial groups throughout the history of North Carolina.

    • See these lessons on North Carolina entrepreneurs:

  • 4.H.1.3 Explain the ways in which revolution, reform, and resistance have shaped North Carolina.

    • See: A Secret Basketball Game

  • 4.H.1.4 Summarize the role North Carolina has played in major conflicts and events throughout the history of America.

    • See the five lessons on the American Revolution:

  • 4.H.1.5 Use primary and secondary sources to compare multiple perspectives of various historical events in North Carolina.
  • 4.H.1.6 Explain the significance of historical symbols in North Carolina from various perspectives.

    • See two lessons about the North Carolina flag:

  • First In Freedom (Part 1)
  • First In Freedom (Part 2)

    • Eighth Grade

    The following are the standards set by the Department of Public Instruction for History under the Social Studies standards for 8th grade. (Source: Department of Public Instruction, Standards 8.H.2. and 8.H.2.) Recommended lessons are listed below each standard.

    8.H.1 Understand the role of conflict and cooperation in the development of North Carolina and the nation.

  • 8.H.1.1 Explain the causes and effects of conflict in North Carolina and the nation.
  • 8.H.1.2 Summarize how debate, negotiation, compromise and cooperation have been used in the history of North Carolina and the nation.

    • See the five lessons about the debate over the U.S. Constitution in North Carolina:

  • 8.H.1.3 Explain how slavery, segregation, voter suppression, reconcentration, and other discriminatory practices have been used to suppress and exploit certain groups within North Carolina and the nation over time.

    • See: North Carolina’s 1835 Constitutional Amendments

    8.H.2 Understand how innovation and change have impacted the development of North Carolina and the nation.

  • 8.H.2.1 Explain how innovation and technology have contributed to change in North Carolina and the nation.

    • See the two lessons on the History of North Carolina’s textile industry:

    See the lessons about two other North Carolina industries:

    A North Carolinian whose innovations were “ahead of his time”: Archibald Murphey’s Bold Ideas to Improve Education and Transportation

  • 8.H.2.2 Explain the influences of individuals and groups during times of innovation and change in North Carolina and the nation.

    • See two lessons on Andrew Jackson:

  • 8.H.2.3 Explain how the experiences and achievements of women, minorities, indigenous, and marginalized groups have contributed to the development of North Carolina and the nation over time.

    • See lessons about important North Carolina women:

    See also the elementary school lessons on African American entrepreneurs listed above.