8 Online Resources to Prepare for the Semiquincentennial - America's 250th Birthday Celebration

Introduction

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026, teachers have a unique opportunity to engage students with the foundational history of the United States. This milestone provides an ideal moment to explore the ideals, events, and individuals that shaped the nation. Below, we’ve compiled a list of eight online resources that offer valuable materials, lesson plans, and professional development opportunities to help educators prepare for this significant anniversary. Each resource includes a one-paragraph description highlighting its relevance and utility for teaching American history.

Recommended Resources

Here are eight online resources tailored for teachers to enrich their American history curriculum in preparation for the 250th anniversary:

• Teaching American History (teachingamericanhistory.org): A free resource offering primary documents, professional development, and a community for teachers. It provides curated collections, including the Declaration of Independence, with toolkits and lesson plans for discussion-based learning, ideal for deepening curriculum integration.
• American Historical Association’s Vetted Resources (historians.org): Offers a curated list of high-quality resources like the American Battlefield Trust and Colonial Williamsburg, focusing on the Revolution and colonial life, with lesson plans and videos relevant for the anniversary.
• America250 (america250.org): The official nonprofit for the 250th anniversary, providing event information and engagement opportunities, helping teachers involve students in the celebration and understand its historical significance.
• National Archives’ Declaration250 (declaration250.gov): Features educational resources and programs honoring the Declaration, including primary sources and interactive activities, perfect for teaching civics and history.
• Gilder Lehrman Institute’s “Declaration of Independence at 250” (gilderlehrman.org): An online exhibition with lesson plans and seminars for the anniversary, exploring the Declaration’s impact through primary sources and scholarly analysis.
• Museum of the American Revolution’s Mini Lesson Plans (amrevmuseum.org): Offers free, downloadable lessons on the Declaration and Revolution, adaptable for middle school and beyond, with primary sources and activities for critical thinking.
• Bill of Rights Institute’s Lesson Plan on the Declaration (billofrightsinstitute.org): Provides a comprehensive plan focusing on the Declaration’s philosophical bases, with activities for analysis, suitable for various grade levels with extensions for differentiation.
• NEH-Edsitement’s “Declare the Causes” Lesson Plan (edsitement.neh.gov): Uses role play and writing to explore the Declaration’s context, encouraging critical thinking and empathy, ideal for interactive, student-centered lessons.

Guest Blogger:

Bill Franklin, the CEO of Internet4Classrooms, is our guest blogger this month. He has been on the faculty at The George Washington University, has years of platform instructional experience, was a career Army Special Operations officer and also has decades of experience as a youth sports coach.