As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, as educators we have a unique opportunity to help our students explore the nation’s founding, growth, challenges, and future in meaningful ways. This is a rare, perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to focus on the Declaration of Independence and the country it created. Fortunately, we have access to a wealth of free, high-quality digital resources.
Below are educator-friendly, virtual and digital resources that make America 250 engaging, interactive, and accessible for all grade levels. Whether you are teaching civics, history, ELA, or interdisciplinary units, you will find tools that can be used immediately and meaningfully.
If you want students to think like historians, start with the source. The National Archives houses some of the most important documents in our history. If you were to visit Washington, DC, you would see our Charters of Freedom (the collective name for The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and The Bill of Rights) along with thousands of other important items. The online collection is equally impressive. Some highlights for our purposes:
DocsTeach “Access thousands of primary sources — letters, photographs, speeches, posters, maps, videos, and other document types — spanning the course of American history. Borrow from an ever-expanding collection of document-based activities from the National Archives holdings by teachers around the U.S. and the world. Copy and modify activities for your students.” Resources are searchable by Historical Era, Thinking Skills, Activity Type and Gravel Level. Easy to use, modify and incorporate into classroom instruction. Most activities can be shared to Google Classroom for ease of assignment and incorporation into instruction.
Founding Documents “These three documents, known collectively as the Charters of Freedom, have secured the rights of the American people for more than two and a quarter centuries and are considered instrumental to the founding and philosophy of the United States.” Want to focus on The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution and The Bill of Rights? This site is full of articles and answers to common questions.
Civics for All of US “A new education initiative that promotes civic literacy and engagement.” This site features live student learning programs for groups of 10 or more, as well as regularly scheduled student webinars. Additionally, it offers educators workshops for teaching civics and utilizing primary sources.
Best for: Civics, primary source analysis, gifted enrichment, K-12 and beyond
The National Mall Gateway is a free digital platform that transforms the National Mall into an interactive classroom. Educators can access curated itineraries, immersive storytelling, 360° virtual tours, videos, and educator resources, or even build custom tours for virtual or in-person field trips. It’s an ideal tool for connecting civics, history, and place-based learning as part of America’s 250th anniversary. Educators will find lesson plans that are easy to access and incorporate into instruction. Many of the strategies and activities can be easily modified for different grade levels and subject areas. This site is newly launched with new content frequently added.
Best for: Virtual field trips, project-based learning, interdisciplinary units, enrichment, elementary through high school
The Library of Congress offers rich collections that bring history off the page and into students’ hands, literally.
U.S. History in Your Hands This downloadable PDF spans US history as told in images…from original maps of the “new world” to the modern monuments and memorials. Along the way, you will encounter Thomas Jefferson, Eli Whitney, George Washington Carver, Hedi Lamar, the Wright Brothers, Suffragists, Andy Warhol, Steve Jobs, the Tuskegee Airmen, Eleanor Roosevelt, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and many more.
Bibliomania This Rare Books and Special Collections series features short films that highlight pieces of American history and culture.
Best for: Research projects, ELA/social studies integration, independent study, middle and high school
Looking for polished, student-friendly multimedia? Discovery Education is an industry leader in educational content and resources. Subscribers have access to text, videos, images, interactives, quizzes, activities, virtual field trips and many more options.
America 250 Channel For subscribers only, this collection features activities for elementary, middle and high school grade bands. Additionally, subscribers will find several virtual field trips to support America250, including American Ideals. NOTE: If you are not a subscriber, Discovery Education and its partners make some content available off-platform.
Best for: Whole-class instruction, blended learning, independent research projects, elementary through high school
America 250 A Milestone in the Making
With a goal of engaging all 350 million Americans, this site is home to three initiatives: Our American Story, America’s Field Trip Contest and America Gives.
Student motivation soars when learning is connected to authentic experiences. The America’s Field Trip Contest invites students to share what America means to them for a chance to earn field trip experiences. Pair it with Our America Story, and students can contribute their voice to what is envisioned as the largest audiovisual archive of American stories ever created.
Best for: Writing prompts, civic voice, cross-curricular projects, storytelling, upper elementary through high school
“As the leader in immersive civic education, we’re informing and engaging citizens through transformational educational experiences grounded in American history.” Founding Forward provides seminars, summer opportunities, and support for civics education for both students and educators.
This is an excellent resource for teachers seeking to enhance their own content knowledge while creating lasting civic learning opportunities for students. Founding Forward features digital/virtual content along with in-person experiences supported by scholarships and grants.
Best for: Teacher learning, advanced civics instruction, high school
Few moments are as powerful as revisiting the Declaration of Independence, especially at its 250th anniversary. Gilder Lehrman dedicates an entire section of its website to the Declaration of Independence at 250. The Annotated Declaration is a standout resource, breaking the document into its three sections: the Preamble, Grievances, and Conclusion. Phrase-by-phrase annotations support close reading and deeper analysis. Additional interactive resources support classroom instruction and professional learning.
Best for: Founding era studies, close reading, in-depth analysis, data literacy, middle and high school
Mount Vernon offers a robust mix of primary and secondary sources, lesson plans, interactive tools, videos, podcasts, and educator PD. Students gain a deeper, more nuanced understanding of Washington, not just as a figurehead, but as a complex leader shaped by his time.
Best for: Leadership studies, Revolutionary War units, middle and high school
Monticello, “where Thomas Jefferson’s idea of independence began,” offers digital history resources that challenge students to think critically about Jefferson, liberty, and the contradictions. This site is especially strong for inquiry-based discussions. It features live virtual tours, curated virtual experiences, lesson plans, interactive tools, student contests, and professional development.
Best for: Inquiry-based discussions, ethical analysis, civics, middle and high school
Bring civics to life with a virtual White House tour that explores the presidency, executive leadership, and the evolving role of the White House in American history. This site also contains podcasts and teaching resources, all presented through the lens of the White House.
Also presented by the White House Historical Association, this site is not a curation of resources but a supplement to the new exhibit located across the street from the White House. For in-person experiences, this is a must-see.
Best for: Government units, civics foundations, group exploration and discussions, elementary through high school
The Smithsonian
The Smithsonian’s Our Shared 250 highlights events taking place across Washington, DC, while showcasing collections and stories that explore the American Experience. Additional Classroom resources support social studies and civics instruction, including Learning Lab Cultivating Learning: Celebrating America at 250. Smithsonian Magazine further supports this work through its America250 with its Special Report America’s 250 Anniversary.
Best for: Interdisciplinary units, reflection conversations, civics instruction/engagement, pre-k through high school
iCivics and the Bill of Rights Foundation present The Civic Star Challenge, a nationwide initiative designed to help educators bring the themes of the Declaration of Independence and America’s 250th anniversary into their classrooms. It provides an array of adaptable lesson plans, activities, and choice boards that explore foundational civic ideas and connect them to today’s world. Educators who log civic learning activities aligned to challenge themes can enter for a chance to win classroom grants and other prizes throughout the school year.
Best for: Civic engagement projects, thematic units on the Declaration of Independence, classroom incentives and contests, K–12 civics and history instruction
The National Park Service (NPS) education hub provides free classroom resources, lesson plans, and educational materials grounded in U.S. history, civics, and the stories preserved at national parks nationwide. Whether you’re planning a field trip to a historical site or bringing park-based learning into your classroom virtually, NPS makes it easy by providing standards-aligned content, activity guides and student handouts. Topics span early American history through contemporary civic themes, making this a versatile resource for both social studies and interdisciplinary instruction. Of particular interest related to America250 is the National Mall and Monuments in Washington, DC. This national park site is home to many monuments dedicated to the founding of our country. Reach out to their educational team at NACC_National_Mall_Education@nps.gov
Best for: Field trip planning, primary source exploration, place-based learning, interdisciplinary units, elementary through high school
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to use every resource at once. Choose one tool that fits your standards, your students, and your instructional goals. As educators, we know how to select a resource, tool or strategy and build from there. America’s 250th anniversary isn’t just a history milestone; it’s an opportunity to help students understand who we’ve been, who we are, and who we hope to become.
About the Author
LeeAnn Simmerman is the Co-President of the Tennessee Association for the Gifted, as well as a Gifted Education Teacher for Maury County Public Schools in Columbia, TN.
