American Identity & First Days Oral History Project Lesson Plan

SAADA partnered with three NEH K-12 educators to create and implement lesson plans incorporating materials and strategies learned from SAADA’s 2024 NEH K-12 Institute.

Developed by high school educator Elena Marcovici, this lesson plan includes a multi-day curriculum about American identity and an oral history project. Students reflect on their own American identity by analyzing a collection of 25 historical and cultural artifacts to determine which best represent America and engaging in class-wide discussion. The First Days Oral History Project then encourages students to conduct an interview about a significant “first day” experience. The lesson plan leads students to examine how personal and collective histories shape national identity and belonging.