These three C3 Teachers inquiries — National Symbols and Memorials, Americans and Memorials, and Influential Americans — build a progression from understanding national symbols to evaluating historical influence. In National Symbols and Memorials, students explore how objects and landmarks come to represent shared national values. Americans and Memorials deepens this inquiry by examining why certain Americans are honored with memorials and what those choices reveal about collective memory. Finally, Influential Americans invites students to investigate and argue who has been most influential in shaping the nation, encouraging evidence-based reasoning about leadership, legacy, and civic identity.
National Symbols
Building Block Stacks 1
National Symbols and Memorials
Compelling Question
Why are some things so special they become national symbols?
About the inquiry
Everywhere we go we are surrounded by artifacts that memorialize aspects of United States history and values. In this inquiry, students will use photographs from the Library of Congress to learn about these national symbols, landmarks, and influential Americans and sort them into meaningful categories. Through this process students will recognize and explain the significance […]
Instructional Snapshot
Teachers may begin this activity by asking students if they know what a national symbol is. Students are asked to turn and talk with a partner to come…
1 Supporting Questions
Building Block Stacks 2
Americans and Memorials
Compelling Question
Why are some Americans given a memorial?
About the inquiry
In this inquiry, students study popular United States Memorials (Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial) in order to identify historical figures who have impacted our nation. Students will be able to recognize and explain the significance of national symbols and the people who influenced our nation.
Instructional Snapshot
Teachers may begin this activity by asking students to recall United States memorials they know of. Create a chart mirroring the graphic organizer stu…
1 Supporting Questions
Building Block Stacks 3
Influential Americans
Compelling Question
Who was the most influential American?
About the inquiry
Building on what students know about national symbols and monuments, in this inquiry students will choose one historical figure to investigate the character traits, contributions, fun facts, and opinions about. The goal of this inquiry is for students to recognize and explain the significance of the people who influenced our nation.
Instructional Snapshot
Teachers may begin this inquiry by asking students what the word influential means (someone who has the power to make a big change or to inspire other…