In this lesson, students will examine primary and secondary sources related to the 1918 influenza pandemic to understand how this public health crisis affected the American population and how the U.S. government responded. Students will also discuss historical context and causation, focusing on the relationship between World War I and the 1918 influenza pandemic.

 

Explore the history of military medicine — from the Civil War to the present — through the stories of pioneering individuals buried at Arlington National Cemetery: physicians, nurses, inventors, and organizational leaders. The tour also examines the historical relationship between wars and medical innovations that advanced capabilities to save lives, both military and civilian.

Women have played key roles in supporting the U.S. military, formally or informally, since the Revolutionary War. At ANC, gravesites and memorials mark numerous milestones in the history of women’s military service. As you explore the cemetery, consider how the stories of women in the military can deepen your understanding of well-known conflicts and societal progress, and think about how many more stories could still be told.

This tour highlights some women you may be surprised to find buried at ANC, since they themselves did not serve in the military and are buried alongside their military spouses. As civilians, however, these women made important contributions to American society and women’s long struggle for equality. As you explore the cemetery, consider the meanings of service and rights — and women whose names have not been traditionally remembered or honored in the historical record.

The scope and scale of World War II required unprecedented numbers of personnel on the battlefield, in warfighting industries, and in support capacities. The need to “free a man to fight” opened many opportunities for women to serve in the U.S. military and laid the groundwork for women to have a permanent place in the armed forces. In this lesson, high school students will learn about these expanded roles and then examine the relationship between women’s opportunities in the military and their place in the general workforce.

 

World War I marked the first time American women were allowed to enlist in the military and serve in roles outside of nursing. It also marked a turning point in the fight for women’s suffrage in the United States. In this lesson, high school students will learn about women’s military contributions in World War I and practice for the AP U.S. History exam Document-Based Question as they review primary-source documents.

 

This walking tour honors a selection of artists buried at Arlington: writers, actors, photographers, musicians, and more. They created for different reasons, at different times, and with different backgrounds, but they all shared a need to create and express who they were and how they saw the world through their work.

Buglers sound the call “Taps” to close military funerals many times a day at Arlington National Cemetery, and military bases use bugle calls throughout the day to signal different events. In these lesson plans, students listen to and analyze bugle calls and their purpose before composing their own “bugle call.” 

Arlington National Cemetery honors two legendary American composers/ bandleaders: James Reese Europe and Glenn Miller. In this lesson, students will be introduced to these musicians and listen to a piece of their music. Teachers may choose to cover just one piece or both. The lesson can be started with an optional introduction to military music. 

In this lesson designed for high school students, primary sources written by individuals connected to Arlington National Cemetery prompt analysis of different perspectives on the Civil War. Students will use short biographical sketches to figure out who wrote each primary source and then participate in a class discussion.