Continue your History in the Halls series with Part 2 of this immersive exhibit banner project—expanding the story of how America was made through revolutionary ideas, military conflict, persuasive arguments, and diverse lived experiences.

In this set, students curate museum-style exhibit banners focused on key thinkers, pivotal battles, symbolic objects, and competing perspectives that shaped the struggle for independence and the meaning of liberty. Designed for America’s 250th anniversary, this resource moves beyond names and dates to examine how ideas became action and how conflict forged a nation.

This collection pairs influential voices with the realities of war, propaganda, resistance, and unity—inviting students to analyze how America’s founding was debated, fought over, and defined.

Included Exhibit Topics:

Notable People

• John Adams
• James Madison
• Thomas Jefferson
• Patrick Henry
• Mercy Otis Warren
• Thomas Paine
• Mary Ludwig / Molly Pitcher

Events & Conflict

• Battles of Lexington & Concord
• British Redcoats: troop buildup in Boston
• Battle of Yorktown
• Proclamation of Rebellion

Speeches, Writings & Arguments

• Patrick Henry — “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”
• Unity — “Join, or Die”
• Liberty vs. Tyranny — Patrick Henry’s speech
• British Oppression / Standing Armies

Objects & Symbols

• Continental Half Dollar (paper money)
• Yankee Powder Horn
• Fife
• Betsy Ross Flag
• Union Jack Flag
• Tea Chest (Boston Tea Party)
• Paul Revere’s engraving of the Boston Massacre

Perspectives & Groups

• Patriot Colonists
• Neutral Colonists
• Loyalist Colonists
• British Soldiers
• Colonial Militia
• Continental Soldiers
• Native Nations / People
• Enslaved Men
• Enslaved Women
• Women Colonists

What’s Included:

 Teacher Directions (3 pages)
Flexible guidance for implementation across classrooms, hallways, libraries, and grade levels.

 Teacher Research Guide & Curated Source Bank (26 pages)

Organized background information, historical summaries, key dates, significance notes, and vetted research links for all 32 topics to support student inquiry and ensure historical accuracy.

 Student Directions (2 pages)
Clear, student-friendly instructions that support independent research and creation.

 Exhibit Banner Templates (32 Different Topics > 96 pages)
Clean, consistent templates designed to resemble authentic museum displays.

 Student Sample (3 samples, 9 pages)
A completed example to clarify expectations and support student success.

 Museum Visit Reflection Guide (1 page)
A gallery-walk observation tool that asks students to analyze ideas, compare exhibits, and reflect on historical meaning.

 Exhibit Banner Rubric (1 page)
A standards-aligned rubric focused on historical understanding, evidence, clarity, and interpretation.

 Teacher Answer Keys (66 pages)
Teacher reference keys to support accuracy, feedback, and assessment.

Why Teachers Love This Resource:

• Complements Part 1 while standing alone as a complete project
• Ideal for gallery walks, hallway exhibits, or culminating units
• Highlights ideas, persuasion, and conflict alongside people and events
• Centers multiple perspectives and underrepresented voices
• Perfect for America at 250 and beyond
• Encourages student ownership and historical thinking

This project invites students to step into the role of curators, exploring how unity, resistance, liberty, and power shaped the fight for independence—and the nation that emerged from it.

An immersive exhibit project examining how America was made through conflict, compromise, and change.

Check out VOLUME 1 of America 250. 

Looking for other fun projects? Check this out!

The post America 250 Activity: Early American History Museum Exhibit Banners – Vol. 2 appeared first on Catch the Buzz Teaching.

Founding Documents, People, Perspectives, and Revolutionary Ideas

Turn your hallway, classroom, or library into a student-curated museum on the making of America with this immersive History in the Halls exhibit banner project—designed for America’s 250th anniversary and beyond.

In this resource, students research, design, and present museum-style exhibit banners focused on the people, events, objects, and perspectives that shaped America before, during, and beyond the Revolution. The result is a gallery-walk experience that prioritizes historical thinking, evidence, and interpretation, not just decoration.

This set includes 33 carefully selected topics that balance familiar figures with underrepresented voices, major events with powerful ideas, and objects with lived experiences.

Included Exhibit Topics:

People

• Benjamin Franklin
• George Washington
• Benedict Arnold
• Samuel Adams
• Phillis Wheatley
• Crispus Attucks
• King George III

Events & Documents

• Boston Massacre
• Stamp Act (passed and enforced)
• Boston Tea Party
• Declaration of Independence
• Paul Revere’s Ride

Objects & Symbols

• Continental Coin
• Badge of Military Merit (Purple Heart)
• Drum
• Grand Union Flag / Continental Colors
• Liberty Bell
• Join or Die political cartoon
• Map of the 13 Original Colonies

Ideas & Arguments

• Taxation Without Representation
• Resistance to Authority (Proclamation of Rebellion)
• Necessary Independence from Britain (Common Sense)

Perspectives & Groups

• Patriot Colonists
• Neutral Colonists
• Loyalist Colonists
• British Soldiers
• Colonial Militia
• Continental Soldiers
• Native Nations / People
• Enslaved Men
• Enslaved Women
• Women Colonists

What’s Included:

 Teacher Directions (3 pages)
Flexible guidance for implementation across classrooms, hallways, libraries, and grade levels.

 Teacher Research Guide & Curated Source Bank (26 pages)

Organized background information, historical summaries, key dates, significance notes, and vetted research links for all 32 topics to support student inquiry and ensure historical accuracy.

 Student Directions (2 pages)
Clear, student-friendly instructions that support independent research and creation.

 Exhibit Banner Templates (32 Different Topics > 96 pages)
Clean, consistent templates designed to resemble authentic museum displays.

 Student Sample (3 samples, 9 pages)
A completed example to clarify expectations and support student success.

 Museum Visit Reflection Guide (1 page)
A gallery-walk observation tool that asks students to analyze ideas, compare exhibits, and reflect on historical meaning.

 Exhibit Banner Rubric (1 page)
A standards-aligned rubric focused on historical understanding, evidence, clarity, and interpretation.

 Teacher Answer Keys (66 pages)
Teacher reference keys to support accuracy, feedback, and assessment.

Why Teachers Love This Resource:

• Built for hallway displays, classroom museums, or library exhibits
• Works for individual, partner, or small-group projects
• Encourages student voice, choice, and ownership
• Emphasizes multiple perspectives and lived experiences
• Perfect for America at 250, Constitution Day, or Revolutionary War units
• Easy to scaffold, extend, or assess

This isn’t just a project—it’s a student-built historical archive, a Smithsonian-in-a-folder experience that invites students to become curators of the past.

Perfect For

• Upper elementary and middle school U.S. history
• Social studies enrichment or culminating projects
• Gallery walks and interdisciplinary displays
• America’s 250th anniversary units

An immersive exhibit project examining how America was made through conflict, compromise, and change.

Want to purchase directly from TPT? Click here. 

Looking for more projects? Click here. 

The post America 250 Activity: Early American History Museum Exhibit Banners – Vol. 1 appeared first on Catch the Buzz Teaching.

Additionally, the Guided Notes / Doodle Notes have lots of opportunities for doodling, higher level thinking, and memorable interactivity!

Explore the Road to the American Revolution with this engaging resource designed for Upper Elementary and Middle School History and Social Studies students. This comprehensive package includes guided Doodle Notes, a matching presentation slide deck, Create a Timeline Activity, and a summative evaluation. Foster interactive learning and higher-level thinking as students dive into the causes of the American Revolution.

Aligned with social studies standards, this teacher-friendly resource ensures an easy and impactful way to deliver content while keeping students actively engaged. Perfect for differentiated instruction, the guided notes provide numerous opportunities for doodling, making learning memorable and enjoyable. Elevate your history lessons with this visually appealing and interdisciplinary approach to the American Revolution!

What you get:

• 34 slide presentation Google Slides* deck (No access to Google Drive required; you will be forced to make a copy)

• 16 slide Guided Notes / Doodle Notes in Google Slides* (perfect for electronic assignments)

• 16 page PDF Guided Notes / Doodle Notes for students to write on

• 3 pages PDF “Let’s Recap” to be used as exit tickets, summative evaluation, or checking for understanding

• “Make a Timeline” Activity

• PDF Answer Key for Guided Notes / Doodle Notes

This resource package covers the critical information about the events leading up to American Revolution.

Topics explored:

• French & Indian War
• Treaty of Paris
• Proclamation of 1763
• Consequences of War Debt
• Sugar Act
• Stamp Act
• Quartering Act
• Townshend Act
• Boston Massacre
• Townshend Acts
• Tea Act
• Boston Tea Party
• Intolerable Acts
• First Continental Congress
• Battles of Lexington & Concord
• Second Continental Congress
• Battle of Bunker Hill
• Common Sense Published
• Declaration of Independence

The best part? There’s virtually no prep work involved other than copying the notes sheet, (unless you prefer to assign it electronically, of course).

Format:

The student pages are expertly crafted in a Cornell Note format, with the left-hand column reserved for instructions, questions and responses, while the right-hand column provides space for doodling and filling in the blank notes as the teacher guides students through the presentation. Cornell Notes offer numerous advantages for learning, including:

• Structured Organization: Cornell Notes format provide a clear structure for organized note-taking.
• Effective Review: The format facilitates efficient review of key points and main ideas.
• Active Engagement: Students engage actively by summarizing and questioning their notes.
• Focus on Key Details: Separating main ideas from details helps in understanding and retention.

Doodle Notes: 

Next, the resource incorporates Guided Notes / Doodle Notes: a skillful integration of words, images, numbers, and shapes for the purposes of learning. It is an approach that combines traditional methods with visual elements like drawings, diagrams, and icons. Completing Guided Doodle Notes brings several benefits:

• Better Retention: Doodle Notes enhance memory by merging visuals with text.
• Enhanced Understanding: They help students grasp complex concepts through visual representation.
• Personalization: Students can infuse their notes with colors and patterns, making them uniquely their own.
• Focus and Engagement: Doodle Notes keep students attentive and engaged during lessons.
• Simplification: Complex topics are simplified, making them easier to comprehend.
• Effective Communication: Doodle Notes make it effortless to share and convey ideas to others.
• Enjoyable Learning: They transform learning into a fun and enjoyable experience, motivating students.
• Stress Reduction: Doodling can be a relaxing activity that reduces study stress.
• Long-Term Benefits: Improved understanding and retention pay off in the long run, particularly during exams and for reference.

Summarizing:  

The “Let’s Recap” pages are designed to help students consolidate their learning. These pages feature a variety of question types, including cause & effect, fill-in-the-blank, open-ended, multiple choice, fact or opinion, and choose-one questions. While teachers don’t have to use all three pages, they serve as fantastic tools for checking understanding, as exit tickets, or even as a summative assessment.

Activity:

The Timeline Activity works as a summative activity to make a visual representation of the major events that led to the American Revolution. Students will have so much fun creating this, they won’t even realize they’re learning!

Bring the events that led to the American Revolution into focus with this engaging, informative resource! 

Want to purchase through TPT? Click here. 

Doodle Notes ® is a trademarked term used with permission. Please visit doodlenotes.org for more information.

Important Note About Google : This resource is made in Google Slides. After purchase you will download a page that enables you to make a copy of the original file. When downloading this product, you will NOT be asked to access your Google Drive.

The post Road to the American Revolution: Presentation & Guided Notes / Doodle Notes appeared first on Catch the Buzz Teaching.