History of the United States and New York is a collection of resources designed to complement the New York State Social Studies Framework for Grades 4, 7, and 8. These media-rich resources and accompanying support materials are aligned with the key ideas for each grade level as outlined in the Framework. Each topic contains video-based resources you can use to bring history to life for your students. This collection is available through PBS LearningMedia
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Consider the Source
Consider The Source from the NYS Archives provides opportunities and resources to teach with historic documents. Special collections by topic and era provide activities and primary documents to use with every grade level of students. A special collections with activities is available for the 250th. Additionally other special collections with related content are available.
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Independent Lens “The Librarians” • On-Demand
“The Librarians” examines how library collection standards are shaping communities and the struggle of librarians when caught in the political battle around book bans.
Independent Lens “The Librarians” is available on-demand and on the WXXI & PBS apps through 5/9/2026.
The award-winning documentary, “The Librarians,” offers a gripping, human look at the escalating wave of book bans unfolding across the United States. The film follows a courageous network of besieged librarians as they unite to examine how book restriction policies are shaping library collections.
From Oscar-nominated Director/Producer Kim A. Snyder (“Death By Numbers,” “Newtown,” “Us Kids”) and Executive Producer Sarah Jessica Parker through her Pretty Matches Productions banner, “The Librarians”takes viewers from Texas to Florida and beyond, where local libraries have become unexpected battlegrounds in a national struggle over parental control, intellectual freedom, and democracy itself. Sparked by the controversial “Krause List” in Texas, which targets 850 books centered on race and LGBTQIA+ stories, the film takes a deep investigative dive into the escalating movement against book banning. The film captures the courage and resilience of the everyday heroes, librarians, as well as concerned parents and students flanking them, who have become first responders in the fight for the freedom to read, standing defiantly against censorship at all costs.
Tapestry of New York
New York State is celebrating student creativity for America’s 250th by creating a digital quilt around the theme of “We the People” and what it means over the past 250 years through today.
Open to all K–12 students in New York State from June 2026 – May 2027
Schools, libraries, museums, and after-school programs across the state are invited to participate and submit NYS K-12 student work from June 2026-May 2027
The Tapestry of New York Digital Platform
The Tapestry of New York—is a new online platform showcasing the creative work of New York students in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. The platform is available statewide to all students K-12 to submit their artwork and media around the theme of “We The People”.
The platform features artwork and media created by elementary, middle, and high school students across the state, reflecting their unique views on the American Revolution and the efforts to expand the reach of rights and liberties for “We the People” over the past 250 years. Student submissions can include collages, drawings, paintings, photography, graphics, videos, and other artworks. All submissions will include written artist’s statements by the student about how their work connects to their idea of “We the People”. The Tapestry of New York is an online gallery of student work, from the New York State 250th Commemorative Commission and The WNET Group. (Thirteen/WNET NYC Station) The project is presented in collaboration with all NYS PBS stations.
Who can submit art work to the project?
Any K-12 student in New York State can submit artwork to the project. Permissions from parent/guardians and teachers/educators/librarians are explained in the submission guidelines on the Tapestry of New York site. Out of school groups, youth organizations, public libraries, museums, arts organizations, home school settings, and others interested in the project within New York State are welcome to submit artwork if they are a K-12 student and provide the required sign-offs for submission.
Theme: What does “We the People” mean to you?
The theme of the project is: We the People. The preamble of the U.S. Constitution begins with the famous words, “We the People of the United States…” However, ideas about what it means to be an American have changed over the past 250 years, as New Yorkers have advocated for a more expansive definition that includes people of more diverse backgrounds. Students are invited to create artwork or media that explores one of more of the following questions from their own perspective:
- Who is still left out from “We the People”?
- Who is included in your idea of “We the People”?
- What makes you feel like you belong to your community or country?
- Which historical and/or contemporary figures have fought for a more inclusive idea of “We the People”?
Teacher Tools: The Tapestry of New York visual storytelling platform features:
- A teacher toolkit to support historical reflection, inquiry, and enrichment
- A multidisciplinary approach integrating art, media, social studies, and ELA
- Searchable student submissions, filterable by school, keyword, genre, and more
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Benjamin Franklin Classroom Collection on PBS LearningMedia with Educator Resources
Ken Burns’s two-part, four-hour documentary, “Benjamin Franklin,” explores the revolutionary life of one of the18th century’s most consequential and compelling personalities, whose work and words unlocked the mystery of electricity and helped create the United States.
PBS LearningMedia’s Benjamin Franklin Media Gallery harnesses the power of visual storytelling to bring the film’s insights, perspectives, and understandings to teachers and students in grades 3-12. Part of the Ken Burns in the Classroom hub, this robust collection offers more than 35 free, media-rich, and curriculum-aligned resources, designed by teachers and subject matter experts. (Grades 3-12)
Teaching Tips and student handouts are available for each media offering.
Explore the Media Gallery Here
Explore additional clips and videos from the Benjamin Franklin series on the PBS Player
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New York at 250 Resources for Educators from the NYS Museum
The New York State Museum has gathered a rich selection of resources for educators to explore.
Indigenous History and Culture
Pre-Revolutionary Colonial Era
Slavery, Abolition and the Underground Railroad
Interpretive Themes
The New York State 250th Commemoration Field Guide offers six interpretive themes to consider. Focus has been given to the particular history of New York State, with the understanding that the state has many sites of revolutionary struggle beyond the American Revolution itself. By thinking about this commemoration beyond the American Revolution itself, we are able to consider the ever-evolving history of our state and nation over time.
- Indigenous History is New York’s History
- Choose Your Side
- Power of Place
- We the People
- Unfinished Revolutions
- Changing Interpretations of the Revolution
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New York at 250 Resources for Educators from the NYS Library
New York State’s 250th seeks to highlight and commemorate not just the roles of New York’s citizens during the Revolutionary War, but also the subsequent 250 years of action toward the ideals of our nation’s founding principles.
Explore the NYS Library Resource Guide for Public Libraries & Partners for 250th. Find additional resources and updates from the NYS Libraries for marking the 250th
This guide for educators includes a variety of information, including classroom resources from the Office of Cultural Education at the New York State Education Department, in support of P-12 exploration related to this historic commemoration.
Interpretive Themes
The New York State 250th Commemoration Field Guide offers six interpretive themes to consider. Focus has been given to the particular history of New York State, with the understanding that the state has many sites of revolutionary struggle beyond the American Revolution itself. By thinking about this commemoration beyond the American Revolution itself, we are able to consider the ever-evolving history of our state and nation over time.
- Indigenous History is New York’s History
- Choose Your Side
- Power of Place
- We the People
- Unfinished Revolutions
- Changing Interpretations of the Revolution
Although resources included in this guide are organized by interpretive themes, it’s important to note that many resources cross over several themes. This guide is meant to showcase classroom-ready support items from the Office of Cultural Education as a starting point to help teach the 250th.
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Interactive Lesson: Seneca Falls: The Declaration’s Influence
In this interactive lesson, students learn about the economic and political status of American women in the early 19th century as a backdrop to the first women’s rights convention in 1848. At Seneca Falls, New York, the convention’s leaders issued the Declaration of Sentiments, a statement of women’s grievances and resolutions for change. Students will analyze the similarities and differences between the Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of Sentiments and then answer the lesson’s essential question: How did the Declaration of Independence inspire the women’s rights movement in the United States and influence the Declaration of Sentiments? (Grades 6-12)
From PBS LearningMedia