Freedom is Not Guaranteed
The founders of the United States of America understood this, and went to great lengths to design our government to recognize and protect individual freedoms.
Younger generations of Americans should be taught about our country's founding and how our freedoms must be protected. Otherwise our freedoms will be at risk.
Course Name
Foundations of American Freedom:
What they are and how they are protected
Part 1
Students Complete Online Lessons
Students complete a series of online lessons and quizzes that present the founding of the USA, how our founders limited government and gave power to citizens, the role of the U.S. Armed Forces in protecting our freedoms, and what it means to be a veteran.
Understanding these fundamentals helps students better understand their freedoms as U.S. citizens.
Part 2
Students Interview a Veteran
Through interviewing a veteran in person, students get an immersive experience not available from textbooks or videos. Veterans are uniquely qualified to speak on the subject of protecting our freedoms and how the U.S. Armed Forces function.
Students get to learn directly from real world role models who actually served our country.
Part 3
Students Write Final Report
To help pull it all together, students are guided through writing a final report that summarizes what they learned in the online lessons, and insights gained through interviewing a veteran. Our online tools facilitate veterans providing feedback to students on the final report.
The final report is designed to be a collaborative effort with students getting feedback from veterans.
How the course works
The Role of Teachers
This course was designed to be conducted by teachers who understand the value of providing high school students with a concise presentation on the origins of American freedoms, the role of the U.S. Armed Forces in protecting them, and what it means to be a veteran.
Where the Course Fits With Existing Curriculum
The course can be used to supplement your existing curriculum. You can add it to any U.S. History, Civics, or Government class. Alternatively, this course can be engaged as an elective entirely on its own.
Conducting the Course
Whether augmenting an existing class or engaging the course as an elective, students should complete the course in this sequence:
- Students complete the online lessons. Most lessons take 10-20 minutes to navigate. Completion of the entire set of 30 lessons usually takes a few weeks, with students finishing several lessons per week.
- Students interview a veteran in person. Many schools have a special day during which veterans come to the school and meet with students specifically to be interviewed.
- Students write a final report and turn it in for credit. Veterans can provide students with feedback on the report before they turn it in.
Group Discussions
Teachers are encouraged to facilitate class discussions on the topics presented in the online lessons. As students complete the online lessons, classroom or group discussions of the topics will help with comprehension.
Following the student/veteran interviews, group discussion can offer students a more complete perspective if they compare and contrast what they learned from their interviews with veterans.
The Role of UnitTimeline.com
UnitTimeline.com facilitates the course in these ways: We deliver the online lessons, help recruit veterans for student interviews, and provide the ability for students to write their final report online, with input from their interviewed veteran.
We help recruit veterans for student interviews
Recruiting veterans for interviews can be challenging. We are constantly recruiting veterans to register with us to preserve their service histories. Many of our members are happy to volunteer to be interviewed by local high school students.
The photos below show students interviewing veterans as part of an annual veteran appreciation event at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, California (April 2023).
Interview Support Features
UnitTimeline.com provides provides the following features to support the student/veteran interview process.
- Suggested questions: List of questions students can ask veterans during the interview.
- Interview notes: Students can enter their questions and notes on veteran responses. The notes are then available for review when students edit their final report.
- Final Report Authoring: Students can author their final report online. The interviewed veteran has access to the final report, and can provide feedback to the student. All communications take place through our website, and with no need for personal contact information to be exchanged between the veteran and student.
- Final Report Feedback: Teachers can access the student's final report online, review the veteran's feedback, and provide final critique.
Online Lessons
The lessons in our online library are designed to deliver a concise yet interesting presentation of the subject matter. Each lesson should take between 10 and 20 minutes to complete, assuming the students are not rushing through.
The lesson library includes 30 lessons across these three categories:
Category 1: Founding of the United States of America
The lessons in this series intruduce students to the early history of the United States, what were the precursors to the American Revolution, and what was the sequence of events resulting in the establishment of our current form of government.
Upon completion students should have a good understanding of the tyranny that motivated our founding fathers to not only declare independence, but also define new government that deliberately recognized individual freedoms while limiting the power of government.
Lesson Topics:
- The American Revolutionary War: Why was it fought and won.
- The Declaration of Independence
- The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights
- USA National Flag and flag etiquette.
- Gadsden Flag
- Quiz on founding of the United States
Category 2: Serving in the U.S. Armed Forces - Fundamental Concepts
The lessons in this series intruduce students to the U.S. Armed forces. Basic concepts, vocabulary, and processes are described.
Upon completion students should have the ability to talk with veterans or serving U.S. Military personnel and understand what they are talking about when they use military jargon.
Lesson Topics:
- Joining The U.S. Armed Forces (the most common ways to join are described)
- Basic Training
- Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)
- Assignment and Deployment
- Leaving the U.S. Armed Forces (different ways to exit, including retirement, discharge types, and more.)
- Quiz on fundamental concepts of the U.S. Armed Forces
Category 3: Military Awards and Recognition
The lessons in this series intruduce students to the concept of meritorious service and many of the ways the U.S. Armed Forces rewards honorable conduct, dedicated service, and valor.
Upon completion students should have a good understanding of the more common military awards and distinctions.
Lesson Topics:
- The most commonly recognized types of achievement and recognition
- The Medal of Honor
- Service Crosses and Other Medals
- The Purple Heart
- Gold Star and Blue Star Families
- Unit Awards and Recognition
- Humanitarian and Incentive Awards
- Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
- Quiz on military awards and types of recognition
Category 4: Life as a Veteran
The lessons in this category intruduce students to the many benefits available to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces
Upon completion students should have a good understanding of the available benefits, what qualifications are required to receive benefits, and the various ways veterans are still serving their country following their time in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Lesson Topics:
- Summary of the many benefits available to veterans
- Qualifications required to receive veterans benefits
- Veterans service organizations
- Quiz on life as a veteran
Try before you buy:
Preview what your students will see: Once you create your free teacher account, you can browse our online lesson library, open all lessons, and complete all quizzes.