The first day of U.S. History class can be nerve-wracking. Students slump into their seats, scanning for friends, sizing you up, and hoping you don’t ask them to talk too much. 

A few kids already love history. 

Some barely passed it last year.

And more than a few are thinking, “Why do we even need to learn this stuff?”

If your go-to response is, “Because the things that happened in the past are shaping the world you live in right now,” this one’s for you.

When you jump start your U.S. History class with an engaging activity, you set the tone for the rest of the year.

You don’t need a lecture, a list of rules, or 40 minutes on the syllabus. 

You need an activity. 

Something that makes students sit up, take notice, and ask a few questions of their own.

Here are three first day of U.S. History activities that do that. 

1. The “Whose America?” Gallery Walk

What it teaches: Perspective, inclusion, narrative power, big-picture themes Time: 1 class period

Best for: Grades 9-11, on-level or Honors

If your students hear “United States History” and immediately think “Why should I care?”. This activity will help.

Here’s how to do it:

• Choose 10–12 images from different moments in U.S. history—1877 to the present. Focus on a wide range of people, movements, and perspectives. Including:
  • Indigenous protests
  • immigrant families
  • Civil Rights marchers
  • jazz musicians
  • activists at Stonewall
  • migrant workers
  • Harlem Renaissance poets
  • women on WWII assembly lines.
• Tape the images around the room. Under each one, post a piece of chart paper or provide sticky notes.
• Ask students to walk around and answer three questions at each station:
  • What do you see?
  • What questions do you have?
  • What does this tell us about whose stories get told in history?
• Debrief with the class:
  • Whose stories do you usually see in textbooks?
  • Who was missing?
  • What do you hope we learn about this year?

Why it works:

• It lets students move and interact on day one
• It centers students who may not see themselves in traditional narratives
• It sets the tone for critical thinking and inclusive content

Use the responses to design or adjust your first unit. Better yet? Let students know you’re doing that.

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2. “Promises vs. Reality” Sorting Challenge

What it teaches: Contradictions, civic ideals, historical analysis

Time: 45–60 minutes Best for: Grades 10-12, especially AP U.S. History or U.S. Government

Jump start your U.S. History class with activities that get students thinking and talking.

How it works:

• Give students two types of cards:
  • Promises: Quotes and principles like “All men are created equal,” “Freedom of speech,” “Equal protection under the law.”
  • Reality: Real historical moments and policies (with no dates/labels), e.g., Jim Crow laws, GI Bill, Japanese internment, March on Washington.
• Students work in groups to decide: Does each reality show a promise kept or a promise broken?
• Then they justify their choices.

Why it works:

• It introduces core course themes without overwhelming kids with facts
• It builds argumentation and close reading skills from day one
• It prompts curiosity: what happened? What changed? What stayed the same?

Add a twist: Throw in 2-3 gray area cards—events that are up for debate. Let students argue either side. Now you’ve got a warm-up for historical thinking all year.

3. “Snapshots of a Nation” History Mystery

What it teaches: Sourcing, change over time, and narrative building

Time: 1 class period

Best for: Any U.S. History class

Want to start your United States History class with questions instead of answers? This one’s for you.

Here’s how to do it:

• Post 8–10 powerful images or short sources from 1877 to today. Don’t label or date them.
• Have students walk around in pairs and respond to prompts:
  • What do you think is happening?
  • What does this say about America?
  • What questions does this raise?
• Provide categories like:
  • Power & Inequality
  • War & Conflict
  • Protest & Progress
  • American Dream
• Ask students to sort the sources into the corresponding categories.

Debrief: What themes showed up the most? What surprised you? What kind of story do these images tell?

Why it works:

• Students engage right away
• You preview every major unit in one day
• You build discussion norms, curiosity, and critical thinking

The first day of U.S. History class doesn’t have to be dry or disconnected.

Jump start your U.S. History class with something unexpected, and you’ll change how students think from day one.

The first day of U.S. History class doesn’t have to be dry or disconnected.

And let’s be real: if students are already bracing for boredom, the best thing you can do is surprise them with something interesting.

Begin your United States History class with an activity, not a lecture, and you’ll set the tone for a year that feels different.

Before you go…Grab my FREE Ultimate Social Studies Bundle

Want more First-Day fun? Check out these activities for the first day of World History and Civics:

• 3 Engaging Ways to Powerfully Launch Your World History Class
• Kick Off Your Civics Class With A Bang: 3 Activities You Can’t Miss