California Academy of Science
Guess That Spice
From medical treatments to cooking, people have been using herbs and spices for thousands of years. Perform a blind smell test of household herbs and spices to engage students in learning about ancient spice trading. Research the history...
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The Impact of Islamic Culture on the Arts of the Renaissance
Eighth graders examine the linguistic and cultural impact of the Arabic language and Islamic culture on the Spanish language. They analyze and label maps, listen to and differentiate between Spanish and Arabic music, and compare and...
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The Far Reaches of Greek Culture
Ninth graders study the culture of Greece. In this World History lesson, 9th graders research specific data in relation to Greece. Students create a presentation of their findings for their class.
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Reflections of Ancient Greece
Students study ancient Greek civilization. For this World history lesson, students locate Greece on a world map and review what the ancient Greeks did when they developed new ideas for government, science, philosophy, religion, and art.
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The History of Ancient Greece
Present facets of Ancient Greek life and politics through direct instruction. Middle schoolers learn about to Greek City States, Sparta, Athenian Democracy and the Peloponnesian War by way of a class lecture. They use their text books to...
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Studies of the Ancient World
Sixth graders, after taking a pretest, write a paragraph describing the difference between Athens and Sparta and write an article about the ancient Phoenicians, describing their contributions to world history. They compare democracy in...
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Ancient China: Student Created Word Search Puzzles
Sixth graders classify and organize information about ancient China. In this Chinese history activity, 6th graders create word search puzzles and record the processes they used to create them.
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Ancient Mediterranean Lands: Greece
Sixth graders explore the processes developed by the Ancient Greeks, particularly olives and olive oil. In this Greek culture and inventions lesson, 6th graders read an article and design a flap book. Students collect the olive oil from...
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China is Unique
Sixth graders study the culture of China by comparing it to that of the United States. They write all questions and notes in a journal. The students access the internet to obtain the information and internet sites are suggested in the...
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What's On Your Plate?
If you are teaching in a Christian school, Sunday School, or home school environment, then this lesson would be appropriate. The class discusses Biblical traditions and culture and how that related to current Christian beliefs. They fill...
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Wonders Of The World
Learners explore wonders of the world. In this ancient civilizations lesson, students create criteria for naming ancient wonders of the world and then use the criteria to evaluate wonders of world since the original list. Learners create...
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Bags, Baskets, Bundles, Gourds, and Nets: Ancient and Imaginative Ways for Making, Storing, and Carrying Things
Students explore Mayan culture. In this Mayan world cultures lesson, students identify 5 methods by which the Mayan people carried things. Students view several drawings and photographs of these items, then describe how each item was...
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Daily Life in Ancient Greece
Sixth graders discover what everyday life was like for Ancient Greeks. In this Greek history instructional activity, 6th graders examine the cultural diversity of Ancient Greece and how it affected daily life for its citizens.
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Civilization Pie
Students define civilization as it was in ancient times. In this world history instructional activity, students work in small groups to write a recipe that has all the combined ingredients of early civilized societies and share their...
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MAKE YOUR OWN BOOK OF THE DEAD
Students study the Book of the Dead and its importance to Ancient Egyptian culture, identify with ancient Egyptians through reading about their culture and religion, and use scroll-shaped paper and colored pencils to create their own...
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The Silk Road, An Ancient Internet
Pupils examine how goods and ideas moved along an ancient trade route between China and Europe. They make charts of items, ideas, etc. that were transported along the Silk Route.
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Seven Up
Middle schoolers investigate the symbolism of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and evaluate modern "wonders of the world." In small groups, they complete a data chart on a selected Wonder, create a poster from the data, and...
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Aqueduct Architecture: Moving Water to the Masses in Ancient Rome
Ninth graders compare ancient and modern technology in water transporting. In this instructional activity on the evolution of the aqueduct, 9th graders build a working aqueduct model and examine its components. They explain the...
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The Achievements and Challenges of Egypt
Awesome, that is all I have to say! This set of lessons provides learners with an understanding of ancient Egyptian laws, lifestyle, religion, and culture. It engages them in a critical analysis activity regarding the film, "The Prince...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Ancient and Medieval China
This is a thorough lesson plan on Chinese history that includes readings from primary and secondary sources, guided reading questions, videos, and a take-home final assessment. While it indicates an audience from 9th through 12th grade,...
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Poverty Point Earthworks: Louisiana's Ancient Inhabitants
Students research the prehistoric earthworks site at Poverty Point, Louisiana. They compare the Louisiana artifacts and structure to the remains and knowledge of other ancient cultures. They present their research to the class.
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In Perfect Harmony: Teaching the World to Sing
First graders listen to music as the impetus to learn about the concept of Japanese harmony as it is understood in Japanese culture. They use the New Seeker's song, "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing," to compare America and Japan...
Space Awareness
The Sun Compass of the Vikings
Evidence shows the Vikings likely navigated by using a simple sundial to find their course. Videos, a short story, and discussion help bring this time period to life as they study European history with a hands-on experiment. Scholars...