Curated OER
Learning About Guatemala Through Its Kites
Students are introduced to Guatemala and to the tradition of giant kites. They decorate the kite sail and construct the kite. Students identifies possible causal factors contributing to given historical events.
Curated OER
Of Human Bondage
How does the particular point of view in a situation affect the way it is presented? Focusing on perspectives on slavery during the Civil War, middle schoolers use research to write narratives from the points of view of their historical...
Curated OER
Life in Old Babylonia: The Importance of Trade
Students read maps and artifacts for information indicating the existence of a trade network in Old Babylonia and beyond. They list goods imported to and exported from Babylonia. They indicate trading centers on a map of ancient...
National Wildlife Federation
Yesterday: Our Energy Needs Over Time
How has our relationship to energy changed over time? An engaging exploration challenges learners to create a timeline showing human energy needs and uses over time. Scholars review what timelines are, choose a 50-year period in history...
Curated OER
Ancient History Cyber-Journalists
Learners describe and assess circumstances surrounding a major historical event from the ancient world by using Internet (and other) resources to research its location, people, and repercussions, & write a newsletter that summarizes...
Curated OER
Organizing Main Ideas and Supporting Details
Students read given information and identify the main ideas and specific detail of the story. In groups, they read a historical title and create a "book talk" for each one, summarizing the story. In addition, students create a...
Curated OER
How Hard Were the Times? Investigating the Meaning and Significance of the Great Depression
Students examine causes and effects of Great Depression and its significance on twentieth-century life, analyze value of various types of historical information, specifically primary sources, and relate events, issues, problems, and...
Curated OER
Digging, Smelting and Forging: But Why in Pennsylvania
Students examine the history of the iron industry in Pennsylvania. In this iron industry lesson plan, students learn about Israel Acrilius and his role in the iron industry. Students identify natural resources used in forging iron....
Curated OER
Dulce et Decorum est by Wilfred Owen
It is entirely fitting and proper that Wilfred Owen’s powerful “Dulce et Decorum Est” is the poem used for an exercise in close reading, discussion, analysis, and argumentative writing. Class members discuss focus questions in pairs,...
Curated OER
The Boston Tea Party: Costume Optional?
Students investigate the events of the Boston Tea Party. They read and analyze first-hand accounts, answer discussion questions, develop a chart of facts, and create a newspaper article, letter, or factual report.
Curated OER
Trek Across America
Bring a time machine into your classroom with this writing lesson plan, in which young writers project themselves back in time and have a variety of choices from that point forward. They either write a conversation with a historical...
Chicago Historical Society
Are We the People?
Taking on the roles of a fiery Boston patriot, a Philadelphia merchant's wife, and a prominent abolitionist, your young historians will consider the reactions of these early Americans to the creation of the Declaration of Independence,...
American Chemical Society
Joseph Priestley, Discoverer of Oxygen
Do you want to hear a joke about nitrogen and oxygen? NO. We all know there is oxygen in the air and that plants produce oxygen, but how was it discovered? Scholars read a handout, answer questions, and analyze material in the...
Scholastic
Abraham Lincoln: A Time Line Research Project
Though Abraham Lincoln's life was tragically cut short, it was filled with accomplishments and inspiring moments that continue to influence American democracy. Explore the ways the 16th president of the United States made his way from a...
Curated OER
Japan: Yesterday and Today
Students study the geography and culture of Japan and discover important historical events. They look at the religions of Japan. They determine similarities and differences in the lives of teenagers in Japan and the US. They read and...
Curated OER
The Sugar Cane Curtain/ Defining Political and Social Struggles Between Haiti and the Dominican Republic
Twelfth graders explore historical events that created conflict between Dominican Republic and Haiti, examine how need for cheap source of labor has led to exploitation of Haitian workers, and discuss how topography of island of...
Curated OER
Holidays in Lands Far Away - Boxing Day
A instructional activity on the holiday known as Boxing Day is here for you. In it, middle schoolers read a passage about the history of the holiday, then complete some reading comprehension worksheets embedded in the plan to reinforce...
Lesson Snips
Lessons from the Holocaust
Connect global examples of attempted genocide with a well-designed social studies instructional activity. It includes an excellent informational text with background information on the Holocaust, as well as worksheets, book report...
Curated OER
Invisible Invaders
Students research various epidemics that have devastated the world population focusing on the historical events taking place during the times of the epidemics and the epidemics' effects on these societies.
Curated OER
Unite These States
Students explore the historical events and people associated with the 13 colonies. The geographic locations of the 13 colonies and ultimately, of all 50 states are investigated.
Curated OER
Secret Life of Bees Research
The Secret Life of Bees provides high schoolers an opportunity to connect the events in the novel to events in America’s history. After choosing a topic from a provided list, individuals research how the event affected the Civil Rights...
Alabama Department of Archives and History
The Civil War at Home
To conclude a study of the 4 C's (cause, course, consequences, and characters) of the Civil War, young historians examine personal letters that reveal the effects of the war on those at home.
Curated OER
Revolutionary News Network
Seventh graders study events leading to, during and resulting from the American Revolution. They review elements of a political cartoon. They create and dramatize a scene from a Revolutionary War novel.
Curated OER
The Cay
Designed for teachers who use Theodore Taylor's The Cay, this 11-page packet includes a synopsis of the story, chapter-based quizzes, and an answer key.