To celebrate Texas, groups plan and create a commemorative map for a topic or theme in Texas history. The richly detailed plan and the approach could easily be adapted to any state. Samples are included.

Students explore how different cultures commemorate people and events. They research how commemorations are created through music, painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, and poetry. In collaborative, students create a...

Students discuss and research an individual or event that has been memorialized on a commemorative coin. They use the information they found to write acrostics, creating stand-up accordion books to display the poems.

Students research life of a child who was a victim in the Holocaust and create a commemorative plate for that child to display in the school.

Students read newspaper articles and watch segments on the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. In groups, they discuss how each media outlet presented the material and decide which one was more productive. As a class, they discuss...

Students use the Internet to research the festival of Janmashtami. As a class, they discover the importance of Krishna in the Hindu religion and read poems commemorating her on the Internet. To end the lesson, they use colored pencils to...

Young historians have an opportunity to study the complex history and culture of Mexico by learning about several holidays: The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe), The Day of the Dead (El Dia de los...

Public art, especially monuments and memorials, are designed to celebrate and honor those who have made significant contributions to a community or even an entire nation. Here's a lesson that asks scholars to consider who is represented...

Students research symbols from Texas history and make selections for quarter designs. In addition, they include written explanations to accompany their drawings. Coin designs cultural background and visually represent patriotism and...

Students research commemorative coin honorees and share the reasons for the recognition with the class. Then the teams select individuals they believe deserve to be on a coin, write short essays explaining their selection, and illustrate...

Students research and profile figures in American civil rights such as Rosa Parks, from 1955-68, to create commemorative posters.

Middle schoolers explore the suffragist movement through this futuristic lesson about the loss and creation of a commemorative stamp to honor a women's Suffrage Pioneer. The lesson takes us to 2080 and back to the 1800's to complete the...

Young scholars evaluate the eight finalists for the World Trade Center memorial based on criteria generated in class and consider the notion of commemorating tragedy less than three years after the event.

Students discern the difference between commemorative and regular issue stamps while drawing conclusions about the time period. In this Stamps as Storytellers lesson plan, students design stamps using symbolism and historical data. In...

Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this presidential history lesson, students research the accomplishments of Lyndon B. Johnson. Students create wanted...

What are the origins of el Dia de los Muertos, and how is this tradition observed in contemporary celebrations? With a variety of lesson plans and suggested hands-on activities, here is an excellent resource to reference as you...

Students examine state quarters with images that refer to the Industrial Revolution. They discuss whether or not it is appropriate to commemorate that event. They research the Slater Mill and decide if it should be commemorated.

Students study the history of Bonfire Night in the UK which commemorates the Gunpowder Plot in which Guy Fawkes and his men attempted to detonate the Houses of Parliament in London. They complete a variety of activities including jigsaw...

Eighth graders investigate the Battle of Corydon. In this American Civil War lesson, 8th graders discover details about the Battle of Corydon and the leaders of the battle. Students also identify how the Corydon commemorates the battle...

Students examine the Booker T. Washington commemorative coin and listen to a biography of Washington's life. They develop a list of reasons why his life was commemorated with a coin. They examine other coins and the lives and work of...

Students explore the lives and contributions of the many black Americans who are honored on U.S. commemorative postage stamps, make a presentation that synthesizes information about a historical figure and time, and write a persuasive...

Students explore the challenges in creating commemorative museum exhibits of September 11, 2001. Then, using personal objects connected with their own experiences, students create a commemorative exhibit in their classroom.

Young scholars write about the importance of historical sites and landmarks. They research information about an ancient historical site and create a plan for commemorating this site.

Ever wonder how to memorialize World War I heroes in the classroom? Activities in a high-quality social studies resource prompt middle schoolers to research Internet sources, complete a graphic organizer, and write an editorial feature...