Curated OER
Effect of Daylight Hours on Human Activity
Learners determine the average hours of daily sunlight for each month of the year by constructing a bar graph. They develop a understanding of how the amount of daylight hours varies by month and how that affects both temperature and...
Curated OER
Primary History: Children of World War 2
In this history reflection worksheet, students use the prompt to write an essay comparing the experiences of a World War 2 evacuee and a newcomer coming to live in a strange country. Prior knowledge of the Pied Piper evacuation during...
Curated OER
America, A Home for Every Culture
Students investigate the many cultures that are represented in America. For this American culture lesson, students look at the food, languages, music, and traditions that immigrants have contributed to the face of America. They complete...
Curated OER
“Home on the Range”
Fourth graders analyze the song "Home on the Range" and identify its meaning and setting. In this timeline and retelling lesson, 4th graders use dictionaries to find definitions of unfamiliar words, create a timeline and retell the...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Life in a Totalitarian State
This interesting role-playing activity helps your class understand some of the qualities of totalitarianism by assigning each one as a spy or comrade citizen for a duration of five days. Students should find this highly engaging and...
National History Day
No More Sticks and Stones: Technological Advancements in World War I Warfare
Remind young historians that many technological advancements influenced the events of World War I. After analyzing technology's evolution through primary sources, discussing the changes over time, and watching various video clips,...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Debate: Islam & Democracy
World religion or social studies classes studying Islam may find this debate-based lesson useful for exploring Islam and its compatibility with democracy. The final assessment is a five-paragraph persuasive essay. Some information on the...
Curated OER
Scarification
Students examine the process of scarification. They use their prior knowledge to discuss how to change the appearance of the human body. They write a summary about what they have learned.
Curated OER
Gaining Familiarity With Haitian Creole
Students investigate the concept of Haitian Creole. They first fill out a worksheet asking for prior knowledge. Then students compare and contrast the languages of English, French, and Haitian Creole. They define Creole and discuss its...
Curated OER
Investigation of Pot Sherds
Fourth graders review their prior knowledge on the concept of pi. Using broken pieces of pottery, they calculate the circumference from a section of the circle. In teams, they compete against one another to get the most accurate...
Curated OER
Paleoindian Hunter
Sixth graders utilize their prior knowledge of the Woolly Mammoth to hypothesize what life was like for the Paleoindians. They write a story about a day in the life of a Paleoindian hunter.
Curated OER
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Students share their prior knowledge of WMD, discuss how the U.S. has responded to this threat and what changes, if any, the US should take for the future. They role-play as national secruty advisor while participating in a fictional WMD...
Curated OER
International Summit on Asia
Students conduct research into the continent and culture of Asia. The tapping of prior knowledge is done with a pre-unit assessment. The appreciation of Asian culture is the intended outcome of the unit plan.
Curated OER
Controlling Nuclear Weapons: Debating the Non-proliferation Treaty
Students brainstorm about their prior knowledge of nuclear weapons and answer questions related to nuclear weapons based upon this brainstorming.
Curated OER
Making Sense Of A Round World On A Flat Surface
Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the development of geography skills. They take part in a number of activities that center around finding and traveling to different locations. The lesson has resource links that can be...
Curated OER
Create a City: An Urban Planning Exercise
Middle schoolers explore the effects of population growth in Arizona. In this history lesson, students work in small groups to create a "perfect" city. Activities include examining the Arizona census results then discussing the...
Curated OER
Olympics (Grade 4)
Students research information about the current Olympic research. In this Olympic research lesson, students take a pre-test to determine their knowledge about the current Summer Olympics. They choose one of three areas to research and...
Curated OER
European Exploration, Trade and Colonization
Students complete many activities including mapping, reading books, and Internet research to learn about European exploration. In this European lesson plan, students study geographical mapping, trade, and colonization.
Curated OER
Renaissance Trade and Exchange
Sixth graders map out trade routes. In this Renaissance time period lesson, 6th graders complete a Christopher Columbus Map Activity, discuss and identify the parts of a map, and locate Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Students...
Curated OER
Hispanic Heritage - Culmination and Fiesta
Third graders learn the meaning of a Fiesta and the tradition of the Pinata. They eat authentic Mexican food. They participate in games and fun activities celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. They share one thing they learned about the...
Curated OER
Examining the Reasons for the Creation of the State of Israel
High schoolers explore the connection between World War II and Jewish immigration to Israel after the War. In this World History instructional activity, students discuss the details of what it might have been like to live through the...
Curated OER
What To Be or Not To Be
Students discuss and learn about jobs and workers found in their school and then in the world around them. Through the activities presented in the lesson, students will become familiar with various workers and their tools. The describe...
Curated OER
The French Revolution
Tenth graders explore the events leading up to the French Revolution. In this World History instructional activity, 10th graders participate in a class discussion as the teacher shares a Powerpoint presentation, then the students rewrite...
Curated OER
Slavery and the Underground Railroad
Third graders discover racism in our country by investigating the Internet. In this abolitionist movement lesson, 3rd graders define the Underground Railroad and participate in an activity by logging on to an on-line History website. ...