Here is a nicely designed lesson plan on ancestry and family history. In it, learners read an article entitled, "Where Were Your Ancestors in 1871?" Then, they make up a series of questions to profile their family and their community 100...

Students use a variety of maps to locate their home, their school and the origin of their ancestors.

Students investigate the concepts of ancestors and citizenship. In this citizenship lesson, students listen to Betsy Maestro's Coming to America . They learn the definitions of immigrants and melting pot using a recipe for Rice Krispie...

We are all immigrants to this country and the study of immigration can help students connect to history in a personal way. Students will listen to audio clips from the Ellis Island web site, discuss the treatment of immigrants in the...

Looking at evolution in detail, this thorough learning exercise has complex questions requiring details and explanations of natural selection and diversity. Various examples of biological characteristics are available, and students...

Students examine the similarities and differences between modern day immigrants and pilgrims. They listen to stories, discuss their ancestors' origins, and create a native costume for a paper doll for where their ancestor is from.

As the great and hilarious Tim Minchin once said, "Science is simply the word we use to describe a method of organizing our curiosity." Science is more than just a guess; it is based on questions, observations, and evidence. High...

Oral storytelling has been an important part of every culture. The time-honored practice uses stories as a conduit for a culture's values and customs from one generation to the next. Keep the tradition going with a family interview...

This personally expressive project gives early high school thinkers a challenging proposition: Explain how an ancestor’s actions have influenced your culture, beliefs and who you are today. Students create a collage or altar of symbols...

Students create a family tree. In this ancestry lesson, students research a country that one of their ancestors is from. Students interview a grandparent and map out a family tree.

Students identify countries of origin of their ancestors, graph patterns of migration to the U.S. and Hawaii, then utilize oral history as a primary document by interviewing their ancestors or parents to explain why they moved to their...

Fourth graders explore family histories. In this social studies lesson, 4th graders identify the countries from which their ancestors came and locate them on a map. Students discuss the role that Ellis Island played in immigration in the...

Students identify the foods associated with the "Days of the Dead Celebration." They compare and contrast these foods to the foods associated with American celebrations and become familiar with the foods of Mexico and their relationship...

All humans alive today descended from the same woman who lived just 150,000 years ago. A thought-provoking video explains this concept as part of a larger biology playlist. It lists the location where the woman lived as well as where our...

The ancestors of squid and octopus used shells as a form of defense. Pupils learn how cephalopods evolved without shells and the adaptations required to survive without one. Viewers learn how scientists know about these changes and the...

Contained here is a six-paragraph article about mammoth ivory for learners to read. They read the article and then respond to short answer, fill-in-the-blank, discussion, and comprehension questions. Vocabulary words and definitions are...

Students are introduced to the characteristics of documentaries and making films. Individually, they write their own proposal for an idea of a documentary making sure to identify the point of view of which it is going to be filmed. ...

New ReviewYou think mice can be a nuisance, wait until you meet the capybara! An installment of the PBS Eons series traces the genetic background of a large group of rodents known as the Caviomorpha. Fossil evidence indicates they originate in...

Begin with an informational text, "Reptiles and Amphibians through the Ages," and then research online about the evolutionary development of a modern frog. Look at drawings of ancestor's skeletons and list the organisms on the geologic...

Learners explore their family traditions through interview, art, and creative writing. They take home the included interview sheet to learn more about their ancestral celebrations and use a map to identify where their ancestors came...

Should Americans provide compensation to those whose ancestors suffered from slavery? Read and analyze the arguments of two modern-day journalists on the topic. Then, have a discussion on both the merits of the arguments as well as what...

Pupils investigate what countries their ancestors originally came from and locate them on a world map. They use a map to plot the ancestral path that has led to their hometown. They create a travel log outlining facts/data about their...

Students analyze the role of masks in African culture. In this African masks lesson, students read about the importance and meaning of imagery of African masks. Students observe animals in local ecosystems and create a mask combining the...

Students examine fossils in order to study humans and how humans evolved over time.  In this human evolution lesson plan students examine different genetic relationships between humans and other species.