Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life in Ancient Ghana, Mali, and Songhai

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students study the ancient African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. They brainstorm what they know about ancient African kingdoms before investigating the trade and barter situations, and researching one of the kingdoms for an oral...
Lesson Plan
2
2
Penn Museum

Egypt

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
From pharaohs and pyramids to the mummification process, this packet is a fantastic resource for studying ancient Egypt! Worksheets not only review key terms and practices that are foundational to ancient Egyptian culture, such as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tobacco in North Carolina

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the depiction of North Carolina tobacco farms in several photographs. They work in small groups to prepare an argument for a class debate and create promotional signs to advertise their point of view about tobacco...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Art in Nazi Germany When Art and Politics Didn't Agree

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Five lessons display the art created by Germans under the Weimar Republic. The focus of these lessons is to help learners understand the role of art in politics, government censorship, and Nazi tactics. Web links are included.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nature and Place Names in Arkansas

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine the way that many place names in Arkansas came to be. By looking at Arkansas highway maps, they find names that come from the characteristics of each of the state's six geographical divisions. This interesting...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Emergence and Evolution of the Cuneiform Writing System in Ancient Mesopotamia

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the parallel development and increasing complexity of writing and the growth of civilization in the Tigris and Euphrates valleys in ancient Mesopotamia.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

On the Road with Marco Polo: Marco Polo in China

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate who the Mongols were and where their empire was located. They research Kublai Khan and the region he ruled. They study the major products of 13th Century China.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Lesson 3: What Happens in the White House? A Timeline

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Working in groups or individually, learners study images of important events that occurred at, or directly affected, the White House, and share their findings of a specific event. They then post the image of their event on a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Family Life in the 1830s

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students compare and contrast family life today with family life in the 1830s. They conduct research on Old Sturbridge Village, read primary source documents, and develop a list of generalizations comparing/contrasting families of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Immigration Debates in the Era of "Open Gates"

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Young social historians examine immigration debates of the early 20th century through primary sources, such as political cartoons. They analyze the material, discuss their findings, and complete a critical thinking worksheet. All...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Department of Archives and History

Military Conscription in World War I: Alabamians Express Their Opinions

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
If called, would you go? Should the US government have the power to impose a draft during any war? The Selective Service Act of 1917 (aka the Conscription Act of 1917) authorized the drafting of men into the military for only the...
Activity
Teacher Web

1920's Magazine

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What a creative and engaging project to incorporate into your studies of the 1920s! Your young historians will work in groups to design a magazine discussing the political and cultural topics of the decade, each member writing one...
Activity
US Institute of Peace

Effectiveness of Nonviolent Civic Action Simulation on Colombia

For Students 9th - Higher Ed Standards
With new leadership comes new hope! After years of violence, the people of Colombia elect a new president ... could this mean an end to conflict? Civics scholars take part in a large group role-playing exercise designed to illustrate the...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary

What Ben Read

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Just what did Ben Franklin read? By juxtaposing Ben Franklin’s reading material as a young man with an analysis of his developed ideas, learners gain the opportunity to see how the influences of his youthful reading played out. Roman,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You Be the Conservator: Looking at Objects Inside and Out

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine the Hispanic American tradition of making santos, painted woodcarvings of saints in the Catholic Church. In this lesson, student have the opportunity to create their own santos, make an 'x-ray' and create a story using...
Activity
Denton Independent School District

World Religions

For Teachers 10th - 12th Standards
Support your class members in gaining a more comprehensive understanding of cultures and perspectives around the globe with a project on world religions.
Printables
PBS

Arthur Compass Rose

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Keep your class headed in the right direction with this printable compass rose. Large and easy to read with a smiling picture of Arthur in the middle, this resource would make a fun addition to the desk of any primary grade...
Activity
1
1
PBS

Make a Balloon Globe

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
"We've got the whole world in our hands," is what your students will be singing after completing this fun geography activity. Using the included templates for the seven continents and a balloon, they create their very own globes.
Unit Plan
Core Knowledge Foundation

The United Kingdom

For Students 1st - 2nd
Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and England are four countries united by more than a monarchy. Academics explore the geography of the nations that make up the United Kingdom.  The resource is broken into six lessons focusing on...
PPT
Curated OER

Life in the Colonies

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What was life like for the early colonists? Read along with an informational presentation, rich in text. Colonial slavery, slave culuture, colonial religion, and the Great Awakening are all described in full. Tip: The resource could be...
Lesson Plan
College Board

Civic Knowledge and Action in AP U.S. Government and Politics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Vote, it's your civic duty! The high school lesson focuses on voter turnout and civic participation with a series of activities. Young scholars analyze data to discover voter turnout trends, complete worksheets, and participate in group...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Unveiling the Mystery of the Incas

For Teachers 7th - 10th
This lengthy, and very thorough collection of study guide worksheets should help learners who are studying the Inca culture to solidify their understanding of the culture. The worksheets are meant to be used as the class goes through the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

East Timor: The World's Newest Country

For Teachers 12th - Higher Ed
This isn't just a hand-out or a reading passage; it's more like a mini book on the history, colonization, independence, and culture of the South East Asian country of Timor. There are extensive readings and discussion questions for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Political Culture: A Self-Evaluation

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students explore the concept of popular culture. In this popular culture lesson, students take the provided survey on their opinions of political culture and beliefs. Students graph the survey results and discuss them.