Facing History and Ourselves
The 1968 East LA School Walkouts
The East LA School walkouts are the focus of a lesson that looks at the importance of an education that honors the culture of all learners. Class members watch videos and read an article on the LA student demands to gather background...
Simon & Schuster
Classroom Activities for Emma by Jane Austen
Coldhearted snob or warm and caring? A series of activities prepares scholars to evaluate the main character in Jane Austen's Emma. To begin, class members compare the gender expectations for women in Regency England and those of today....
Curated OER
Reformation History: A Comparative Study
Young scholars explore the views of Catholics, Lutherans and the Reformed Church. In this reformation lesson, students participate in a class discussion of the three religions, then complete an activity.
Curated OER
Boom Town/Gold Rush
Students discover the history of California by researching the Gold Rush. In this economics history lesson, students participate in a class discussion about the book Boom Town, and the value of gold in California. Students...
Curated OER
What is a Treaty?
Students examine the notion of terra nullius, the idea under which Australia was settled. Then they compare the economic and social outcomes for Australia's indigenous people under terra nullius with those of other indigenous peoples...
Curated OER
Flood Control: Environmental History
Students examine the painting, Spring on the Missouri. They role-play and discuss floods and flood control from the views of an environmental lobbyist and a farmer.
Curated OER
Gift of the Magi Lesson Plan 3
Explore the literary concept of theme through the The Gift of the Magi. Starting with a class discussion, the concept of theme is explored through examples from famous stories and movies. Next, the class analyzes the possible themes of...
Curated OER
Who was affected by North American Colonization and How?
Conduct research on various aspects of American Colonization and explore how different groups were affected, including those involved in the Salem Witch Trials. Your class will read books, write journals, participate in class discussion,...
Curated OER
Supreme Court Decisions on Freedom of Religion
What does freedom of religion mean? Analyze a series of Supreme Court cases where the First Amendment right to freedom of religion was put to the test. They discuss the cases' outcomes and argue whether the right decision was made....
Curated OER
The Life And Times Of The Apple
Students engage in a study about the biology of apples that includes growth and reproduction. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Students write a description of an apple brought to class by answering several questions....
Curated OER
Breaking News English; Deadly E. Coli Strikes Europe
Read a breaking news article relating to a deadly bacteria while building vocabulary and writing skills. Critical thinkers work with a partner to write down the different words they have found in the article. They complete...
Curated OER
The City Of Liverpool
Students investigate the history of Liverpool and its place next to the sea. They focus upon the maritime industries found there while conducted guided research. Then students have class discussion of sea occupations and traveling.
Curated OER
To Tell The Truth
Students create a faux ivory napkin ring using art supplies and knowledge gained from in-class discussions and teacher supplied information in this art lesson plan easily adaptable to a Social Studies or Language Arts classroom.
Curated OER
A Changing Society: Industrialization and Urbanization
Students participate in activities that teach them about the Gilded Age of industrialization and urbanization. In this social changing lesson plan, students answer questions, watch videos, have discussions, read texts, and more to teach...
Curated OER
Japan Writing Activity
Seventh graders explore the current tensions in Asia by completing a graphic organizer. In this Asian politics instructional activity, 7th graders examine a Powerpoint slide and news article which gives them the information needed...
Curated OER
France's New Medieval Castle Takes Shape
Students explore how a dream to build a medieval castle came to reality. For this lesson, students read an article about a knight's castle that is being built in France, then complete numerous activities such as a quiz, a debate, a class...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
U.S. Immigration Policy and Hitler’s Holocaust
Though the Statue of Liberty welcomes political refugees to her shores, the welcoming sentiment has not always been reflected in the American citizenry. High schoolers read about the regrettable period in United States history...
PBS
Baseball: The Tenth Inning - Bases Divided
Baseball is a relatively high-interest topic through which social studies classes can explore racial prejudice in the US. Video clips provide much of the background information that groups record on their handout and then share with the...
Curated OER
Recurring Nightmares
Does history really repeat itself? Encourage your middle and high schoolers to answer this age-old question by reading the attached articles on the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 and the Iraq Crisis of 2002. How similar or different are...
Curated OER
Liberty and Security in Contemporary China
Upper graders consider contemporary Chinese economics, political viewpoints, and government. This unit covers a span of several class periods or six days, and engages learners in a variety of skills based activities. They conduct...
Curated OER
Lesson: Unmonumental: Yesterday's News
Upper graders are tasked with developing a social consciousness as they analyze the impact of the news media. They view a presentation depicting various media events in order to understand threshold moments in history. There are three...
Curated OER
Social Studies: Church and State
Discuss the separation of church and state as it relates to government entities. This is a great way to launch a discussion on the relationship between these groups. Learners analyze this relationship in governments throughout the world,...
Teaching English
In Flanders Fields
War is one of the most profound human experiences in history, and is often best depicted in works of art and literature. Introduce class members to the poetry of World War I with this resource that uses John McCrae's "In Flanders Fields"...
Stanford University
Observing Human Rights Day
How much intervention is appropriate for America to take in cases of human rights violations? Class members ponder a question that has lingered since the birth of America with a series of primary sources that reflect the degree to which...