Lesson Plan
Historical Thinking Matters

Social Security: 5 Day Lesson

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Did the New Deal fundamentally shift the role of the American government in the economy? Your class members will examine the interpretations of various historians in answering this question, and use a variety of primary and secondary...
Activity
College Board

Evaluating Sources: How Credible Are They?

For Teachers 7th Standards
How can learners evaluate research sources for authority, accuracy, and credibility? By completing readings, discussions, and graphic organizers, scholars learn how to properly evaluate sources to find credible information. Additionally,...
Activity
Shmoop

ELA - Literacy.CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.9-10.1

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Do your pupils know what a primary source is? How about a secondary source? Provide them with the information here about different types of documents and then test their knowledge with a brief quiz. The quiz is made up of two documents....
Activity
Mr. Roughton

Cold Case Rome

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Pupils are transformed into detectives in the case to solve the motive behind the assassination of Julius Caesar. This resource includes eight engaging "exhibits" of unique primary and secondary sources for students to analyze...
Activity
1
1
Houston Independent School District

Creating a Successful Project

For Teachers 7th - 8th Standards
Guide your learners step by step through the process of designing an original, independent student project. This resource includes a wealth of worksheets and materials, including student project checklists, timelines, primary and...
Activity
PBS

1000 Words

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
A picture really can speak a thousand words—no matter how old! Scholars become history detectives as they learn how to analyze historical photos and evidence to uncover the past. The fun hands-on activity makes history come alive through...
Lesson Plan
Historical Thinking Matters

Rosa Parks: 3 Day Lesson

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
How can evidence and perspective challenge even the most well-known of stories? Through primary and secondary source analysis, think-alouds, and discussion, young historians evaluate the historical narrative of Rosa Parks across multiple...
Activity
University of California

Jewish Holidays

For Teachers 6th Standards
Modern Jewish holidays have ancient roots with many connections to today. Using photographs of primary sources, such as fragments of a shofar, as well as texts, such as the Hebrew Tanakh, learners explore how Jewish holidays reflect...
Activity
3
3
Humanities Texas

A President's Vision: Ronald Reagan

For Teachers 5th - 11th Standards
Young historians gain a fantastic overview of Ronald Reagan's term as president through analysis of several primary and secondary sources presented on this educational poster.
Activity
Mr. Roughton

Pawn Stars: Africa

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
What element was worth more during the growth of empires in West Africa: gold or halite? After examining various pieces of evidence of primary and secondary source documents placed around the room, your class members will each make a...
Activity
Curated OER

Life During the Great Depression An Oral History Project

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Although our connections to those who personally witnessed the Holocaust are dwindling, this lesson focuses on conducting an interview and getting some primary source material. There is a list of resources your high schoolers can...
Lesson Plan
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Miama-Dade County Public Schools

Patriot Day September 11, 2011

For Teachers K - 12th Standards
While many of our learners may recognize the date of September 11, 2001 in the United States, most will not be able to personally recall what transpired. On Patriot Day, introduce your young learners to the events, aftermath, and...
Activity
2
2
Humanities Texas

A President's Vision: George Washington

For Teachers 5th - 11th Standards
Who knew that one poster about George Washington could have so many learning possibilities attached to it? Here you'll find an attractive learning display on the first president of the United States, as well as worksheets and...
Activity
iCivics

Drafting Board: Interest Groups

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Does the influence of interest groups harm a political system? Your class members will analyze the role of interest groups in American politics, as well as consider the effect of perspective, bias, loyalty, and the...
Activity
Holy Family School

4th Grade Mission Project

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
If you're about to start a California mission project in your class, check out the worksheets offered in this resource for learners to use to guide their research and report back on what they discovered.
Activity
Mr. Roughton

The Maya Files

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
What a creative approach to studying about the ancient Mayan civilization! Learners will become investigators in the case of the "disappearance" of the Classic Maya by examining a variety of primary and secondary source material,...
Activity
2
2
Humanities Texas

A President's Vision: Lyndon Baines Johnson

For Teachers 5th - 11th Standards
Learners take a closer look at the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson, including the Great Society and the passage of the Voting Rights Act, through image analysis and primary source worksheets.
Activity
Curated OER

Student Newspaper Project

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Writing teaches us so much. One can identify the many characteristics of a newspaper, use the Internet to gather information, and communicate with others. Primary students create a class newspaper for publishing and dispersal.
Activity
Historica-Dominion Institute

Artifact Creation Activity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Creating an artifact that is representative of a specific time period provides an opportunity for amateur historians to understand the importance of primary sources. This resource describes the process for students to explore original or...
Lesson Plan
Science Matters

Wave Watching

For Teachers 6th Standards
Seismologists use the direction and arrival times of p waves and s waves to determine the distance to the source of an earthquake. The engaging lesson has students line up to form human waves. Through different movements when attached,...
Lesson Plan
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

Henry Kissinger and Detente

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How did relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China evolve between 1950 and 1970? Your young historians will complete a timeline of events with evidence that the relationship between these two great...
Activity
1
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Science Geek

Build a Food Web Activity

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Entangle your life science class in learning with this collaborative food web activity. Using pictures of the plants and animals native to a particular ecosystem, young biologists work in small groups to construct visual...
Lesson Plan
Speak Truth to Power

Dalai Lama: Free Expression and Religion

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How is religious freedom connected to the conflict between China and Tibet? After reading an online passage of background information, your learners will divide into groups and both read and view an interview with the Dalai Lama. They...
Activity
iCivics

Drafting Board: Military Intervention

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Should countries use their militaries to stop humanitarian crises in other countries? Learners make claims, organize their reasoning, and provide evidence for their arguments with this rich resource.