Gain information about Clara Barton, a Civil War hero, and enhance reading comprehension skills with a worksheet that challenges scholars to read an informational passage and answer five short answer questions.  

While she was forgotten for much of the twentieth century, historians rediscovered Milunka Savic's exploits for the Serbian army during World War I. Although command was unsure of what to do with a female solider, Savic went on to prove...

Is Luke Skywalker the archetype of a literary hero? Follow the path of the Hero's Journey with an engaging lesson that details the plot structure, applies it to Star Wars: A New Hope, and invites class members to choose their own example...

John Green provides a fantastic summary of the presidency of George HW Bush, reviewing the president's background experience in the United Nations and the CIA, the presidential election of 1988, foreign policy implications after the end...

To gain an understanding of the treatment of African American soldiers during World War I, class members watch an excerpt from the History Detectives film, Our Colored Heroes, and then examine three recruitment posters from that time...

Sure, Harry Potter was sorted into the Gryffindor house, but is he really a hero? Middle and high schoolers examine the plot and character development in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series before creating a presentation to argue whether...

Young historians develop an understanding of the plight of Japanese Americans who were imprisoned against their will during World War II. They read first-hand accounts of some of the prisoners, view images of the Amache Center Camp in...

What is a hero? What is character? Using biographies of figures during the Civil War, both famous and lesser known, scholars consider these questions. After brainstorming what they think makes a hero, they examine the lives of those who...

Readers of The Odyssey look for events in Homer's saga that parallel Joseph Campbell's elements of The Hero's Journey. Scholars reflect on how these elements apply to their own lives.

Argh! Flash Gordon, Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress, Joseph Campbell's Hero with a Thousand Faces, Valmiki's The Ramayana. Stories of heroes and villains fascinate. And although the tales are reinterpreted over time, and as they...

Learners create mock interviews with revolutionary heroes. In this U.S. history lesson, students select a U.S. revolutionary war hero or British general, research their biographical information and the battles they participated in,...

Was King Constantine I the savior of Greece? A soldier before a king? A German sympathizer? A supporter of neutrality? King Constantine I—twice installed upon Greece's throne—reflects his small country's struggles during the Great War....

Ever wonder how to memorialize World War I heroes in the classroom? Activities in a high-quality social studies resource prompt middle schoolers to research Internet sources, complete a graphic organizer, and write an editorial feature...

Students read story excerpts from the BBC WW2 People's War archive to discover the contributions and obstacles faced by Asian and Black participants in World War 2 British forces. They prepare a radio report describing the commonwealth...

Some war heroes have four legs. War Horse tells of a courageous foal taken from his farm and sent into war. Joey, the foal, loves and touches the lives of many soldiers. However, his heart is still with his boy back on the farm. Scholars...

Eleventh graders examine the role of African-Americans in the Civil War. After reading a poem, they analyze and identify the difficulties faced by African Americans. In pairs, they complete a worksheet based on the poem and information.

A good addition to a unit on the War of 1812, this slideshow details causes, specific battles, political contexts, and several campaigns of the war. Maps and pictures with broad topics allow teachers to bring their own discussion topics...

Pay tribute to the sixteenth president of the United States with this fun song and activity. From his birth in a Kentucky log cabin and childhood in Indiana, to the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and his eventual assassination,...

He's often remembered as the man who died and left Hitler in power, but Paul von Hindenburg's military career before becoming president of Germany sheds light on his meteoric rise. Part of the Who did What in WW1? series, the engaging...

Young historians work in groups and take the simple concept of an alphabet book to design a detailed compilation of terms and images related to the Civil War. 

While Joshua Chamberlain's name is not as iconic as Abraham Lincoln or Robert E. Lee, he still played a pivotal role in the military engagements of the Civil War. Using two secondary sources—including one that draws heavily from his...

In this United States history worksheet, students utilize a word bank of 10 terms or phrases to answer 10 fill in the blank questions about the War of 1812. A short answer question is included as well.

Students discuss hero tales. In this character education lesson plan, students identify heroes from the movie Star Wars and explain how the hero showed courage. Students reflect upon their own definition of courage and present it to the...