Social Studies Teacher Resources

Learning more about the world around you is the first step in becoming a global citizen. Whether it’s a lesson on world history, geography, or international cultures, social studies is an important way to engage students with the stories and experiences of others.

For young learners, a lesson connects the themes of their everyday lives with common concepts from social studies. Use a presentation on American history, symbols, and leaders to teach class members about the basics of American culture.

An American history lesson compares the treatment of women in American society today with the Salem Witch Trials of the seventeenth century. Couple the resource with a complete American history curriculum, perfect for middle schoolers.

Want to connect social studies to the arts? Use an innovative resource to discuss social conflict and political protest with abstract art and song lyrics. Language arts students can write diary entries from the perspective of a historical figure with a thought-provoking writing activity.

Preparing your students to be citizens of the world may be your job, but preparing you for teaching the best lesson ever is Lesson Planet’s job!

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Identity & Community: An Introduction to 6th Grade Social Studies

For Teachers 6th Standards
Begin the school year with a collection of lessons that asks sixth-graders to consider who they are, their new role in middle school, and their role in their community. They study examples of peoples of the past dealing with issues of...
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5 Items in Curriculum Set
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Becoming Us

For Teachers 8th - 11th Standards
The mission statement of the National Museum of American History’s Becoming US: Teaching Immigration and Migration History in the 21st Century series is to provide “educational resources for high school teachers and students to learn...
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Cross-Curricular Reading Comprehension Worksheets

For Teachers 2nd - 6th Standards
This series of cross-curricular resources covers just about every subject, ranging from social studies to geometry to physical science. Each worksheet includes a reading passage and five questions that require learners to apply reading...
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19 Items in Unit
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Political Systems

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Designed for social studies classes, this collection of lessons examine both the history and the current state of US government institutions, policies, and economic programs.
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Middle School Fall Resources

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Seasons come, and seasons go—but why? And how? Middle schoolers learn more about the fall season with a collection of earth science resources, social studies lessons, and writing assignments. Start the school year off with a rigorous...
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Annenberg Foundation

Service Learning in the Social Studies

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Active Citizenship Today (ACT) is a "unique social studies service learning program" that requires students to learn about the public policy associated with community issues they identify in their local community. This web site provides...
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Lesson Plan
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Great Picture Books to Teach Social Studies for Grade K-3

For Teachers K - 3rd
Every class enjoys reading new books at the beginning of a unit. Use this resource to identify a variety of books for kindergarten to third grade that can be used to complement social studies standards. The books can kindle learners'...
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The Texas Social Studies Controversy

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Examine the Texas social studies curriculum controversy with your class. Using a current events lesson, learners read the article "A Christian Land Governed by Christian Principles," respond to the discussion questions, and participate...
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Activity
Jeopardy Labs

Third Grade Social Studies Review

For Students 3rd
In this interactive JeopardyLab game, with the assistance of a teacher, students can play against each other or in teams to review the content of Third Grade Social Studies. Allow the first team to choose a topic and a point value for a...
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Lesson Plan
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What Are the Social Studies?

For Teachers Higher Ed
Identify core social studies subjects with adult learners. They will discuss key issues from twentieth century American history and identify key social studies concepts taught at elementary grade levels. They then modify this activity to...
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Technology Resources for the Social Studies Classroom

For Teachers Higher Ed
Looking for ways to increase engagement by bringing technology into your elementary social studies class? Teachers are introduced to the technology resources available for social studies and then they show their students specific...
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Teaching Strategies for the Social Studies Classroom

For Teachers Higher Ed
Engage your class in a lesson that is concerned with the development of skills in the realm of teaching strategies needed for Social Studies. They will participate in delivering content using several strategies that are demonstrated by...
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Lesson Plan
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Teaching Social Studies in English

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Case studies, an examination of images, and readings of passages from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are used to spark conversations in ESL/ELD social studies classes about this highly-charged topic. Using a variety of...
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Philosophy of Social Studies Education

For Teachers Higher Ed
Learn how to distinguish between curriculum and instruction. Utilize concept mapping strategies to organize a philosophy of elementary social studies education. Your class will be able to explain the process they underwent to organize...
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Worksheet
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Third Grade Social Studies

For Students 3rd
In this social studies worksheet, 3rd graders complete multiple choice questions about laws, government, states, and more. Students complete 25 questions.
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Worksheet
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Third Grade Social Studies

For Students 3rd
In this social studies worksheet, 3rd graders answer multiple choice questions about crops, supply and demand, bartering, and more. Students complete 15 questions.
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Fifth Grade Social Studies

For Students 5th
In this social studies worksheet, 5th graders answer multiple choice questions about World War II, the transcontinental railroad, slavery, and more. Students complete 25 questions.
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PPT
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Baseball Challenge: Social Studies TCAP

For Teachers 6th
Using a baseball theme, this presentation provides a review of social studies topics covered in sixth grade. Students play a game in which they score based on the answers to various questions involving Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, map...
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Social Studies - Guessing Game

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Focus on a particular geographic location with this resource. Learners use their social studies textbook to look up information about a specific place. They write down a list of facts and read them to the class. Classmates guess which...
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Using the Landscape Picture Map to Develop Social Studies Skills

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Enhance your class' geography skills using this resource. Explore a variety of concepts including production and distribution, and people and the environment. Learners make predictions and identify locations on maps. This is a creative...
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Worksheet
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Third Grade Social Studies- Quiz

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this social studies worksheet, learners complete a 25 question multiple choice quiz about early American colonial life and the Cherokee and other Native American tribes.
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Worksheet
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Fifth Grade Social Studies

For Students 5th
In this social studies worksheet, 5th graders answer multiple choice questions about Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, and African Americans. Students complete 4 questions.
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PPT
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Social Studies: Looking at Regions

For Teachers 3rd
Quiz your 3rd graders on why we have regions. This regions quiz includes 16 questions on why and how we group areas into regions based on physical features, culture, politics or religion. A class discussion on technology completes this...
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2nd Grade Social Studies

For Teachers 2nd
Having a basic understanding to how our economy works is a great way to help students understand the world around them. This Social Studies presentation focuses on defining the concepts of trade, goods, service, wants, needs, and...

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