MENSA Education & Research Foundation
It’s Greek to Me: Greek Mythology
It's no myth: this packet on Greek mythology is an excellent addition to your social studies curriculum. With writing activities, such as short answer responses and biopoems, and reading activities, which include creation stories and...
Curated OER
Preparing for High School and Beyond
Eighth graders might be intimidated about going to high school and they may not think they'll ever go to college. Ease those fears while making college readiness an eighth grade reality. In teams, pupils fill out several worksheets while...
Yale University
Islamic Art; Exploring the Visual Arts of the Middle East
The intent of this unit is to demonstrate some of the traditional arts of the Middle East. Extensive background information on the religion, culture, and nature of Islamic art found throughout the Middle East is provided. Each of the...
Curated OER
An Electronic Self-Portrait Lesson Plan - A Unit for Middle School
Using a photo of themselves for inspiration, learners create a multi-media self-portrait. A digital image of each child is taken, it is uploaded into the computer where is can be experimented with in a digital format. Young artists then...
Facing History and Ourselves
Kristallnacht: Decision-Making in Times of Injustice
Have you ever been singled out in a crowd before? Pupils investigate and analyze the events of the Holocaust. They dive into the life of a middle school student, as well as the diary entries of those in Kristallnacht during World War II.
PBS
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
What rights are guaranteed to students? Do they align with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was approved by the United Nations in 1948? Middle and high schoolers present persuasive arguments about the rights they believe...
Curated OER
Making Gateway Middle School Handicapped Accessible
Students discuss the situation at their middle school about being handicapped accessible. In groups, they identify the various types of handicaps and their accommodations. They create a blueprint of the building and make suggestions in...
Curated OER
Exploring Archaeology and Trade in the Middle School Latin Class
Students in a Latin class focus on archeology and trade from the Hellenistic period through the Middle Ages. In groups, they read various stages of a primary source documents in which they discuss and answer questions. To end the lesson...
Curated OER
Manga and Me
Upper elementary and middle school learners study Manga cartooning and create a Japanese character based on their own features and personalities. This style of cartooning is easily-accessible for most students. With a little practice,...
Curated OER
Teaching Reading Comprehension through Social Studies Readings
Examine how immigrants have changed the environment of the United States. Individually, middle schoolers will take a pre- and post-test to assess their reading comprehension. In groups, they compare and contrast the religions of...
Curated OER
Homophobia: What is It? What Can We Do About It?
A two-part lesson focuses on the sensitive issues of homophobia, discrimination, sexuality, and gender. Middle schoolers discuss individual and institutional discrimination, personal rights, homosexuality, and bullying.
Middle Tennessee State University
The Invention of the Telephone
All of the people in your class would agree that life would be different without the invention of the telephone! Study Alexander Graham Bell's most famous and influential invention through the primary source document of his sketch of the...
BBC
The Role of a Monarch (key stage 2 and 3)
What makes a good monarch? Elementary and middle schoolers examine popular symbols of the British monarchy before designing a television advertisement about the qualities needed in a monarch. Next, they write poems using metaphors and...
Curated OER
Ancient Greece Map Worksheet
Since the beginning of time, geography has shaped the development of human civilization, and ancient Greece is no exception. This worksheet supports young historians with exploring this relationship as they first identify key land...
Curated OER
Middle East and Oil
With only a handful of notes and several great images, this slide show asks learners to consider the importance petroleum has played in current conflicts with the Middle East. This could accompany a full lecture on the subject, but it is...
Curated OER
England in 1060: Should William of Normandy Attack?
Start a class discussion. Should William of Normandy attack England? Review basic facts about land and politics then discuss the situation. This presentation is intended for a Middle school audience, grades 6-8.
University of Chicago
Comparing Modern and Ancient Ideas of Ethnicity and Identity
Explore ethnicity and identity with a research and writing assignment. Class members conduct online research, looking in particular at images and carefully noting down their sources on notecards. They read about identity and compose...
Kids Discover
Ancient Egypt by KIDS DISCOVER
Discover Ancient Egypt! Learn about mummification and gods, visit pyramids and temples, examine cliff carvings and paintings, take quizzes and engage in activities. Colorful, interactive, and easy to use, this app is not just for kids!
Curated OER
The Allied Victory
Key events that shaped the outcome of WWII are outlined in this well put together presentation. Easy to follow and set up in chronological order, Tenth graders will learn about the North African Campaign, Battle for Stalingrad, Invasion...
Curriculum Development Institute
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games are the subject of a differentiated lesson for a middle school classroom. Activities include researching the events in the ancient games and comparing them to events in the modern Olympics, gathering acts about why...
Curriculum Development Institute
Life in the Greek City-States: Athens and Sparta
Developing lessons that address the diversity found in the 21st-century classroom can be a challenge. A plan about life in the Greek city-states of Athens and Sparta provides a model for how instruction can be differentiated to address...
Curated OER
Who's The Boss?
Upper elementary and middle schoolers research and analyze some different types of governments. Democracies, Monarchies, and Dictatorships are some of the types that are looked at. Learners use the Internet to gather information that...
Curated OER
Religion in Japan Japanese Writing
Study the three writing systems of Japanese: Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji. Your middle schoolers will practice writing Kanji and write a mini story in English which uses at least 10 of the Kanji in the place of the English words....
Smithsonian Institution
Two Perspectives on the Battle of Little Bighorn/Greasy Grass
Learners understand why historians conduct research and the importance of perception when it comes to studying history. The resource covers The Wars of Expansion and the Battle of Little Bighorn/Greasy Grass through group work, debate,...