Role-play and simulation exercises are fantastic ways to help learners understand the reality behind many social and historical events. Pretending they are colonists, upper graders choose a location, create a history, establish laws, and...

Students investigate the changes of their environment by experimenting with photography.  For this environmental observation lesson, students compare historic photographs of areas with pictures they have just taken.  Students...

Fourth graders read cards about the explorers: Coronado, Lewis, and Clark, Pike, and Long. In this influential expeditions instructional activity, 4th graders describe and observe explorers who came to Kansas. Students locate main...

Young scholars explore U.S. history by researching a historic map. In this westward expansion lesson, students discuss the mystery of the western U.S. in the early 1800's and the impact expansion had on Native Americans and agriculture....

Learners study the battle at Bushy Run. In this Pontiac's Rebellion activity, students examine an 1765 map of the Bushy Run battle as well as letters and a modern topographic map of the area in order to simulate the event and research...

Students discuss landmarks commonly found on maps. They are divided into two groups, and asked to draw a map for a friend who hasn't been to the area. Group A may use street and place names, group B may not. Students discuss the role of...

Students will identify and locate Central and South America and their countries and features, as well as Meso-American civilizations. Students will compare civilizations and discuss voyages of relevant explorers.

Fourth graders explain and analyze changes and interactions of Hoosier women in major social and work roles during the Civil War. They recognize and compare the contributions of both women on the home and war fronts.

Students examine the events and history surrounding the boundaries of Delaware. They participate in a class discussion and analyze a map, then create a floor map using masking tape. Students also participate in a play about the...

Fifth graders complete a variety of activities surrounding European exploration of the New World. They research one explorer and write and present an essay or script in which they portray that explorer as he makes his final report to his...

Fifth graders research their assigned regions, complete regional guide and prepare presentations about the New World colonists. They refer to "Everyday LIfe: Colonial Times" as well as searching marked internet sites.

Fifth graders connect reasons for coming to the New World with identity. The create identities and place them in one of three settled regions. They refer to prior study notes in their Colonial Notebooks to establish their identities.

Students explore the concept of immigration. In this immigration lesson plan, students read literature, analyze photographs, and evaluate political cartoons that reflect feelings about immigration in America during Industrialization....

Students research and examine the lives and culture of western mountain guides during the early to mid 1800s. Students write reports about a guide they research, do a simulation of the guide by keeping a journal, managing money and...

Students explore the role of women during times of war. They examine the various roles that women have played in wars throughout United States history and how they have changed over time. In addition, they role-play presentations as if...

Students perform raps and analyze issues among the rich and poor. They explore how countries are labeled as "third world" and "first world." They create a dialectical journal and examine the country of Nigeria through the reading of...