What was life like for Irish immigrants settling in America during the late 1800's? Learners examine primary source documents, such as lyrics, poems, and letters, to understand the immigrant experience. They then use those primary source...

Celebrate sean-nós, céilí, and the lilting music of the Emerald Isle with a set of language arts activities! Learners complete word puzzles, vocabulary exercises, and comprehension questions about traditional Irish music.

Students are introduced to a variety of customs and traditions relating to the culture of Ireland. They view a video, explore the art of storytelling, research sport origins, cook Irish food and discuss well-known Irish proverbs.

This is a fun, thought-provoking lesson. Learners use census data from 1855, primary source documents, their historical knowledge, and information regarding the New York City Draft Riots of 1863 to construct and engage in a role-play....

Use data from the 1855 New York census to better understand the Irish immigrant experience during the late 19th century. Young historians analyze information from the census and build three hypotheses regarding the residents of the Five...

Erin go bragh! Enliven your St. Patrick's Day celebration by teaching your class members some of the combinations found in traditional Irish step dancing.

Students explore Irish-American culture. In this immigration lesson, students watch video segments regarding immigration in the 1840's and 1850's. Students discuss the discrimination Irish-Americans faced as they listen to songs and...

Students examine 19th century newspapers, a last and testament, and census manuscripts to analyze the Irish and German immigrant communities in the 1850s and 1860s. They write a letter from the perspective of an Irish or German immigrant.

Young scholars research how immigration changed the lives of Americans during 1850-1860. They study immigrant communities in rural America and research Irish and German-born residents of Augusta County, Virginia and Franklin County,...

Everyone living in the United States today is a descendant from an immigrant—even Native Americans. Learn about the tumultuous history of American immigration with a reading passage that discusses the ancient migration over the Bering...

Students examine the importance of folklore in Ireland and how that folklore reflects Irish culture. They first interpret various Irish folk tales, focusing on what about Irish culture can be better understood from these stories.

Social Studies and role-playing can go hand in hand. Learners use supporting evidence found in primary and secondary source material to develop a character from the Five Points neighborhood in the 1850s. Each student takes on the role of...

Learners identify the reasons for the mass starvation in Ireland in the 1800's. They analyze the historical and political forces that caused the famine and discuss the potato blight itself in detail.

Students determine what it was like to serve as an Irish-American in the American Civil War. In this Irish folk song lesson plan, students use the provided worksheets to analyze selected Irish folk songs and make inferences about war...

In this Irish history learning exercise, students read 11 words in a word bank and match them to their definitions. All pertain to the Irish potato famine in 1845. Students then complete a chart comparing their diet with that of a poor...

Fun St. Patrick's Day facts abound. The lesson plan tells the story of the most famous icons associated with the holiday: the shamrock, snakes, Celtic religion, Irish history, and St. Patrick himself. 

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a couple of fun English language exercises. After first activating students' prior knowledge about Ireland and Irish culture during a class discussion, learners work in pairs or small groups to...

Students recognize a Ceili as an Irish dance of celebration and investigate Ireland while studying the dance.  In this Irish dance instructional activity, students search the geography of Ireland, read poetry, identify costumes,...

In this recognizing facts about Ireland instructional activity, students choose multiple choice answers about the shamrock, Catholic rights in the 1600s, Irish volunteers, the wearin' o' the green, and Queen Victoria awarding the Irish...

How has your local neighborhood changed throughout recent history? Young researchers evaluate census data, images, and primary source descriptions describing the living situation in the antebellum Five Points neighborhood. They consider...

Middle schoolers research the experience of Irish immigrants who helped build the railroad systems of the United States. They analyze primary source documents, take notes, and create an artistic piece.

Traditional Irish music can bring even the most stoic audience to tears. This St. Patrick's Day, explore the lilting flutes and mournful ballads of the Emerald Isle with a interactive and inspiring music lesson.

Did St. Patrick really rid Ireland of all its snakes? Do shamrocks grow on every corner of the Emerald Isle? Learn all about Irish history and the true origins of St. Patrick's Day with a fill-in-the-blank worksheet that accompanies an...