Students read and analyze two primary source documents written by Christopher Columbus.

Students demonstrate their previous knowledge about Columbus. They explore and compare different perspectives about Columbus.

In this U.S. instructional activity, students take notes in a graphic organizer as they read several passages, then answer four comprehension questions.

Pupils compare physical and cultural landscapes of the Twin Cities between 1990-2000. Using census data, aerial photos, and land use maps, they discover and analyze the changes that have occurred in the region as a result of...

In this popular, trade, or scholarly article worksheet, students read and review at least three given articles.  Students identify the type of article and give reasons for their choice. Students are given a list of questions to...

Students explore an online Hyperlink Habitat to illustrate the interconnectedness of a tropical rainforest ecosystem. They create a map of the Hyperlink Habitat and research a local ecosystem and create their own print or Web version of...

After viewing clips from a documentary on factory work in China and US outsourcing, learners have a fishbowl discussion. They work in groups to build both personal points of view and strong arguments on the effects of outsourcing in...

Weaving is an important part of Navajo culture. Read The Goat in the Rug to your fourth and fifth graders, and give them a glimpse into the process of rug making from the point of view of a goat! They will learn new vocabulary words and...

After observing a map of trails that settlers took in the 1800s, your class will write a journal with the perspective of a settler. In their journals, they must describe the trail they traveled, geographical features they saw, states and...

Learning about one landform might seem boring to some, but using the resource provided practically guarantees scholar interest. The second in a sequential series of eight covering the topic of Mount Everest includes activities such as a...

Is there a correlation between a country's wealth and the extent of its ecological footprint? What exactly constitutes an ecological footprint, and how does one country stack up against the rest? This is a unique lesson to incorporate...

Need a quick way to administer and grade a multiple choice quiz? Keep this bubble sheet as a staple of your curriculum toolkit! It can be used for assessments with up to 30 multiple choice or true/false questions.

Students explore how the population decreased in native cultures.

Students study historical maps to view how the world evolved from medieval times through the Renaissance. They work in groups to examine the maps and present a report on one of the listed maps.

A confidential message written by Thomas Jefferson provides readers with an opportunity to practice their reading comprehension skills. The resource, part of a series, includes questions that require a close reading of the message and a...

Slavery in India, Sudan, and Mauritania? What about in the United States? Groups research modern slavery in these four countries, collecting factual evidence (What), determine their feelings about this evidence (So what),...

Young historians investigate how voting patterns have changed by comparing the outcome of the 1960 election to the outcome of the recent election. A creative final assessment has participants making a news show wherein they provide...

Start a whole new life in a land known as the Wild Wild West! Learners analyze maps, personal accounts, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, songs, and video clips to uncover life under the Homestead Act. Using their new skills, class members role...

How would you use census data from 1880-1900? Here are a set of ways you can incorporate the book Little House on the Prairie and US census data from that time period. Learners will research the validity or the book based on factual...

Go on an electronic field trip. Discover Spanish-speaking countries through Internet exploration. Learners participate in a whole group discussion to general knowledge about the location, cultural background, independence and current...

The first part of this article by PBS on the Miss America pageants can be used in a health class when it's time to talk about body image. There are links to related articles. There are some great questions for discussion. There are ideas...

Students create a map showing the United States borders at a specific period in history and produce three questions to be answered by examining the map. They also write a productive paragraph explaining who, what, when, where, how/why a...

Positive character traits in literature are explored in this character development and literacy lesson plan. Learners listen to Cinderella by Charles Perrault and Little Gold Star by Robert D. San Souci, followed by a discussion...