Students participate in a simulation game to experience the societal effects of the Black Plague during the Medieval Period. Information garnered during the game is used to discuss the current state of communicable diseases in our world...

Students examine the mass marketing of Christmas. For this gift giving lesson, students visit selected websites to discover the history behind gift-giving, research marketing techniques, and consider giving alternative gifts.

Students complete activities to explore family folklore. In this folklore instructional activity, students define in writing family folklore, identify aspects of family folklife through discussions of their own traditions. Students...

Young scholars relate Newton's Laws of Motion to the game of baseball. They compare and contrast the materials used in baseballs that could affect their performance. They also determine how friction can be increased or decreased in a...

Students read about the daily life, history, dynasties, and ancient celebration of ancient China.

Students explore espionage. In this current events lesson, students research various Web sites for information about the history of spy work, Anglo-Russian relations, and spy gadgets. 

Students explore various aspects of French life. They determine which topic dealing with French history, art, food, music, dance, celebrations or traditions they research and present.

Learners use addition to determine values of coin combinations. They play a game where they come up with possible trades: two nickels for a dime and complete a tally worksheet. There are other lessons in this unit.

Students make an ancient Maya travel guide. In this ancient Maya lesson, students use knowledge from previous lessons to design a travel guide. They include important information for a traveler who wants to visit an ancient Maya city....

Learners compare and contrast the realistic and romantic art and literature about experiences on the Oregon Trail. Using this information, they compare their viewpoints and write messages on what they believe it was like on a trip down...

Fifth graders research European explorers.  In this world history lesson plan, 5th graders will compare eight European explorers and identify important factual information about each.  Students will be engaged through game-play...

Fifth graders research bartering. In this bartering lesson, 5th graders investigate bartering as a way to trade for goods and services. Students experience bartering first hand while playing a game.

Students identify inventions as coming from China. In this Chinese inventions activity, students are given a list of common items such as cast iron, a wheelbarrow, and the decimal system, then conduct research to identify where they...

What were the early Greek myths? Have elementary young scholars examine the Persian Wars and read various Greek myth in order to identify the cause and the results of the Persian Wars. Myths, activities, simulations, and a unit plan are...

Student groups retell stories from Iroquois storytellers. They role-play Iroquois women, men and children and explain their roles. They read "Knots on a Counting Rope" and make up their own stories. They create timelines. They visit a...

Students research the sport of snowboarding in-depth, and divide into small groups to create an entertaining, multimedia newsletter on the sport.

Students explore the distinct forms of knowledge that enslaved Africans brought with them to America or developed while enslaved. They study how political movements of the 18th century helped develop abolitionist thinking.

Students study democracy, levels of Canadian government and the responsibilities of elected officials. They write letter's to the Prime Minister about their pride in Canada.

Learners examine the Brown v. Board of Education case in Topeka, Kansas. They re-enact the courtroom and discuss how school would be different today if this case never existed. They discuss how public education has been affected by this...

Students read the novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, and explain public attitudes towards slavery in 19th century America.

Students remember new vocabulary. They say one of the vocabulary words and throw the ball to someone else. That student then has to say a different vocabulary word and pass the ball. Students investigate six to eight new vocabulary words.

Pupils write a story. In this historical fiction lesson, students research how Thanksgiving began. Pupils write a fictional story where they are a main character of this time period.

Students examine genre painting. They explore the Illinois State Museum website, identify how genre paintings were composed, analyze the activities of an Illinois farm in the 1850s, and create a genre painting of current everyday...

Young scholars create a holiday card using technology. In this technology lesson, students use Publisher templates to create a holiday card. Young scholars organize, design, and edit their card.