Upper graders become "shipwreck detectives" by studying the debris field from a shipwreck in the Aegean Sea which took place in the 700s.  A website is accessed that gives specific information about the debris field, and pairs of...

To compare how the Spanish, French, and English approached the exploration of North America, class groups examine primary source documents and become experts on one of four explorers: Francisco Coronado, Robert LaSalle, Samuel de...

A lovely guided reading lesson awaits you and your students. They read the book,Corn is Maize: The Gift of the Indians, by Aliki, summarize the important events of the story, and describe how corn has helped develop culture in America.

Using or considering using Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God? Then this packet is a must for your curriculum library. The examination of how Hurston combines folklore and folk language to create the voice of her...

Learners study the development of early Latin American civilizations in unit one. The second part of the unit is based on early image-making attempts from the Cro-Magnon to the Peruvian Incas. Students create their own weavings using a...

People could take a page in ingenuity and survival from the Powhatans. Deer skins became clothes, and the members of the Native American group farmed the rich Virginia soil and hunted in its forests for food. Using images of artifacts...

Pupils consider the varying perspectives of people in different cultural groups as they read an informational text about the Dinka tribe of Southern Sudan and complete graphic organizers. They also respond to a constructed-response...

Students listen to selections of New Orleans street band music. They explore the culture of New Orleans in the 1920's, and perform a closer examination of Armstrong's music.

What could be so interesting about archaic Greece? What isn't! Kids will get a chance to see some of the amazing artifacts unearthed by explorers of old. As the slides progress, so does the ancient timeline. From the Early Bronze Age and...

Awesome, that is all I have to say! This set of lessons provides learners with an understanding of ancient Egyptian laws, lifestyle, religion, and culture. It engages them in a critical analysis activity regarding the film, "The Prince...

What does social security reveal about the political and social culture of the 1930s? After beginning with a brief introductory video on the impact of the Great Depression and how various Americans, such as Huey Long and Francis...

Young historians explore the identity of the early United States in this four-part lesson series. Working in groups of three, learners research the political, economic, and cultural atmosphere of each member of the...

Fourth graders examine the experiences of four immigrant groups. Class members brainstorm a list of misconceptions of those groups and discuss if these perceptions are still present today. Using maps, groups locate the countries of...

During the early 1500s, parts of modern-day New York were inhabited by Eastern Woodland Native Americans. To learn about the daily life, value, and traditions of these tribes, fourth graders research the Iroquois.  Groups select...

A reading of Tanya Lee Stones' biography of Ella Fitzgerald lets middle schoolers get up close and personal with the First Lady of Jazz. Stone recounts details of Fitzgerald's life from her early days through her experiences as a teenage...

Scholars become detectives in a lesson that focuses on primary sources. Learners practice their observational skills by examining the teacher's artifact and visiting the Show and Tell Museum that highlihgts items from peers and...

Third graders explore the important leaders in different cultures by researching coinage. Through this process, they also recognize the cultural universality on coinage and currency.

Seventh graders explore early Chinese civilization. As pupils study Chinese history, they examine its scientific accomplishments. In partners, 7th graders create an advertisement presentation for an advancement of ancient China.

Students define civilization as it was in ancient times.  In this world history lesson, students work in small groups to write a recipe that has all the combined ingredients of early civilized societies and share their results with...

Learners explore Inuit language. In this Inuktitut lesson, students listen to a lecture about the history and phonology of the Inuit language. Learners create Inuktitut-English dictionaries with illustrations for...

Early African society was shaped by environment and geography. Define the life ways of early African societies with this informative presentation. Topics are basic and only touch lightly on the complex nature of the subject matter.

After presenting the "Early People of Louisiana and a Meeting of Different Worlds" PowerPoint, also found on LessonPlanet.com, you can use the attached two-slide PowerPoint to quickly assess your students. They are prompted to answer...

Examine the effects and interrelationships that came about because of the Columbian Exchange. Learners answer three short essay questions to improve their expository writing skills and understanding of early globalization.

Sixth graders research the history and development of Korea as a culture and nation. This lesson plan is unique in that the focus is upon the neighboring countries of China and Japan in order to see their contributions to Korean society.