National Endowment for the Humanities
Common Sense: The Rhetoric of Popular Democracy
Learners identify important arguments for independence made in Thomas Paine's Common Sense. They explain why these arguments helped persuade American colonists that independence was necessary. Students describe the importance of Common...
Curated OER
Weather Lesson
Students examine the various types of dangerous weather situations. In groups, they focus on the characteristics of a nor'easter and how it forms. They compare and contrast the two main types of nor'easters and examine how one can use...
Curated OER
Zimbabwe
Students explore the hardships being faced by the people in Zimbabwe. In this World History lesson plan, students research the challenges of Zimbabwe, such as hunger, poverty, low life expectancy and political controversy. ...
Curated OER
Cultural Spaces
As a way to help your students understand tolerance, personal space, and cultural diversity, this lesson has them give up personal space for three minutes. There is no discussion prior to this activity and seemingly very little after....
Curated OER
You're In My Space!
Young scholars explain how political, social, and economic boundaries can be changed through cooperation and conflict. Small groups are assigned a particular trouble area of the world. Each group studies a particular side of the conflict.
Curated OER
Getting to Know You
Students converse with each other while playing a game in order to discover things that are alike and things that are different about themselves. The students gather data about themselves, organize and display data on the graph, and...
Curated OER
Mannequin
Students design and construct an outfit for one member of their group using only newspapers and masking tape. This activity is designed to help students get acquainted with each other.
Curated OER
The Treaty of Versailles and the Effects of WWI
Help your historians comprehend perspectives of the Versailles Treaty by paralleling the event to a peace meeting in the classroom, which 2 participants aren't invited to. Consider making it more relatable: instead of the class going to...
Curated OER
The Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee
Pupils identify and analyze the motivation behind the African-American students in organizing the sit-in if Greensboro and the formation of the SNCC. Pupils identify how the generational differences between members of SNCC and other...
Curated OER
Introduction to Business: Business Feud
Trying to liven up an introductory economics unit on wants and needs? Combine text review with a game using this guide, which has scholars earning the right to play "Business Feud" by scoring high on reading recall questions. While it is...
Curated OER
A Helping Hand: The Role of Guides During Western Expansion
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...
Curated OER
Rockin’ the World: Rock and Roll and Social Protest in 20th Century America
Students explore protest songs. For this interdisciplinary lesson, students examine issues-based music by summarizing lyrics and revealing inferences, generalizations, conclusions, and points of view found in the songs.
Curated OER
Social Studies: St. Patrick - Symbol of Irishness
Pupils examine the history of St. Patrick's Day by creating characters and dialog reflecting Irish culture. A major part of the lesson is the construction of a float for a St. Patrick's Day parade. Also, students research and answer...
Curated OER
Social Studies: Class Citizenship Tree
Third graders discuss citizenship and the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance. On poster board, the teacher draws a tree and students draw their citizenship ideas on paper or clip pictures from magazines and glue them to the tree.
Curated OER
Equality: Are Some More Equal than Others?
High schoolers research a person who has been active in supporting human rights around the world. They simulate an international conference and write a newsletter focused on human rights in a specific country.
Curated OER
Child Labor and Social Protest
Young scholars explore child labor of the 1900's and compare it to its existence in countries around the world today. Several activities are included including Web research, video presentations, and group projects.
Curated OER
Social Studies, Civics Lesson
Students examine the development of government. They identify different theories of political thought around the world. They participate in a play to discover their own political views on key issues.
Curated OER
Eleanor Roosevelt, A Leader Who Helps People
Students are introduced to Eleanor Roosevelt the person. They are introduced to how she cared about people. Students are introduced to the concept of leadership. They write a poem about Eleanor Roosevelt as a leader, or they write a...
Curated OER
Rescuers: Those Who Risked Their Lives to Save Others
Students examine stories of Holocaust heroes. In this Holocaust lesson, students study the contributions of those who saved Jewish prisoners. Students compose reflective essays pertaining to the topic.
Curated OER
Helping Your Community-Sharing Stories
In this activity, students in groups will assemble a story bag, which contains objects that represent some type of story to them. Students will then practice sharing these stories in a dramatic fashion.
Indian Land Tenure Foundation
Leaders' Decisions and Actions
Community leaders try to make choices that protect the community and the environment. Little ones learn about how tribal communities look to their chief to guide the decision-making process. Your class will become part of the community...
Ohio State University
Where in the World Can I Find a Healthy Diet?
What constitutes a healthy diet? In what way is a healthy diet defined and influenced by culture? Groups investigate the community and national resources available in a country, and then design a healthy diet for its citizens.
Curated OER
I Wonder What Other Dangerous Diseases Insects Spread...
Middle schoolers use the internet to research diseases spread by insects. They create a brochure using the information they gathered. They present their project to the class.
Curated OER
Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
High schoolers study Eleanor Roosevelt's spirit, personal style, and humanitarian efforts. They investigate their own community for volunteer organizations dedicated to helping others.