Thanksgiving means an untimely demise for thousands of turkeys every year. This turkey Q and A provides nine questions bringing facts and statistics of turkey consumption to the discussion table. There is an answer key that provides full...

Looking for a activity that teaches class members how to analyze nonfiction? Use Joseph McCarthy's famous "Enemies from Within" speech as a instructional text. Worksheet questions direct readers' attention to the many historical...

Where did actors perform plays during Shakespeare's era? Using the handout, pupils learn about London's historical Globe Theatre and discover which of Shakespeare's plays actors performed there. Scholars also explore the cause of the...

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

Why is it important to preserve historical documents and artifacts? Examine the role of primary source documents and the availability of these documents on the Internet. Middle and high schoolers write a journal about the nature of...

Engage your class while learning about the US Constitution with this fun primary grade social studies lesson. After viewing a picture of the US Constitution, young learners piece together a US flag using stars and...

If it's on the Internet, it must be true ... right? Introduce young Internet explorers to the importance of fact-checking through a fun web-based activity. Pairs work together to read and analyze biographies about world explorers, then...

Two activities look at how rumors are spread and ways class members can stop them. The first activity brings forth an in-depth conversation about how reporters gather information to write articles and how students can implement the same...

Even though two passages discuss the same topic, they contain different facts and details. Scholars analyze two reading passages about the Gettysburg Address and list the ways they are the same and different.

Young scholars discover how to identify historical fiction. In this historical fiction lesson, students read the story Meet Addy: An American Girl by Connie Porter. Young scholars listen to the first chapter of the book read aloud....

Students author their own historical fiction stories. In this writing skills lesson, students use the 10 provided story starters to write fiction stories that incorporate facts from history.

Students examine journalism and its different styles.  In this effective communication instructional activity students create an editorial message and articulate an article.

Students construct an historical timeline extending from 1840-1850. They discuss various people, places, and events on their timelines.

Fourth graders research information about one historic site in Indiana. They then use the Publisher program on the computer to create an informational brochure. Finally, they share their brochure with the class.

Discover colonies! Young historians will listen to a primary source journal entry read aloud with a backdrop of wave sounds. They discuss the entry, add historical facts to a chart and personal insights to another. Then they listen to...

Students watch a film about slavery. Students view a PowerPoint about the Underground Railroad and use various resources to make a timeline for the topic. Students research a historical figure from the Underground Railroad era and give a...

Prior knowledge is key when starting any novel unit, but it's essential before introducing Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Three lessons provide primary documents, historical discussions, and extended reading activities...

"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," from The Jungle Book, offers young readers a chance to examine how Rudyard Kipling uses setting and personification to bring to life the brave mongoose who battles cobras to protect his family. Class members...

Students are introduced to the symbolism of the flag of the United States of American. They identify flag components, history, etiquette and lore. They also use constrution paper to make a flag and discuss the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Oregon trail is a very interesting part of American history. The class, having read or discussed the events leading to the westward expansion and settling of the Oregon Territory, can answer each of these fill-in-the-blank...

What strategies do historians use for interpreting visuals? This simple worksheet lists four questions that learners can use to approach and analyze historical photographs, fine pieces of art, etc., as well as an opportunity to apply the...

Middle schoolers differentiate between fact and legend. For this Barbara Freitchie lesson, students read poetry and non-fiction accounts regarding the story of Freitchie. Middle schoolers analyze the story of the American patriot to...

Students examine The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. In this visual arts lesson, students study the historical significance of the event as they examine the Grant Wood painting and primary sources regarding the event.

Students analyze agricultural data and make predictions about events in history. In this history lesson, students correlate the relationship between historic events and issues in agriculture to see if there is a correlation. They analyze...