Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

Understanding the Great Migration

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What would make someone leave home and travel thousands of miles to find another one? Young historians look at letters, demographic data, and artwork to answer the question for the Great Migration, or the movement of thousands of African...
Worksheet
Curated OER

End of World War One Word Search

For Students 9th - 10th
In this world history instructional activity, students complete a word search puzzle in which they located 14 words associated with World War I. They find words such as Germany, France, Britain, and Clemenceau.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Microwave and the Jiffy Store

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young historians examine the lifestyle changes and cultural changes that occurred as a result of the challenges posed by World War II on society in general. With regard to American History and culture, pupils write an essay on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dorothea Lange and the Relocation of Japanese Americans

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider the relocation of Japanese Americans during World War II. In this Japanese relocation lesson plan, students examine photographs by Dorothea Lange, the "Pledge of Allegiance," and a US government flyer from 1942. They...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Cold War

For Students 9th - 12th
In this Cold War worksheet, students read 3 brief selections about the conflict and then respond to 13 short answer and multiple choice questions based on the selections.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Introduction to the Early Origins of the Cold War

For Students 9th - 12th
In this Cold War instructional activity, learners read an article titled "Introduction to the Early Origins of the Cold War," and then make a list of key dates and events from the selection.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World War II: Japanese-American Internment

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders read "The Bracelet" by Yoshiko Uchida and use it as a catalyst to discuss the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. They debate the morality of the internment, create Venn diagrams and chart important events...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading, Writing and 'Rithmetic in the One-Room Schoolhouse

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars, through historic photographs and stories, discover the world of the one-room schoolhouse and compare it to their school experience.
Lesson Plan
Washoe County School District

Eyewitness to the Holocaust

For Teachers 7th - 8th Standards
Scholars investigate the Holocaust through the eyes of an Auschwitz survivor. They analyze and research a firsthand account of events inside the gas chambers moments before hundreds died. Using Holocaust Reading Passages and...
Organizer
1
1
Common Core Sheets

Reading a Timeline

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
Sometimes the most important details of an informational text aren't within the text at all. Teach your class how to read timeline with a set of activities that prompts them to find specific dates and events on the timelines, as well as...
PPT
Curated OER

Islam: History, Values, and Culture

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Providing a thorough outline in the first few slides, this presentation takes viewers through the history and characteristics of Islam. Especially helpful are the slides that clear up common misconceptions about Islam, such as the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Primary Sources to Study the Holocaust

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Engage your middle schoolers with Pastor Martin Niemoller's famous poem that begins, "First they came for the communists." Now that you have their attention, send learners to the various work stations you created to have them explore...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Smithsonian Institution

POWs

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Why did Vietnam POWs and their families receive more media attention than POWs in previous wars?  To answer this question, class members view artifacts, read articles, and engage in class discussion. Individuals then assume the...
Lesson Plan
1
1
Student Achievement Partners

Laura Hillenbrand's "Unbroken" and Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston's "Farewell to Manzanar"

For Teachers 7th - 9th Standards
Passages from Unbroken and Farewell to Manzanar provide the context for a study of the historical themes of experiencing war, resilience during war, and understanding the lasting trauma of war. Appendices include extension...
Unit Plan
1
1
Echoes & Reflections

Studying The Holocaust

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
While many young scholars are familiar with the Holocaust, they may not understand the specific history that led to the unprecedented atrocity. The first lesson in the unit helps teachers gauge their pupils' background knowledge. A...
Interactive
Curated OER

The Cold War (1945–1963)

For Students 8th - 12th
In this online interactive history worksheet, students respond to 8 short answer and essay questions about the Cold War. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"The New Television Set" a Gateway to the Post World War II Era

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders demonstrate their knowledge of the effects of television on the political, economic, religious, social, intellectual and artistic life of the US nation from the 1950's. Research how television shaped public opinion with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gunpowder and the Explosion of World War

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners consider how technology changed the world of war. In this world history lesson, students research 20th century world conflicts and then compose essays that feature the how technology changed the way that wars were fought.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Double V Campaign: Victory at Home and Victory Abroad

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students write a persuasive essay as if they were an African American in World War II and decide if they would contribute war bonds or not. In this World War II lesson plan, students study the segregation of World War II and the unity...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Was Responsible for the Start of the Cold War?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars determine who is responsible for the start of the Cold War. In this Cold War lesson, students conduct their own research about the evolution of the war and write essays that reveal their opinion on how the war began.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Prisoner of War Camps In Germany- Crossword

For Students 6th - 7th
In this history crossword puzzle activity, students read and analyze 12 clues pertaining to the prisoners of war in Germany during Word War II. Students fit their answers into a crossword puzzle, which has no word bank.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Japanese Prisoner of War Camps

For Students 5th - 6th
In this World War II worksheet, students read the 10 clues about Japan's prisoners of war during the war. Students use the clues to find 10 words to complete the crossword puzzle.
Handout
Spark Notes

The Interwar Years (1919-1938): Study Questions

For Students 7th - 12th
In this online interactive history worksheet, students respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about years between World Wars I and II.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students engage in a video activity to research the effects of war upon the Japanese to live in the world after World War II. They answer specific questions in order to complete the unit.