As the saying goes, you are what you eat. A useful set of lesson plans encourage young readers to take a second look at their eating habits. Pre- and post-reading questions bring in reflective writing and discussion while extension...

High schoolers examine the First Great Awakening and how it affected religious belief in colonial America. They read and analyze primary source documents, explore various websites, and write a five-paragraph essay examining the beliefs...

The American Revolution brought freedom to select groups and ignored others. An enlightening resource highlights the struggle of African Americans during the American Revolution and their efforts to escape slavery. Scholars analyze...

Young scholars examine the Enlightenment Era and its philosophies, including philosophers. Students gain an understanding concerning what they new science was and what it led to through a series of lessons and a PowerPoint. the end by...

In this influence of the Enlightenment on America study guide worksheet, pupils read the notes provided and add notes of their own regarding the frameworks for the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution.

Young scholars work in groups to do a document analyxix of several documents. Students view the Martin Luther King speech, "I Have a Dream." They discuss the Battle of Saratoge. Young scholars give a personal view of the reason the...

In this Enlightenment influence study guide worksheet, students read 5 quotes from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution and then respond to 5 reflection questions.

Eighth graders participate in a lesson that focuses on the study of the Declaration of Independence. The freedoms outlined in the document are discussed. Students make connections between philosophy and the writing of the Declaration.

Young scholars examine how religion affected arguments justifying American independence. They read and analyze primary source documents, and write an essay analyzing how Americans used religious arguments to justify revolution against a...

Students examine historical images of the Alaskan Gold Rush and complete a worksheet to better explain this era. They create a PowerPoint related to the images.

If you're looking for a fantastic cross-curricular lesson on the Statue of Liberty, then this lesson is for you! Learners watch a Reading Rainbow episode which focuses on the Statue, then gather facts about the creation, construction,...

High schoolers examine lives, philosophies, and political beliefs of four Enlightenment Thinkers: Baron de Montesquieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Hobbes, and John Locke. Students then work with partner to write short speech from...

Students explore the Chautauqua movement. In this Pennsylvania history instructional activity, students use primary documents to explore what the Chautauqua was and how it made a difference in the American way of life.

Using a simple circuit with the battery representing the brain, future physiologists test to see which solutions conduct electrical "nerve impulses." Enlighten learners with plentiful information on electric signals in the nervous system...

Students 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...

Students compare Neoclassical objects from the Getty collection to American civic architecture of the time. They discuss the moral and political ideas of the Enlightenment and articulate how these art forms influenced democratic thought...

Students explore the concept of democracy. In this character education lesson, students discover enlightened self-interest and discuss a quote from Alexis de Tocqueville.

Young scholars examine immigrants including why people immigrated to America and their places of origin.  In this immigrants instructional activity students analyze the importance of immigrants and the obstacles that they...

Young scholars study the historical background of Desert Storm/Desert Shield. They determine that not all Americans were in favor of the Gulf War and examine the Gulf War Syndrome. They discover that another possible cause pertains...

Eighth graders consider how they use their senses. In this biology lesson plan, 8th graders understand the definition of a disability and how it affects Americans who are hearing impaired or deaf, and those Americans who are visually...

Young scholars read stories about people making differences in the world and specifically the hunger plight. In this making a difference instructional activity, students read stories about people who impacted people and the plight of...

Young scholars use literature to examine how the structure of families in Mexico has changed over time. In groups, they examine how their life now relates to their ancestors and the Spanish conquest of the area. As a class, they are...

Learners explain how England's Glorious Revolution affected the colonies and investigate how the Great Awakening and Enlightenment affected the colonies. Students determine how the outcome of the French and Indian war affected N. America...

Students read the novel "Search for the Shadowman" by Joan Lowery Nixon. Using the internet, they research her life and works and write a report on their findings. They also compare and contrast two of her works to end the instructional...