Students examine Hitler's "Final Solution." They watch and discuss a PBS documentary, read handouts, conduct Internet research, and read and discuss a personal memoir.

Your class can practice collecting and analyzing data. They extrapolate information and derive data from fire season statistics. They also choose the most appropriate format to display collected data.

What is your history? Scholars work with their own families to create a unique story of the courage and bravery of their ancestors. The third and final part of the series culminates in a creation of not just a family history, but a...

High schoolers compare and contrast details of different wars throughout history. They discuss the reasons for wars through the ages and research a war in order to complete a class chart detailing seven different wars.

Eighth graders examine the role of technology. In the Civil War lesson plan, 8th graders look at the advent of photography and determine the impact of photography on the Civil War.

Students research African American involvement in World War II and the Double V campaign. In this African American history lesson, students review Jim Crow and watch a related video. Students complete the Double V image graphic organizer...

Students consider the responsibility of the media to present newsworthy items while still protecting national security during times of war. They take sides acting as politicians and newsmen and debate the merits of censorship of the media.

Baseball is a relatively high-interest topic through which social studies classes can explore racial prejudice in the US. Video clips provide much of the background information that groups record on their handout and then share with the...

Students explore the words of Abraham Lincoln. In this Abraham Lincoln lesson, students analyze segments of "The Gettysburg Address," his annual address to Congress in 1862, and his letter to Mrs. Bixby. Students conduct further research...

Students access a variety of websites that explore the Nazi German genocide of Jews in WWII. They view a film, complete a worksheet and write an opinion paper supporting the view to either punish or forgive the perpetrators of crimes...

Students examine the Penny Press and how it began the era of mass circulated newspapers. They use the internet to research the writing style of the paper and write a short article using that style.

Students determine what they think Americans currently expect regarding warfare and its cost in human lives and examine the sources of these expectations.

Go West, young man! Scholars use PBS video clips, slide shows, and interactive materials to create a picture of Manifest Destiny in the American West. Using a variety of primary and secondary sources, young historians learn about the...

The first part of this article by PBS on the Miss America pageants can be used in a health class when it's time to talk about body image. There are links to related articles. There are some great questions for discussion. There are ideas...

PBS has written a series of lessons on avoiding Armageddon. This is instructional activity 4 of 5 and focuses on defining terrorism. Upper graders watch episode 3 of "Avoiding Armageddon - The New Face of Terror," read how terrorism is...

Students examine the last major battle of the Revolutionary War at Yorktown. After viewing photographs, they participate in simulations of the surrender by Cornwallis. To end the lesson, they put the events of the battle into the...

Eleventh graders describe several of the WWI's bloodiest battles, track the battles' progression to determine advances made by leading nations, and write frontline journalistic accounts of one or more of the battles.

Students view a video clip from Frontline. They discover the characteristics of three postwar reconstruction plans. They identify the goals and actions of each plan and compare and contrast them. They discuss the effectiveness of each...

The political and economic climate during the 1930's was uncertain and tumultuous. But Americans' minds and hearts were eased with the reassuring words of their president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and addresses over the radio. High...

Students investigate civil liberties in the U.S. They watch and discuss a PowerPoint presentation, conduct research on an event from a timeline, complete a worksheet, take an ideology quiz, and conduct a debate.

Students explore the concept of water as a resource and as a human right. In this conservation lesson, students record and chart personal water usage and consumption then brainstorm ways in which to responsibly reduce water waste.

Students examine African American art. In this African American history lesson, students research face jugs created by African American freedmen after they watch a video about the artifact and its significance. Students then create...

High schoolers explore the critical role that closeness and proximity play in the success of a war reporter's writing as well as the drawbacks that this inevitably brings about. They discuss how situations like this could very well occur...

Students examine fairness in relation to the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII. In this equality instructional activity, students watch a video "Rabbit in the Moon" and discuss what happened to the Japanese Americans during...