Lesson Plan
Digital History

The Boston Massacre

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What better way to get your class interested in history than to embody important historical characters and make events come to life? Stage a realistic mock trial of the British soldiers accused of murdering five Bostonians after the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Book: The Southern Colonies: Quest for Prosperity

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students, after reading Chapter 1 in the book, "The Southern Colonies: Quest for Prosperity,"begin to analyze the motivation behind European colonization. They convey the setting of the scene into a writing piece to illustrate the...
PPT
Curated OER

Post-WWII De-Colonization

For Students 9th - 11th
The end of WWII brought big changes around the world, not the least of which occur in the increasingly decolonized continent of Africa. This slideshow details the developing countries of Ghana, Kenya, Congo, Nigeria, and South Africa, to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Vote?

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students design a ballot slip for student voting. They create a slogan and political brochure.
Lesson Plan
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media

What Brought Settlers to the Midwest?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Drawn by promises of fertile land, thousands of settlers poured West because of the Homestead Act of 1862. By examining images of the ads that drew them westward, learners consider the motivations for movement. They also consider how the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jefferson vs. Franklin: Renaissance Men

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the achievements of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. They conduct Internet research, identify their achievements, and participate in a 'competition' that compares/contrasts the two men.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simulation: Revolutionary Town Hall Meeting

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Secondary historians simulate events leading up to the American Revolution. They assume the roles of patriots, loyalists, or neutrals in a town meeting set prior to the Revolution. As Patriots and Loyalists make their arguments, neutrals...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Hard Luck" La Salle

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine life of French explorer, La Salle, and how he impacted settlement of Texas and the establishment of Catholic missions in Texas; students write letters from the perspective of an explorer.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Philanthropic Movements in the United States to 1900: 1765 to the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers watch and discuss the Johnny Tremain video. They discuss the actions of citizens during the American Revolution and describe these actions as patriotic and/or philanthropic.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Government Goods and Services

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate the connection between taxes and government services.  In this economics lesson, 5th graders discuss the process and benefits of paying sales and income taxes.  Using calculators, students compute the...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Steps to the American Revolution

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students should understand the series of steps that led to the American Revolution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Immigration to the Golden Land: Jewish Life in America

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine waves of Jewish immigration during three time periods and analyze a variety of primary sources, including letters, memoirs, and laws, to gain insight into both the American immigrant experience and American society...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mars

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students debate the ethical considerations involved in colonizing and terra-forming Mars. They have a preliminary discussion and view a video clip about Mars, then break into support and oppose groups to research and prepare their...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Seventh Grade Social Studies Test

For Students 7th
In this Georgia social studies assessment worksheet, 7th graders respond to 30 multiple choice questions based on 7th grade social studies skills. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taming Terrorism

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore different organizations working to stop terrorism. They examine international summits and their recommendations. They participate in a debate about the effectiveness of the measures proposed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Back to the Farm

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students complete a family tree.  In this farming and ranching lesson, students define the term genealogy, learn how to create a family tree, and fill in a family tree with the help of their parents making sure to note if any of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

William Penn's Peaceable Kingdom

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain the methods Penn used to attract settlers to his colony. They compare and contrast Penn's account with Daniel Pastorius' account. Students evaluate the effectiveness of Penn's ability to attract settlers to the colony....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine readings and symbols to learn about the War of Independence and Thomas Jefferson. For this War of Independence lesson, students explore the role of Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration for Independence. Students answer...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Presidents' Day Activities

For Teachers 4th - 8th
President's Day activities can provide a variety of ways to help students learn about the presidents.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Abenaki Indians: A Jigsaw Activity

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students work together to research the Abenaki Indians. They discover how the Native Americans lives where changed after contact with the Europeans. They compare and contrast the Indians and the Europeans and present their information to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fort at No. 4 History

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars examine the history of Fort No. 4 in New Hampshire before visiting the site. They identify key events and people that occured at the fort as well. They complete questions and teach them to their group.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Korean Comfort Women

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the use of women as slaves by the Japanese military during World War II. Using the internet, they research the purpose of Korean comfort women and identify how the women have dealt with the exploitation. They share...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Informational Writing

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study Paul Revere. In this writing lesson, 5th graders discuss the elements of writing that help a reader be engage. They read about Paul Revere's life, taking notes about what made his life seem heroic, and write about...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Independence Declared

For Students 6th - 8th
In this United States history worksheet, students utilize a word bank of 10 terms or phrases to answer 10 fill in the blank questions about the nation declaring its independence. A short answer question is included as well.