Ceramics: A Vessel into History

Upper graders use the potter's wheel to make Japanese style tea cups, which they will use in a Japanese style tea ceremony. They hone their sculpting techniques while exploring Japanese cultural and the history of tea. There are two...

A lot went on in Medieval Castles, and they were an obvious symbol of feudal power. Have learners use clay to make a Medieval-style castle to show what they know about Europe during the Dark Ages. This resource provides basic background...

What are the attributes of a civilization? A unit from Crash Course World History connects the main ideas from four of its videos to define a civilization and to track the transition from the Paleolithic Era to the Neolithic Revolution.

Ancient texts, like Homer's Odyssey, mentions navigating ships by observing constellations. Pupils learn about the link between history and astronomy as they relate to navigation in the Bronze Age. Scholars complete two hands-on...

The moment Christopher Columbus's ships touched North American shores, the world changed forever. But has it been for the better? High schoolers consider the effectiveness, benefits, and drawbacks of the Columbian Exchange with a...

Did Roosevelt know about the planned attack on Pearl Harbor prior to December 7, 1941? After examining primary and secondary source materials, viewing documentary footage on the attack, a History Channel video on the controversy, and...

The Statue of Liberty may embrace the huddled masses of the world, but has American society always joined in? After young historians read a passage about the history of American immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries, focusing on...

Students examine ceramic vessels from different time periods. In this ceramic vessel instructional activity, students work in small groups to look at images of ceramic vessels from a number of time periods. They identify the...

Can a boat the size of a palace possibly float? Discover how a king and a famous Ancient Greek mathematician named Archimedes answered this question, and explore the history behind Archimedes' principle and how a law of physics that is...

The mythical story of Shennong, the Chinese inventor of agriculture, introduces a video that traces the history of tea, the various methods of brewing, and the wars sparked by the attempts to prevent the spread of tea growing.