History Lesson Plans
Comprehensive resources ...
Civics in Digital Life: Lesson Plans for Grades 8-12
Free lessons and activities to spark students' curiosity, critical thinking, and civic engagement. With our Civics in Digital Life lessons, you can help your students consider important topics… learn more
Resources for Educators and Students
The Educator's Toolkit The Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) has several resources for educators and programs across all grade levels. The Educator’s Toolkit highlights the resources TYLA has… learn more
Free Resources for World History, US History, & Civics!
Check out this free sample pack of over 30 pages of awesome social studies resources! Inside you'll find interactive notebook pages, digital Google Drive activities, primary and secondary source worksheets,… learn more
Why did Phillis Wheatley Disappear
TED Talk In 1775, General George Washington received a poem from one of colonial America’s most famous writers. Its verses praised the burgeoning revolution, invoking the goddess of… learn more
Global Game Changes
MY TALENT + MY HEART = MY SUPERPOWER!™ That’s the message that our students start with and hear every day. At Global Game Changers, we believe that rich… learn more
TeacherVision: Instant Expert
Become an instant expert on science and social studies topics featured in DK's award-winning reference series. Find whiteboard-compatible mini-lessons and the reference material you need to reinforce key… learn more
EDSITEment: Lesson Plans
EDSITEment is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Trust for the Humanities. EDSITEment offers free resources for teachers, students, and parents searching for high-quality K-12… learn more
iCivics Lesson Plans for Teachers
Founded by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, iCivics re-imagines civic education for American democracy. With iCivics, nearly 10 million students learn about our government, the rule of law, and… learn more
Anniberg Classroom: Lesson Plans Archives
Most of these lessons are based on Annenberg Classroom videos. Teachers may contact info@annenbergclassroom.org to get the Teacher’s Key for the lesson plans. Teachers will also find lessons… learn more
Smithsonian's History Explorer: Lessons & Activities
Smithsonian's History Explorer was developed by the National Museum of American History in partnership with the Verizon Foundation to offer hundreds of free, innovative online resources for teaching… learn more
iCivics: Free Lesson Plans & Games
Remote Learning Toolkit For Educators. Explore our free, easy-to-use games and lesson plans (ideal for Google Classroom, Nearpod, and more!) that will help you prioritize civic learning and… learn more
Teacher Vision: Mini-Lessons
Mini-lessons promote easy, regular skill-building Teach your students smaller concepts with focused mini lessons; they will later be able to relate this smaller idea to a larger concept… learn more
Facing History and Ourselves: Lessons & Mini-Lessons
We use lessons of the past to help us create a better future. Facing History & Ourselves uses lessons of history to challenge teachers and their students to… learn more
Facing History & Ourselves: Resource Library
Find compelling classroom resources, learn new teaching methods, meet standards, and make a difference in the lives of your students. learn more
Supreme Court Historical Society
Classroom Resources for Teachers & Students The Supreme Court Historical Society is a private non-profit organization, incorporated in the District of Columbia in 1974. The Society is dedicated… learn more
History for Humans
History For Humans is devoted to creating engaging video-based history lessons that interest and challenge students to think deeply about the past and its importance today. AP US… learn more
iCivics: Government & the Market
In this unit, students learn about the relationship between the government and the economy. Starting with the basics of the market economy, students learn about government regulations on… learn more
iCivics: Government & the Economy
This lesson uses the topic of cell phone service to illustrate how government and the economy are related. Students learn the difference between market, command, and mixed economies.… learn more
American Battlefield: Resources for Educators
As a history teacher, you can make a big impression in leading young Americans to care about the history of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and the Civil… learn more
Nearpod Lesson Plan
A Nearpod lesson plan designed to help educators implement the digital tool into their instruction. The comprehensive and interactive online platform Nearpod is an all-encompassing edtech tool that… learn more
NewseumED: Lesson Plans
NewseumED.org offers free resources to cultivate the First Amendment and media literacy skills essential to civic life. Learn how to authenticate, analyze and evaluate information from a variety… learn more
Digital Civics Toolkit
The Digital Civics Toolkit is a collection of resources for educators to support youth to explore, recognize, and take seriously the civic potentials of digital life. The Toolkit… learn more
Explore the World with these 15 Top EdTech Tools for Geography Teachers
Geography is a subject that is all about understanding the world around us. With the help of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) tools, geography teachers can make learning… learn more
PBS: World History Lesson Plans
World History is an expansive subject with topics including the Beginnings of Human society and Early Civilizations (4000 - 1000 BCE) to The World Since 1945. John Green's… learn more
TeacherVision: Science & Social Studies Mini-Lessons
Become an Instant Expert on Science and Social Studies topics featured in DK's award-winning reference series. Find motivational mini-lessons and the informational texts you need to reinforce key… learn more
PBS Learning Media: Social Studies Activities & Lessons
Explore the past and learn about the present with resources on government, history, economics, and more. learn more
PBS Learning Media: Elementary Social Studies
Discover exciting resources and methods for teaching social studies to students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Elementary Social Studies. Students can practice making inferences as they explore… learn more
Mr. Dowling: Browse through History
Engaging History Lessons - Interactive Quizzes - Free Downloads. Take whatever you need The study guides, homework assignments and exams that are free and available for you to… learn more
Kids Discover: August 2023 Lesson Ideas
As August unfolds, the air is filled with anticipation as teachers prepare to welcome a new group of students back to school. After a hopefully relaxing summer break,… learn more
STEAMing into the Future: E-Learning Lessons
Steamship Historical Society of America. We share our archival resources through K – 12 STEAM education lessons. All lesson are 100% free to use and conform to education standards. Steamships… learn more
Intro to Economics Unit Plan
Interactive Practice: Students play engaging interactives with real-time feedback. Real-World Examples: Incorporates real-life examples of economics concepts. Teacher Friendly: Easy-to-understand lesson plans, Google Slides for teaching, activities for… learn more
Geography Revision
We have put together a full GCSE Geography curriculum that will give you all the teaching materials you need to teach any topic. Whether you’re a brand new Geography teacher,… learn more
iCivics: Infographic Library for Civics & Social Studies
For your convenience, we've assembled a library of the infographics that exist within other units. Use these infographics with your class to introduce students to a new civics topic,… learn more
TPT: Students of History
Teachers Pay Teachers. Empowering teachers with content, tools, and community to teach at their best TPT exists to unlock the wisdom of teachers everywhere and empower them to… learn more
History with Mr. E
Engaging American & World History Lessons STUDENT-CENTERED UNITS. World and American History intrigue-based resources, crime scene investigations, debates, interactive notebooks, and primary source analysis place (and keep) students… learn more
NewseumED: ED Collections
Browse 1,000s of Lesson Plans, Digital Artifacts, Videos, Historical Events, Interactives and Other EDTools. learn more
55+ Best Social Studies Websites for the Classroom
Social studies takes a look at the different branches of human society, and as we’ve navigated this global pandemic, we’ve watched a major moment in history unfold. Why… learn more
National History Day
Studying the past to inform the present and shape the future. Once a frontier is crossed, history changes. The National History Day® (NHD) 2023 contest theme invites the exploration… learn more
The Huntington Collections
Explore lessons generated by teachers, for teachers and inspired by The Huntington's collections. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens shares its world-renowned collections to support scholarship,… learn more
Facing History: Lessons & Mini-Lessons
Feel prepared to discuss challenging current events or to explore pivotal periods in history with your students. Our lessons are written using Facing History’s unique pedagogical approach, with… learn more
Looking to the Past with Mary Jenkins Teaching Resources
Teaching Pay Teachers. Jenkins specializes in middle school ancient history materials and resources. Check out her free resources. learn more
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History was founded in 1994 by Richard Gilder and Lewis E. Lehrman, visionaries and lifelong supporters of American history education. The Institute… learn more
History U
The Gilder Lehrman Institute’s History U offers free, self-paced courses in American history to high school students. These courses, led by the nation’s top historians, are drawn from… learn more
Mr. Donn's Free Geography Lesson Plans & Units
We are both college graduates with multiple degrees in history, geography, language arts, and education. Before Mr. Donn was a teacher, he was in the Navy in military… learn more
iCivics: Separate and Sovereign
Tribal Land Rights Lesson Plan. The relationship between Native nations and the U.S. federal government is important to understand. This mini-lesson provides an overview of tribal sovereignty from… learn more
How Did Laws, Courts, and People Impact Civil Rights in the Late 1800s?
iCivics. Everyone deserves to be treated equally. But how can people make sure that happens? In this inquiry-based unit, students will explain how Amendments to the Constitution attempted… learn more
World History Encyclopedia Lessons & Teaching Materials
Teaching Materials. Free Lessons, Activities & More Our lessons come with a collection of supplementary materials and useful links on the subject, as well as downloadable handouts, assessments,… learn more
C-Span Classroom Featured Resources
Below are collections of C-SPAN Classroom resources organized by various topics and themes. Additional C-SPAN Classroom resources can be found on the C-SPAN Classroom website. learn more
Kids Discover Online: Free Lesson Plans
Nonfiction, at its Finest Enrich your science, social studies, and ELA curriculums with engaging, standards-aligned nonfiction texts, at 3 Reading Levels. With a specialty in science and social… learn more
LESSON IDEAS FOR USING POLITICAL CARTOONS TO TEACH CIVICS
I can’t imagine teaching civics and government without political cartoons—they are essential to the subject. They make the best entry point for introducing concepts and diving deeper into diverse viewpoints on… learn more
iCivics: Election Headquarters Teaching Resources
State and Local Election Resources. Use these curated, non-partisan teaching resources to help students to learn about state and local election processes, understand the power of their vote,… learn more
Native Knowledge 360
National Museum of the American Indian. Transforming teaching and learningabout Native Americans. Share more about Native Peoples' vibrant, ongoing traditions and diverse cultures throughout the year with the… learn more
SEVEN US MILITARY HISTORY TEACHING RESOURCES
With Veterans Day coming up on November 11, you might be looking for some great resources to teach US military history and give insight into the lives, work,… learn more
GeoInquiries for US History-Map Based Activities
Experience the past with this collection that highlights critical map concepts in American history including the original 13 colonies, expansion, resettlement, World War I, World War II, and… learn more
National History Day: Teacher Resources
Classroom Tools. National History Day® (NHD) works with organizations to develop lessons and resources for teaching a variety of content areas. All NHD materials are developed by teachers for… learn more
The Real Story of Thanksgiving: Project for High School
Thanksgiving is a good opportunity for reflection. This thought-provoking high school project encourages students to consider the well-known Thanksgiving story from a Native American perspective. It includes everything… learn more
The Teacher's Corner: Thanksgiving Activities and Lesson Plans
The Thanksgiving pages will provide you with great activities and resources for this day of being thankful. Ideas within this section include: thematic units, easy craft ideas, bulletin… learn more
The Teacher's Corner: Thematic Units - Colonial America
You will find various Lesson Plans on the top portion of this page.. Further down, you will find Web Sites. We have a page of Books that you can order directly from Amazon.com! learn more
How World War I Started | Crash Course World History
Join host John Green to learn about World War I and the confusion surrounding its beginning. You'll learn about Franz Ferdinand, Gavrilo Pincep, the Black Hand, and why… learn more
Exploring Native American Agriculture Project-Based Learning Unit
A Historical Native American Agriculture Lesson and Community Citizenship Project Build background knowledge of the transition from hunting to farming, create and play a game of "Hunt and… learn more
TeacherVision: Pilgrim Unit (7 lessons)
This unit will lead students towards an understanding of the Pilgrims and native people who inhabited the area of present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts in the 1620's. The main texts… learn more
Thanksgiving Lesson Plans and Resources
Explore new ways to take your students on a historical journey this holiday season and help them discover the meaning of Thanksgiving. Share My Lesson’s curated collections of… learn more
CivicED Lesson Plans
The Center for Civic Education helps students develop (1) an increased understanding of the institutions of constitutional democracy and the fundamental principles and values upon which they are… learn more
History Simulations: Interactive Social Studies Games, Simulations & History Presentations
In the History Simulation lesson activities, your students are assigned roles as world leaders and given objectives that mirror the national interests of those countries. Guided by these… learn more
Museum of the American Revolution: Mini Lesson Plans
The Museum of the American Revolution offers a growing list of free, downloadable lesson plans that explore topics including the role of museums, types of revolutions, and the people, causes,… learn more
History Teaching Institute: Lesson Plans
The History Teaching Institute (HTI) serves as the primary outreach unit of The Ohio State University History Department. We work with teachers to develop curriculum and to incorporate… learn more
Ancestry: Making Connections Between the Past & Present
Ancestry® has a long-term commitment to education, and proud to assist educators and parents with their focus on finding new and unique curriculum topics and to foster more… learn more
Izzit
We offer no-cost, high-quality educational materials to educators: teachers, homeschoolers, parents, grandparents, scout troop leaders — to anyone interested in learning/teaching! Our entertaining & educational videos come with… learn more
Docs Teach: Bring History to Life
DocsTeach is a product of the National Archives education division. Our mission is to engage, educate, and inspire all learners to discover and explore the records of the… learn more
EconEdLink-All Grades
EconEdLink is brought to you by the Council for Economic Education. CEE is the leading organization in the United States that focuses on the economic and financial education… learn more
Plimoth Patuxet: You are the Historian
Get transported to Patuxet, the pre-European homeland of the Wampanoag, and be immersed in a story of cultural change and persistence that spans 12,000 years. This Teacher Toolkit includes… learn more
History Central
The Best Source of American and World History. This is Historycentral's Teachers Resource Center. Our goal is to provide resources including lesson plans, teachers guides . learn more
Bill of Rights Institute Lessons
Primary-source based, ready to use lesson plans for history, government, and civics classrooms learn more
Best Free Thanksgiving Lessons and Activities
One of the most beloved American holidays, Thanksgiving is celebrated by people of all religions and backgrounds. While some of the following Thanksgiving lessons, activities, and games include… learn more
Help Teaching: Online Self-Paced Social Studies Lessons
The social studies lessons are designed to help students learn geography, U.S. history, world history, and traits of government, as well as help students build the critical thinking… learn more
Izzit: Simply Civics Course
Welcome to Simply Civics, a free, rigorous civics course aimed at increasing and honing civics competency and facilitating an active and informed citizenry. It covers a foundational understanding of… learn more
Christmas Around the World Part 1
This lesson combines Visual Arts with Social Studies. Students will read about how Christmas is celebrated in different parts of the world and draw a scene depicting that… learn more
Christmas Around the World Part 2
This lesson combines Music and Social Studies. Students will listen to and learn Christmas songs from around the world and analyze. Students will compare and contrast the different… learn more
Christmas Around the World Activities For Your Classroom
Have you decided to do a Christmas around-the-world unit with your class? Are you looking for Christmas around the world activities for your upper elementary school classroom? If… learn more
Marginal Revolution University: Economics
Economics has the power to change the way you see the world This is why we are on a mission to provide a world-class economics education to everyone,… learn more
iCivics: Public Policy
In this unit, students learn what public policy is and who creates, implements, and influences it. Through case studies, scenarios, and possible role-playing, students discover how difficult it… learn more
iCivics: How Did Laws, Courts, and People Impact Civil Rights in the Late 1800s?
Everyone deserves to be treated equally. But how can people make sure that happens? In this inquiry-based unit, students will explain how Amendments to the Constitution attempted to… learn more
Lesson Planet: Christmas Around the World
Christmas is celebrated in many different parts of the world. What better way to explore these celebrations than with a collection with allows for the learning of new… learn more
Black History Month Lessons & Resources
Bring African-American culture & history into your curriculum. Throughout the month of February, we come together to celebrate Black heritage, tradition, and achievement. learn more
Women & the American Story
Welcome to Women & the American Story! A digital curriculum for K-12 classrooms. Women & the American Story (WAMS) is designed with that in mind. The primary resources and… learn more
Social Studies in Action: Teaching Practices Library K-12
Annenberg Learner. This video library for K-12 teachers shows a variety of effective social studies lessons and techniques for use with students at all levels. The Social Studies… learn more
The Kennedy Center: Indigenous Peoples of the Americas
Experience and honor cultures of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas through dance, music, literary, and visual arts. Watch Native Pride Dancers perform the eagle and hoop dances,… learn more
Women's History Month Lesson Plans and Resources
Use these timely preK-12 lesson plans and class activities to incorporate key figures and historical events in your Women’s History lesson planning throughout the year. This Share My Lesson collection… learn more
Liberty Nation: GenZ News for Kids
Liberty Nation GenZis an educational website for young Americans that seeks to give the next generation accurate and unbiased information on issues of the day. Our mission is… learn more
History Hustle: American History Teacher Resources
American history teacher resources selected by History Hustle to assist history teachers with developing fun ways to teach history to their students and make the experience of learning… learn more
C-Span Classroom: The Louisiana Purchase Lesson Plan
In 1803, Thomas Jefferson arranged for the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon Bonaparte from France. This purchase was significant in terms of its size as well… learn more
C-Span Classroom: Lesson Plan: The Bill of Rights
Students will learn about the individual rights that are included in the Bill of Rights and current issues relating to them. Students will use C-SPAN Classroom's Constitution Clips… learn more
Civics Lesson Plans for Elementary Students
Free Civics Lesson Plans for Elementary Students It is never too early to teach our youngest citizens how to be civically engaged. This carefully curated collection of civic… learn more
Smithsonian Tween Tribune: Lesson Plans
Lesson Planning Made Easy The lesson plans refresh themselves with new stories, questions and quizzes posted everyday. Each also includes links to the Common Core standards that apply… learn more
Constituting America: Constitutional Lesson Plans
The mission is to teach students across America about the nonpartisan relevancy of the U.S. Constitution and the principles of self-governance inherent in our founding documents. Also, check… learn more
Martin Luther King Jr. Online
MLK Speeches, Pictures, Quotes, Biography, Videos & More for Teachers, Students and Fans. Lesson Plans. learn more
Martin Luther King Jr. and the Power of Words
A Lesson Plan for Grades 7–12. In this lesson, students have the opportunity to discuss how words have the power to bring about political, social, or economic change… learn more
EDSITEment: Dr. King's Dream
In this lesson, students will learn about the life and work of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Students will listen to a brief biography, view photographs… learn more
iCivics: The Road to Civil Rights
Explore with students the methods Dr. King and other leaders used to advance civil rights. Students will learn about opposition to the movement, and identify how it took… learn more
C-Span Classroom Lesson Plans
Welcome to C-SPAN Classroom's Lesson Plans! This section of the website is designed to enhance social studies curriculums by providing teachers with structured lesson plans that examine a… learn more
Foundation for Teaching Economics: Teacher Resources
All FTE lessons are correlated to the National Voluntary Content Standards in Economics and to each states’ standards. Our searchable interface facilitates alignment of lesson content and activities… learn more
Lesson Plan: 2023-2024 Supreme Court Oral Arguments
Supreme Court Oral Arguments C-SPAN Classroom. The justices of the Supreme Court discuss the process and importance of the oral arguments during a Supreme Court case. learn more
World History Encyclopedia: Teaching Materials
Free Lessons, Activities & More Our lessons come with a collection of supplementary materials and useful links on the subject, as well as downloadable handouts, assessments, keys and… learn more
Martin Luther King Jr. Lesson Plans and Resources: Understanding a Life and Legacy
Martin Luther King Jr Activities and Lessons for a New Generation “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that… learn more
40 Black History Month Activities for February and Beyond
Black history is American history and needs to be embedded into your classroom experiences year-round. At the same time, Black History Month provides the necessary opportunity to dig… learn more
World History Digital Education: Lesson Plan Library
Free Lesson Plans for Teachers WHDE offers a set of free resources for teachers to help students better understand Korea. The lesson plans cover a variety of topics… learn more
Texas Parks & Wildlife: Activities & Lessons
Texas Parks & Wildlife has a variety of in-person and on-demand resources for students in early childhood through 12th grade. learn more
History Skills: Free High School History Lessons
Learn about the past in a way that suits you. Each lesson, you can choose how you learn: watch a documentary, engage with historical sources, research online or read high-quality… learn more
Overview of the Industrial Revolution Lesson
In this lesson, students will gain a chronological understanding of the Industrial Revolution. They will develop an awareness of the causes and the most significant effects of the… learn more
Guidelines for Teaching About the Holocaust
Teaching Holocaust history requires a high level of sensitivity and keen awareness of the complexity of the subject matter. The following guidelines reflect approaches appropriate for effective teaching… learn more
Black History Lesson Plans and Resources
Teaching about Black History is an essential and important part of any history curriculum and an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of Black people… learn more
Best Lessons and Activities for Teaching Black History Month
The following are some of the best lessons and activities for teaching Black history. learn more
Presidents Day Lesson Plans and Resources
What is there to know about Presidents Day? Also referred to as Washington’s Birthday, there is a colorful history behind the holiday that provides for a long weekend every… learn more
Abraham Lincoln's Presidential Library & Museum: Lesson Plans
Understanding the importance of educating about President Lincoln’s life and legacy, as well as the history of the great state of Illinois, ALPLM’s Education Department works hand-in-hand with… learn more
Teaching Lincoln’s Assassination and Legacy
Explore the life, leadership, death and legacy of Abraham Lincoln through primary sources and lesson plans developed by our education staff and master teachers. We offer ready-to-use history lesson… learn more
Abraham Lincoln: Man versus Legend
In this lesson, students interrogate their own assumptions about Abraham Lincoln in order to arrive at a deeper understanding of who Lincoln was. They investigate primary source documents… learn more
Lesson Ideas for Abraham Lincoln
For Lincoln's birthday or any time of year, here are ideas to better acquaint students with the life, times, and work of the 16th president of the United… learn more
Abraham Lincoln and Executive Power
The lesson, written by John J. Patrick, Professor Emeritus of Education at Indiana University, supplements the We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution text. It is designed to… learn more
Lesson Plan: Civil War Portrait Photography
This lesson highlights the role and impact of portrait photography during and after the American Civil War. The lesson, which features the American Battlefield Trust's Melissa Winn speaking… learn more
Women’s History in the United States
International Women's Day has been commemorated across the world on March 8th since 1911 and every U.S. President has marked March as Women's History Month since 1995. While the right… learn more
Favorite Presidents' Day Printables Gallery, Grades K-8
Celebrate Presidents' Day this February with one or all of our favorite activities. There are printables, lesson plans, and more resources for you to enjoy with your class.… learn more
PBS LearningMedia: Separation of Powers | Civics 101
To protect the rights of the people—the Constitution says it takes three parts of the government to make or change a law or make other important decisions. This… learn more
National Women's History Museum: Digital Classroom Resources
Explore classroom-ready resources created by the Museum and through the "For Educators, by Educators" initiative. There are lesson plans, biographies, posters, primary sources, and more. You can search… learn more
American Revolution Socratic Seminar
Students will conduct a Socratic Seminar, using Revolution Era documents to better understand the people, ideas, decisions and events of the War for Independence, as well as to… learn more
Texas Archive: Reliable Digital Content for Educators
Our collection provides access to primary and secondary source films relating to Texas, U.S., and World History, as well as free lesson plans aligned with Texas teaching standards… learn more
Curipod Lesson Plan
This Curipod Lesson Plan is designed to help educators integrate the digital tool to support instruction. Curipod brings an exciting addition to the available presentation and slideshow digital… learn more
LessonPlanet: Wagons Ho! Hard Times! Hard Choices!
Here is a ten-day unit covering westward expansion, pioneer life, and the Oregon Trail. Activities include baking, model building, role-play, newspaper writing, science experiments, and so much more!… learn more
Evaluating Sources in a ‘Post-Truth’ World: Ideas for Teaching and Learning about Fake News
LessonPlanet. The framers of the United States Constitution felt a free press was so essential to a democracy that they granted the press the protection it needed to… learn more