History Lesson Plans
100 People: A World Portrait
A global education toolbox. Lesson Plans 100 People is all about keeping it simple. We simplify the world's population by replacing numbers with faces and stories. We've spent the last five years asking students to help us simplify complex global statistics by introducing us to the people that represent their part of the world. 100 People was founded… learn more
25 Great Lesson Plans for Constitution Day
Any of the following 25 lesson plans would provide an excellent entry point into a classroom discussion about the significance of the U.S. Constitution and the rights that it protects. learn more
30+ Financial Literacy Lesson Plans for Every Grade Level
Teaching financial literacy is certainly not a new idea, but knowing about personal finances has become an increasingly important set of skills. The good news is that Hands on Banking has over 30 free financial literacy lesson plans available, ranging in grade level from elementary to high school. The lessons are already done for you and easy… 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 not use this opportunity to push our kids and students to explore humanity? Whether you’re teaching online or in-person, this list of the best social studies websites… learn more
9/11 Activities for Elementary Students
For most adults, these events are etched in our brains. But students today are too young to remember the attacks. So you'll have to decide how much to share with them. You might choose to discuss the terror attacks and their impact, or simply deliver a lesson on heroism. (Follow these guidelines for talking with young… learn more
9/11 Memorial Museum
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum offers interactive lesson plans for students in grades 3 to 12 that address the 9/11 attacks, their ongoing repercussions, and the history of the World Trade Center. Lessons plans are divided by grade level and theme below. learn more
AAPI Heritage Month: Lesson Plans and Resources for the Classroom
The month of May honors the generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) who have enriched the history of the United States and continue to ensure its success. In celebration of this month that presents an opportunity to introduce classroom discussions and reflections about the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to our… learn more
Abraham Lincoln: Presidential Library & Museum
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 our expert historians to create classroom-ready learning materials. Ranging from individual lesson plans to mini-units of study, these resources can be modified for a variety of uses… 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 War as well as the fate of the battlefields associated with these conflicts. Your students will be the ones to decide how we remember these conflicts and… learn more
American Heritage Education Foundation
AHEF accomplishes this patriotic mission nationally by providing free K-College lesson plans and educational resources, workshops, a college academic scholarship competition, and other programs. Please Sign Up to Access Our FREE Lesson Plans, Teaching Guides, and Educational Resources. AHEF believes that the concepts and themes of our American heritage must be objectively studied and continually… learn more
Ancestry: Making Connections Between the Past & Present
Ancestry® has a long-term commitment to education, and we’re proud to assist educators and parents with their focus on finding new and unique curriculum topics and to foster more personal connections to important moments in history and their own family story. After all, research shows that family history research is a powerful tool for building… learn more
Annebert 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 for teaching critical thinking skills. 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 for teaching critical thinking skills. learn more
Best Free Constitution Day Lessons and Activities
These free Constitution Day lessons and activities will inspire students to understand, question, and debate the most important issues of our day. On September 17, 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia signed the new legal foundation of our nation, the U.S. Constitution. Now a federal holiday also known as Citizenship Day, this commemoration… learn more
Best Free Hispanic Heritage Month Lessons and Activities
Explore the impact of Hispanic and Latino Americans with these top free lessons and activities. Officially adopted in 1988, Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15th through October 15th and marks the contributions of Hispanic Americans and Latinos to American life. This designation by President Ronald Reagan expanded an earlier one-week commemoration signed into law… learn more
Best Presidents Day Lessons and Activities
Tech & Learning These Presidents Day lessons and activities are all free, easy to access and provide many different ways of teaching and learning about U.S. presidents. Diana Restifo February 01, 2022 learn more
Bill of Rights Educator Hub
Educator Hub BRI is a teacher service organization with over 20 years of history growing and supporting our educator network. Learn more about our resources. learn more
Bill of Rights Institute Lessons
Primary-source based, ready to use lesson plans for history, government, and civics classrooms learn more
Bill of Rights Institute: Civil War and Reconstruction
During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln struggled to preserve the American constitutional republic and Union that ensured liberty and equality for all Americans. To that end, Lincoln brought the country to fight to preserve the Union against the secession of the South at his election in 1860. Lincoln also fought to end the moral… learn more
Bill of Rights Institute: Heroes and Villains
Heroes and Villains uses narratives to discuss the concepts of civic virtue in all classrooms. Each virtue narrative includes corresponding discussion guides, journal templates, a toolbox with additional activities, and suggestions for further reading on each topic or virtue. 26 Lessons The Bill of Rights Institute provides quality, primary-source based resources to civics educators for… learn more
Bill of Rights Institute: Presidents and the Constitution
Presidents and the Constitution (Volumes 1 and 2) will allow students to explore how specific constitutional principles have applied in numerous situations in history. Volume I features fifteen lessons organized according to five constitutional themes: “The President and Federal Power;” “War and the Constitution,” “Slavery and the Constitution,” “The President as Chief Diplomat,” and “Electing… learn more
Bill of Rights: Heroes & Villains Lesson Plans
Heroes and Villains use narratives to discuss the concepts of civic virtue in all classrooms. Each virtue narrative includes corresponding discussion guides, journal templates, a toolbox with additional activities, and suggestions for further reading on each topic or virtue. learn more
C-SPAN Classroom
C-SPAN Classroom is a FREE membership service that works with C-SPAN's programs on public affairs, coverage of Congress, non-fiction books and American history to create free resources for teachers, students and the public to use in classrooms, projects or for research. Our website provides social studies teachers with access to thousands of free resources, including… learn more
C-SPAN Classroom: Lesson Plans
This section of the website is designed to enhance social studies curriculums by providing teachers with structured lesson plans that examine a variety of topics and are supplemented with video clips of related C-SPAN programming. Our lessons are separated into categories commonly studied in social studies curriculums. Our lessons contain an overview, vocab words, suggested… learn more
C-SPAN Lesson Plans
Free video-based materials for social studies teachers. C-SPAN Classroom is a FREE membership service that works with C-SPAN's programs on public affairs, coverage of Congress, non-fiction books and American history to create free resources for teachers, students and the public to use in classrooms, projects or for research. Our website provides social studies teachers with… learn more
Celebrate Latinx History
Google Applied Digital Skills. Use these lessons to explore the importance of Latinx history, express your identity, and celebrate the contributions made by the Latinx community during Hispanic Heritage Month, or any time of year. learn more
Celebrating American Historical Holidays
The Gilder Lehrman Institute offers American historical holiday resources from its Collection of more than 80,000 primary source documents, essays published in its online journal History Now, videos of talks by eminent scholars, lesson plans by American history teachers, and more to help teachers guide discussion, create class projects, and gain content knowledge that can be directly… learn more
Celebration, Conflict & Contemplation: Digital Thanksgiving Activities & Lesson Plans for Students
Take students on a historical journey with our free pre-K12 Thanksgiving activities and resources for use in distance or hybrid learning classrooms. learn more
Center for Civic Education: Teacher Resources
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 founded, (2) the skills necessary to participate as competent and responsible citizens, and (3) the willingness to use democratic procedures for making decisions and managing conflict. To fulfill this mission, the Center develops high-quality curricular materials, provides exceptional professional development for teachers, and advocates for stronger civic education in the United States and emerging democracies. learn more
Civic for Education: Constitution Day Lesson Plans
September 17 is recognized in the United States as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. The purpose of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is to commemorate the creation and signing of the supreme law of the land and to honor and celebrate the privileges and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship for both native-born and naturalized citizens. Federal… 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 founded, (2) the skills necessary to participate as competent and responsible citizens, and (3) the willingness to use democratic procedures for making decisions and managing conflict. Ultimately,… learn more
CivicED: Women's History Month
March is Women’s History Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of women, as well as discussing the numerous obstacles that still remain to full equality. The Center for Civic Education offers a wide range of lesson plans for all grade levels, as well as a daily 60-Second Civics podcast series that explores the… learn more
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 that cut across news and media literacy, digital citizenship, social and emotional learning (SEL), and civics. Designed for upper-middle school and high school students, these learning activities… learn more
Closeup: Teaching Current Issues
Current Issues Classroom Resources. Our ready-to-use, nonpartisan resources and lesson plans help teachers facilitate meaningful discussions with students about current issues. learn more
Colonial Williamsburg: Education Resource Library
Colonial Williamsburg’s Teacher Community has combined with the HERO media library to help you teach American history with video, classroom lessons and interactive web activities. learn more
Constitution 101 Curriculum: High School
Constitution 101 is a 15-unit asynchronous, semester-long curriculum that provides students with a basic understanding of the Constitution’s text, history, structure, and caselaw. Drawing on primary source documents from our new, curated online Founders’ Library—containing over 170 historical texts and over 70 landmark Supreme Court cases selected by leading experts of different perspectives—students will study the historical… learn more
Constitution Day Activities and Lesson Plans
The American Federation of Teachers’ Share My Lesson is a free, award-winning community-based site that brings together educators, parents and caregivers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel, specialized instructional support personnel, union and nonunion members, educational partners, and higher education professionals who have the common goal of finding and sharing the best educational resources available. Share My… learn more
Constitution Day Toolkit: Lesson Plans
Celebrating Constitution Day is fun and easy with our free toolkit, which contains a wide range of resources for families and students of all ages. Put together a Constitution Day activity at your school, library or home to celebrate the signing of the Constitution on September 17. Scroll down to the lesson plans. CivicsRenewalNetwork.org learn more
Creative kickstarter: Back-to-school intro video
Students will be able to: Answer a specific brief and meet the design specifications for a project. Communicate effectively with their peers and/or audience. Use the design process to generate useful or imaginative solutions for problems. This resource was created for Adobe for Education by K-12 educator Dominic Traynor. 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 explores a range of civic opportunities and dilemmas via 5 modules focused on: Exploring Community Issues, Investigation, Dialogue, Voice, and Action. learn more
Digital Storytelling Lessons
Creative Educator focuses on effective ideas and strategies to foster creativity and engage students in the curriculum. Articles are designed to provide you with an informed and diverse view of today’s educational technology field, including fresh ideas about project-based learning, classroom management, and creativity. The classroom stories illustrate how educators are already utilizing creativity tools… learn more
Docs Teach
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 American people preserved by the National Archives. Access thousands of primary sources — letters, photographs, speeches, posters, maps, videos, and other document types — spanning the course of American… learn more
Echoes & Reflections: Educator Lesson Plans on the Holocaust
Our Lesson Plans provide a unique experience for educators to teach about the Holocaust effectively and interactively. Lessons are organized by topics that represent major themes associated with the Holocaust in an order that is roughly chronological; the modular design of the Lessons allows for adaption and customization to specific grade levels and subject areas.… 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 of students from kindergarten through high school—and we have been doing so for nearly 70 years. The Internet-based lessons are targeted for K-12 teachers and their students.… learn more
Edsitement at the National Endowment for the Humanities
Edsitement at the NEH offers "the best of the Humanities on the Web" in partnership with the National Trust for the Humanities. Edsitement brings online humanities resources from some of the world's great museums, libraries, cultural institutions, and universities directly to the classroom. EdSITEment, from the National Endowment for the Humanities, hosts a wide range… 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 humanities education materials in the subject areas of history and social studies, literature and language arts, foreign languages, arts, and culture. All websites linked to EDSITEment have… learn more
Education World: Biography Acrostic
A perfect culminating activity for your biography, history, or literature unit. Students will learn how acrostic poems differ from other forms of poetry. explore samples of acrostics to see how the form can vary. write an acrostic about a famous person (or event). learn more
Education World: Constitution Day Lessons and Resources
Education World has gathered resources that will help you find the perfect way -- whether you teach kindergarten or high school. These lesson ideas and resources provide the tools you will need to recognize Constitution Day this year and in years to come. learn more
Encountering History: Free Resources Teaching 9/11
Teaching 9/11 in the classroom can be challenging and providing age-appropriate resources will help deepen your students' understanding and develop their critical thinking skills. Use these free articles, videos and lesson plans from Scholastic Magazines+ to help you approach this difficult topic with your students. 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 more interactive and engaging for their students. In this blog post, I’ll present some of the benefits of using ICT in geography classes and provide some examples of how you… learn more
Facing History & Ourselves: Lessons & Mini-Lessons
Our lessons are written using Facing History’s unique pedagogical approach, with activities that balance personal reflection and collaboration and draw upon primary source material selected to activate students’ intellectual, emotional, and ethical engagement. We use lessons of the past to help us create a better future. Resource Library 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
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 stand up to bigotry and hate. Our lessons are written using Facing History’s unique pedagogical approach, with activities that balance personal reflection and collaboration and draw upon… 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 activities that balance personal reflection and collaboration and draw upon primary source material selected to activate students’ intellectual, emotional, and ethical engagement. learn more
Free Interactive Whiteboard Lesson for HS on Unexpected Financial Events
A lost cell phone, a car accident, a medical emergency. Unexpected events like these can wreak havoc on a budget if you’re not prepared. Set your high school students up for success with this lesson on how to plan for and deal with unexpected expenses. BY KIMMIE FINK JUL 28, 2023 learn more
Free Resources for the Elementary Classroom
Black History Month provides a wonderful opportunity for educators to teach their students about the pivotal role black Americans have played in U.S. history, and to help students recognize the importance of social, political, and economic equality as it applies to race. To help you celebrate Black History Month in your classroom, we have prepared… 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, and more! There are resources for World History, US History, and Civics all in this one awesome free download! Our curricula for World History, US History, and… 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, or you’ve been teaching the subject for years, our resources will save you hours and hours of lesson preparation every single week. Our Geography revision materials have… learn more
George Washington Mount Vernon: Lesson Plans
The mission of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association is to preserve, restore, and manage the estate of George Washington to the highest standards and to educate visitors and people throughout the world about the life and legacies of George Washington, so that his example of character and leadership will continue to inform and inspire future… 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 social emotional skills, leadership skills, and character development come from empowering students to look around and consider what they can do to make this world a better… learn more
Hail to the Chief: Inauguration Lessons
Every four years on January 20, an important event occurs in the United States: A president takes the Oath of Office during an inauguration ceremony. Education World offers ten super activities to help your students learn about and commemorate the inauguration. Included: Activities in which students write letters to the president, create presidential portraits, complete… learn more
Hands on Banking
Make teaching money management skills as simple as 1-2-3. Designed to teach valuable financial skills, the Hands on Banking® program offers free online courses, lessons and activities that will help you guide students through real-life scenarios and group discussions. And all without any endorsements or advertising. Whether you are teaching young children or teenagers, Hands on… learn more
Hands on Banking: Educator Resources
Make teaching money management skills as simple as 1-2-3. Designed to teach valuable financial skills, the Hands on Banking® program offers free online courses, lessons and activities that will help you guide students through real-life scenarios and group discussions. And all without any endorsements or advertising. learn more
Help Teaching: Online Self-Paced Current Events Lessons
Our 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 skills they need to experience success with any social studies curriculum. Many of our lessons contain a short introduction, followed by an embedded video created by Help… learn more
Help Teaching: Online Self-Paced Social Studies Lessons
Our 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 skills they need to experience success with any social studies curriculum. Many of our lessons contain a short introduction, followed by an embedded video created by Help Teaching team or obtained with permission from sources, such as Khan Academy, Educator.com, and Bozeman Science and links to other free online resources to help students understand the topic. Lessons without a video source noted are text and image-based,… learn more
Helping Teaching: Online Self-Paced Social Studies Lessons
Our 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 skills they need to experience success with any social studies curriculum. Our lessons for middle/high school students are meant for self-directed online learning. Many of our lessons… learn more
Hispanic and Latino Heritage and History in the United States: Teacher Guide
Since 1988, the U.S. Government has set aside the period from September 15 to October 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month to honor the many contributions Hispanic Americans have made and continue to make to the United States of America. Our Teacher's Guide brings together resources created during NEH-funded professional development programs, lesson plans for… learn more
Hispanic Heritage Month Activities and Lesson Plans
Share My Lesson. Hispanic Heritage Month, recognized from September 15 to October 15, is more than a celebration of Hispanic and Latino culture. It's an opportunity to educate, to connect, and to cultivate appreciation and understanding. With the United States’ growing Hispanic and Latino population, it becomes even more vital to ensure that our children,… 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
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 History Bootcamp 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 our MA in American History program and allow you to study history at your own pace. Each History U course includes Video lectures by a leading history… 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 in control of their learning. Files are included in either print or digital versions to save you time. Join the thousands of teachers who have enhanced their… learn more
iCivic: The Constitution
The Constitution Students will learn how our Constitution was created and what some of its key characteristics are. They will also explore key amendments to the Constitution and their application in protecting citizens' rights. Planning to celebrate Constitution Day with your students? Find our most popular resources in this collection. learn more
iCivics & History’s Mysteries
iCivics is partnering with History’s Mysteries to integrate its K-5 learning offerings into the iCivics suite of educational materials. Similarly, History’s Mysteries places young learners in grades K-5 in the center of the action by challenging them to act as history detectives. Its curriculum asks students a “Big Question” such as “What does it mean to… learn more
iCivics Constitution Day Activities
Why is Constitution Day important to teach? Constitution Day, September 17, 2022, is an opportunity to engage students in the U.S. Constitution’s continued relevance. Use this day and the weeks leading up to teach students about the Constitution’s history, the rights students have, how those rights are protected, and how understanding their rights can help them… 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 civic issues. We make civic education relevant to new generations of Americans through online games and innovative classroom resources—for free. Kick off the school year exploring what… learn more
iCivics: Constitution Day Lesson Plan
Constitution Day is September 17, the day in 1787 when our U.S. government was born. Meet your Constitution Day education requirement with this free and engaging lesson plan. This interactive lesson gives students a quick snapshot of the Constitution, including the purpose of each article, the powers of the three branches, how a bill becomes… 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 keep your students engaged in a remote classroom. 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. Building on the idea of a mixed economy, the lesson discusses government limits on economic activity, including anti-trust laws, tariffs, and consumer protection. Having studied cell phone… 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 our market economy, where the government gets its money and what the government spends it on, and how banks and lending influence our economic system. Each lesson… 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, as well as practice much-needed visual literacy skills. Each infographic has a Teacher's Guide with information to help you implement the resource in your classroom, including introduction to visual skills, guiding questions, suggested activities, base knowledge, and vocabulary. learn more
iCivics: Women's History Month
Women’s History Month in March provides an opportunity to discuss and reflect on the role women have played in shaping the United States. The resources below will help you teach about the many contributions of women to our nation’s shared history. Elementary teachers! Be sure to check out our More to Explore section to find resource for… learn more
In the News: The Heat Was On
Nervous delegates, arguments, and a heat wave. These were just a few of the things the Founders dealt with as they wrote the United States Constitution. 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 students, and answer keys provided via Google Docs. learn more
Inventors of the Industrial Revolution
TeachersFirst offers this classroom-ready unit on Inventors of the Industrial Revolution, written by Georgia social studies teacher Bill Burton and revised in 2007, in a format well-suited for projector, interactive whiteboard, or individual student use. The unit is designed for middle and high school students, but could easily be adapted for upper elementary grades, as… 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 tons of additional resources — Teacher's Guide, activities, quizzes, and much more! We also offer Current Events lessons — two each school day with vocabulary words and… learn more
Izzit: Elementary Focus
Our entertaining & educational videos come with tons of additional resources — Teacher's Guide, activities, quizzes, and much more! We also offer Current Events lessons — two each school day with vocabulary words and discussion questions. This collection of video-centered educational materials focuses on resources for the elementary grades of K-5. (However, we recommend that… 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 American history and how the U.S. government was created with a system of checks and balances designed to protect citizens' rights. The course begins by covering not… 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, it's time to embark on a fresh academic journey. Remember, Kids Discover is with you from Day 1 of the School Year through Day 180. To start… learn more
Kids Discover: Free Lesson Plans
With a specialty in science and social studies, our team of talented writers, award-winning designers and illustrators, and subject experts from leading institutions is committed to a single mission: to get children excited about reading and learning. 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
Lesson plan: Veterans Day and the meaning of sacrifice
Use this PBS NewsHour lesson plan to help students understand the significance of Veterans Day and the meaning of sacrifice. Students will identify important veterans in their lives, examine an interactive timeline of military history and study issues facing veterans today. learn more
Lesson: Behind Every Name, Stories from the Holocaust
By examining true personal stories, told through short animations, students learn about unique individual experiences within the historical context of the Holocaust. This activity contains an extension to examine the role of artifacts in understanding history. learn more
Library of Congress: Lesson Plans
Teacher-created lesson plans using Library of Congress primary sources. 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
Making History Come Alive Through Poetry and Song
This lesson pairs a magazine article about the Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck in 1975 with the Gordon Lightfoot song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” After comparing and contrasting the elements of each text, students will choose a historical event and, using the song as a model, create a narrative poem about their chosen event. In addition, more contemporary… learn more
Marginal Revolution University: Economicss
We believe economics has the power to change the way you see the world. That’s right. We said you. In fact, at Marginal Revolution University (MRU for short!), we believe there’s an inner economist in all of us. Which is why we are on a mission to provide a world-class economics education to everyone, everywhere… learn more
Midterm Elections Matter
This lesson is intended to help students understand that midterm elections (whether they be for congressional candidates, governor, state representatives, or state initiatives) are equally as important as the presidential race every four years. 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 print or to edit. The best place to find resources for a particular lesson are just below the text of a page. On a growing number of… 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 of topics in the history of science, art, technology, medicine, religion, politics, social change, and the military. Teacher Resources Teachers, librarians, and advisors are the greatest resource… learn more
National History Women's Museum
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 by topic, theme, or resource type. learn more
National Park Service: Lesson Plans
Teaching with Historic Places offers a series of more than 160 classroom-ready lesson plans that use historic sites as a means for exploring American history. Educators and their students can work through these online lesson plans directly on the computer or print them out and photocopy them for distribution. You can browse lesson plans by… learn more
Native American Heritage Month Activities, Lessons, and Printables
Enhance students' learning of Native American heritage and culture with our lesson plans, projects, activities, and printables. This month-long celebration of Native American contributions, history, and culture began at the start of the 20th century, simply as an effort to have a day set aside to recognize and honor American Indians. The first American Indian… 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 can be used to carry out lesson plans for a variety of subject areas and grade levels. For an overview of Nearpod and some of the different… learn more
NEH_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 humanities education materials in the subject areas of history and social studies, literature and language arts, foreign languages, arts, and culture. learn more
NewseumED: ED Collections
Browse 1,000s of Lesson Plans, Digital Artifacts, Videos, Historical Events, Interactives and Other EDTools. 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 of sources and put current events in historical context through standards-aligned lesson plans, videos, primary sources, virtual classes and programs. learn more
Nine 9/11 Activities & Lesson Plans for the Classroom
Read on for 9/11 activities and lesson plans designed for middle and high school classrooms. Brenda Iasevoli August 10, 2021 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 animal shelters, research using the Great States series, or complete a graphic organizer to compare holidays with the All About the Holidays series. Topics ranging from the… 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 NewsHour: 7 teaching resources for Labor Day
Looking for powerful Labor Day lesson plans and resources? Help students understand the history of the labor movement and its relevance today at home and around the world. Updated on Sept. 1, 2023 learn more
PBS: MIDTERM ELECTIONS
Daily News Lessons. Using the standards and resources of PBS’s NewsHour, PBS NewsHour Classroom provides middle and high school students and teachers with quality educational resources based on current issues and events. Classroom’s mission is to help middle and high school students understand world events and national issues and answer the question, “Why should I… 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 Crash Course video collection takes students from the Agricultural Revolution to World War II. Students can also practice paraphrasing using a lesson on Timbuktu as a thriving… learn more
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 are children's books and other reference materials. learn more
Presidents Day Lesson Plans and Resources
Share My Lesson Created and maintained by the American Federation of Teachers, Share My Lesson is a community of teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel, specialized instructional support personnel, higher education faculty, and parents and caregivers who contribute content, collaborate, and stay up to date on the issues that matter to students and educators everywhere. learn more
Presidents' Day Lessons
Teach your high school students about the constitutional legacy of George Washington, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln, and Ronald Reagan this Presidents' Day. These free, ready-to-use lessons will engage your students in learning about these important presidents and how they shaped the history and Constitution of our nation. Each lesson was written and reviewed by scholars… 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 created for educators. Several of these resources meet Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards, include viewing guides and/or curriculum materials and address important social issues that… learn more
September 11: Lessons and Resources for Classroom Teachers
Education World presents Remembering September 11, which includes five new lessons to help teachers reflect upon the September 11, 2001, attack on the United States. Those lessons keep alive the spirit of patriotism and tolerance stimulated by the events of 9/11. We also offer below a long list of online lessons and other resources to help… learn more
Share My Lesson: Constitution Day Activities and Lesson Plans
At the heart of our democracy lies a document that not only delineates the structure of the government but also guarantees the fundamental rights and liberties of its citizens—the U.S. Constitution. As we commemorate Constitution Day, an event that honors the adoption of this pivotal document on Sept. 17, 1787, we are reminded of its… learn more
Smithsonian Tween Tribune: Lesson Plans
Lesson Planning Made Easy Our lesson plans refresh themselves with new stories, questions and quizzes posted everyday. Each also includes links to the Common Core standards that apply and are aligned with Texas STAAR and Virginia SOL. Teacher Lesson Plans 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 and learning American history. The site is designed for use by K-12 teachers and students, afterschool program providers, families, and individuals interested in lifelong learning. History Explorer's… 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 in Action teaching practices library, professional development guide, and companion website bring to life the National Council for the Social Studies standards. Blending content and methodology, the… learn more
Stanford History Education Group
Our lessons and assessments are available for free download once you've created an account. 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 have radically altered the course of history through immigration, trade, and leisure. This technological advancement began in the early nineteenth century and has had far reaching cultural consequences that continue… 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 to the collection and preservation of the history of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Society seeks to accomplish its mission by supporting historical research,… learn more
Teach Taxes in Grades 6-8 with This “Help! What Happened to My Paycheck?”
Lesson for the Interactive Whiteboard. That first paycheck can come as a shock if you’re not prepared. We’re talking about taxes, of course. It’s an important life lesson (and math lesson, too), which is why we’ve put together this interactive whiteboard lesson all about paychecks and taxes. Try this “What Happened to My Paycheck?” lesson with your 6th-8th graders! BY KIMMIE FINK APR 12, 2023 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 or skill. New teachers will find this resource particularly valuable. Become an Instant Expert on Science and Social Studies topics featured in DK's award-winning reference series. Find… learn more
TeachersFirst's Pearl Harbor and World War II Resources
This curated collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students honor Pearl Harbor Day and the important events of World War II through related projects and classroom activities. 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 concepts. August 23, 2022 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 concepts. Select a topic to get started! learn more
TeacherVision: Veterans Day Activities, Printables & Lessons
Veterans Day began as Armistice Day, which commemorated the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. Today, Veteran’s Day honors all of America’s veterans for their patriotism, their service, and their sacrifice for their country. Despite an attempt to move the date of Veterans Day when the Uniform Holiday Bill was signed, it… learn more
TED-Ed: The Historic Women’s Suffrage March on Washington
.On March 3, 1913, after months of strategic planning and controversy, thousands of women gathered in Washington D.C. for the Women’s Suffrage Parade -- the first mass protest for a woman’s right to vote. Michelle Mehrtens details how the march rejuvenated the fight for the 19th Amendment. Lesson by Michelle Mehrtens, directed by WOW-HOW Studio.… 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 (TEKS) for grades K-12. learn more
Texas Parks & Wildlife: Classroom Resources
Texas Parks & Wildlife has a variety of in-person and on-demand resources for students in early childhood through 12th grade. Activities and Lessons in Science & History learn more
The 9/11 Lesson
THE 9/11 LESSON: Celebrating Real Life Superheroes! is an educational experience that engages elementary students in a self-contained interactive multi-sensory, multi-tiered online platform that gives them a personal and in-depth exploration of 9/11 and culminates in meaningful service projects. Using our online environment, students will be able to participate in-class or at-home through hands-on activities, community-oriented service… learn more
The 9/11 Lesson: Celebrating Real-Life Superheroes
Global Game Changers received a three-year AmeriCorps 9/11 Day of Service Federal Grant to develop a unique educational experience and lessons to fulfill our project vision and mission. Vision: That all elementary students across the country will learn about the significance of the events of 9/11 and the real-life superheroes who responded, and in their… learn more
The Coming of the American Revolution: 1764 to 1776
In the years between 1764 and 1776, America truly became a nation. Where before America had been a cluster of competing British colonies—with differing origins, goals, and policies—by 1776 colonists had forged a separate identity flexible enough to support not just revolution but nation building. By investigating the lives and events recorded in newspapers, official… learn more
The Constitution: Counter Revolution or National Salvation?
It is Fall 1787. The Federal Convention has recently concluded its closed door meetings in Philadelphia and presented the nation with a new model for the government. It is now up to each special state convention to decide whether to replace the Articles of Confederation with this new constitution. The debate is passionate and speaks… learn more
The Constitutional Convention of 1787
In this unit, students will examine the roles that key American founders played in creating the Constitution, and the challenges they faced in the process. They will learn why many Americans in the 1780s believed that reforms to the Articles of Confederation were necessary, and the steps taken to authorize the 1787 Convention in Philadelphia.… 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 is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to K–12 history education while also serving the general public. Its mission is to promote the knowledge and understanding of American… 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, foster learning, inspire creativity, and offer transformative experiences for diverse audiences. learn more
The National WWII Museum New Orleans
The National WWII Museum is dedicated to providing materials you can use in your classroom to teach about the war. We offer free, primary-source driven lesson plans, image galleries, and other resources to make teaching WWII easier for you and more interactive for your students. 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 teach at their best. We’re the go-to platform for supporting educators with the resources they need to teach successfully in an ever-changing education landscape. Today, educators turn… learn more
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum - Teacher Resources
Explore Museum suggestions for where to begin teaching about the Holocaust. We include resources for teaching with limited clExplore Museum suggestions for where to begin teaching about the Holocaust. We include resources for teaching with limited class time, for English/Language Arts, and for History classes.ass time, for English/Language Arts, and for History classes. Teaching About… learn more
Veterans Day Activities
The Veterans Day pages will provide you with great activities and lessons to help you and your students honor our country's heroes. Ideas within the Veteran's Day pages include: scavenger hunts, lesson plans, printable worksheets, and Internet resources. learn more
Veterans' Day Lesson Plans
Lesson Planet was started to help educators spend less time searching so that they could spend more time teaching. 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 their new nation to aid the general’s cause. But this ode to liberty wasn’t written by some aloof aristocratic admirer. Its author was a young enslaved Black… learn more
Women's History Month
Education can enhance the power of individuals to solve problems for themselves, their families, communities, and society at large. To solve problems, people need knowledge and skills: Critical-thinking skills, research skills, knowing how, when, and what questions to ask to dig deeper and gain understanding — question everything! Scientific methodology — Formulate a hypothesis, test,… learn more
Women's Suffrage and Equal Rights: Free Lesson Plans and Resources
Women's Suffrage and the Transformation of Society Born from the powerful, unwavering momentum of hundreds of women who first convened a women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York, the 19thAmendment to the United States Constitution the was ratified on August 18, 1920. Prior to the passage of the 19th Amendment, women in the United States did not… 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, keys and much more. All our teaching materials are downloadable entirely for free. 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 much more. All our teaching materials are downloadable entirely for free. learn more
World History: Teaching Materials
Our lessons come with a collection of supplementary materials and useful links on the subject, as well as downloadable handouts, assessments, keys and much more. All our teaching materials are downloadable entirely for free. learn more