“Compared to war all other forms of human endeavor shrink to insignificance.” “War is not healthy for children and other living things.” These two views of war, embodied in George Patton’s statement and Lorraine Schneider‘s famous 1966...

Make history come to life by using the Frontier House series to engage students in the past. Your class will "prepare" for a trip to 1833 Montana. They will learn about homesteading, frontier life, inflation, and cost of living. Using...

Fourth graders work in partners to complete a series of activities. After reading the introduction, Students select a role of either a "Padre" or "Indigena." As partners, they need time on the computer for research as well as time to...

Students investigate U.S. history by examining North American timelines. In this American exploration lesson, students research the events that led to Columbus finding America and participate in a jeopardy game regarding his adventure....

Students investigate the colonization of the United States by researching Thanksgiving.  In this U.S. history lesson, students discuss the concept of Thanksgiving, who created it and what it was intended to do.  Students...

Fifth graders explore world history by participating in a class game. In this propaganda lesson, 5th graders identify Madeline Beck and the role women played during World War II. Students create fictitious propaganda posters and...

Students investigate U.S. history by researching the Internet and taking a test. In this American Indian group lesson, students identify the many specific Native American tribes and their geographic locations. Students research the web...

Study the characteristics of real-life heroes in your history or language arts lesson. After reading about the soldiers of World War I, kids write autobiographies from their future elderly selves, and reflect on their acts of heroism yet...

Make critical and creative thinkers out of your class, with an archeology-based project they'll love. They start the activity by first researching what archeologists do, then they generate a list of the qualities archeologists need...

Students look back at this year in history and evaluate important events, discoveries and people from 1998. They, in groups, create 1998: Year in Review. While 1998 has come and gone, the idea and intent for this lesson can be used now.

Students analyze the impact of jazz on the novel, "Invisible Man," by Ralph Ellison. They read and discuss excerpts of the novel, write an essay on the influence of jazz on Ralph Ellison as a writer, and view video excerpts on jazz...

Students discuss the importance of the Faberge Eggs. In groups, they discuss the way various treasured items reflect the personal values and culture of a specific time period. They create their own exhibition to show their own family's...

In this pilgrims activity, students read facts about the history of the Pilgrims beginning during the early 1600's and ending with the first Thanksgiving. Students answer thirteen short answer questions.

Students use a news article about the celebration of the Lincoln Bicentennial to answer questions about Abraham Lincoln and the celebration. In this current events and US history lesson plan based on a news article, students participate...

Third graders develop a presentation based on Aesop's Fables. In this Aesop Fables and presentation activity, 3rd graders examine the characteristics of fables and how to interpret them. They choose one of Aesop's Fables to research....

Students explore U.S. history by researching a historic map. In this westward expansion lesson plan, students discuss the mystery of the western U.S. in the early 1800's and the impact expansion had on Native Americans and agriculture....

Students explore U.S. history by viewing a Civil Rights video. In this Harriet Tubman instructional activity, students identify the era in which Tubman fought for equality and list her important achievements after viewing a biographical...

Students investigate U.S. history by reading American Indian stories. In this Cherokee Indian activity, students identify the cruelty inflicted towards Native Americans by the European settlers and the "trail of tears" that were left....

Students prepare for a visit to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC, to preview a photo exhibit (specifically of James Van Der Zee). This lesson could be adapted when viewing any photo exhibit.

Students study the ancient art of Chinese scroll painting. They create an original landscape painting mounted on printed framing paper. Students discuss information about Chinese scroll paintings, an art form used for a least 2,000...

Students identify patterns and what they represent on an ancient Egyptian wall fragment. Artists often repeat shapes, lines, and forms to create patterns. Several examples of repetition and pattern appear in this wall fragment.

Students create abstract compositions based on the later works of Wassily Kandinsky using the primary colors in this early elementary Art lesson. The lesson emphasizes the use of color, lines, and shapes to create the abstract works of...

Learners examine the history of mosaics. They follow instructions to create their own pumpkin seed mosaic. They also bake some of the seeds to enjoy as a treat.

Students investigate the history of rap as an analysis of lyrical poetry and hip hop culture. In this rap analysis lesson, students watch a PBS NewsHour clip about the difference between rap music and hip hop culture. Students...