Ultimate Social Studies Series
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Social Studies Lesson Plans
Helpers | Elections
and Voting | Government
School Social Studies | Kindergarten
to Grade 3 Lessons
3 to 6 Lessons | Middle
School Lessons | Native
States History | World
History | Social
Subject Matter | SS
- Abraham Lincoln's House - In this
lesson, students will make their own version of his home. This tasty
treat is a great way for students to visualize where one of our
greatest leaders grew up.
- America Before and After 9/11 - Where
were you during the 9/11 attacks? What were you doing? What do you
remember about that day? Students will have a chance to see how
this day changed America.
Flag - This lesson teaches children the answers and lets them make
a flag that represents who they are.
- American Landmarks - Where is the world's
largest ball of twine? How about the tallest building? Students will enjoy
embarking on this journey of discovering new places and what those places
have to offer.
- American Symbols Matching Game - This lesson
will not only familiarize students with the various symbols of our country,
but they will learn some fun facts about each symbol along the way.
- Americans and Their Music - In this
lesson, students will explore the differences between musical eras and
what elements may have brought about the changes in what we listen to
- Cave Drawings - Are cave drawings
"So easy, even a Caveman could do it", as the popular commercial says?
Students will get a chance to try their hand at making similar drawings
and learn about their origin and purpose.
- Climate Search - Hot, cold, wet, dry...
The weather is always changing. How do we know where and when to go on
vacation? Climate Zones can help with that!
- Code Talker - What's it like to speak
in code? What's it like to have a "Top Secret" job? Students will learn
about the Navajo code talkers and their contributions to World War II,
while using the Navajo dictionary to decipher secret messages.
- Code of Hammurabi - This lesson will
encourage students to study and compare Hammurabi's laws with the laws
we have in today's society. They will be able to explain why the laws
- Colonial Children's Games - How much
fun can we have while using our imagination? This lesson will stimulate
students' creativity and give them a glimpse into the lives of children
from the Colonial era, when no electronic devices were present.
- Comparing Oil Spills - Oil spills have
devastating consequences, both for the environment and for communities.
In this lesson, students compare the Exxon Valdez spill with the BP spill
in the Gulf of Mexico. They look at similarities and differences in the
way it happened, how it was contained, and how long it took (or will take)
to repair the damage.
- Creating the Underground Railroad - This
lesson introduces students to the Underground Railroad. They will learn
about the places escaping slaves hid, the dangers they faced along the
way, and the people that they escaped from.
- Cultural Feast - Dust off your chef's hat
- it's time to get cooking! We have all seen those cooking shows on T.V.
and wondered if those exotic dishes tasted as good as they looked.
- Debate on Television's Influence on Culture
- This activity will give students an opportunity to debate that question.
They will work together to research information and present it in a persuasive
argument before a panel of judges.
- Doughnut Discrimination - Let's face it.
We may be uncomfortable discussing it, but discrimination is everywhere,
in one way or another. Students will have a chance to open up about what
they have seen and maybe even experienced firsthand.
- Effects of the 1929 Stock Market Crash
on Different States - This lesson helps students understand the effects
the 1929 stock market crash had around the nation. Students will research
how the crash affected a particular state and present their findings to
a mock committee who will judge which states need help the most.
- Evolution of Fighting Tactics in American
History - This lesson will help students visualize the different wars
America has been involved in and the fighting styles of each one.
- Families Are... - The student will be
able to create a collage showing different roles within a family and how
those family members support each other.
- Games from Around the Globe - All kids love
their playtime, or do they? Ever wonder what games children play in other
countries? Students will have an opportunity to learn this and more as
they work together in the following lesson.
- Helpers in Your Community - This is an
opportunity for students to gain an understanding of the makings of a
"community" and the people who give of their time and talents to help
- Hiding the Jews - German sympathizers
hid many Jews from the Nazis. This lesson gives students a taste of what
that is like. They are responsible for hiding a classmate from the Nazi
officer who will come to the classroom sometime during the week.
- How to Avoid the Plague - This is a study
of how the Bubonic Plague affected the populations of Europe and Asia,
in the Middle Ages, before antibiotics were developed. Students will make
public service announcements explaining how the disease is spread and
what people can do to stop it.
- Immigrants Then and Now - America is
made up of immigrants, but how many of us know the process a person goes
through when they want to come here? This lesson asks students to research
immigration patterns from the late 1890's until now.
- Learning About Timelines - Timelines
are an important tool in helping us to understand history. In this lesson,
students make a timeline of events that happened in their class.
- Making a Map - Where am I? Maps are valuable
tools for figuring that out. Knowing how to draw and read a map is even
better! Students will have lots of fun as they discover the importance
of these skills in the following lesson.
- Making a Mummy - Is that you, "Mummy"? Students
will learn about the history and science of mummification by creating
a mummy with an apple.
- Mississippi River - The student will be able
to give a report on an occupation associated with the Mississippi River
now or in the past.
- Native American Village - This lesson lets
students use their creativity and imagination. They work together to create
a replica of a Native American village.
- Natural Dyes - This is a lesson to DYE for!
Students will learn about the history of natural dyes used to color fabric
during the Colonial era.
- Plan a Tourist Brochure - The student
will be able to create a brochure highlighting one tourist area in their
- Planning a Medieval Feast - This
lesson will help familiarize students with one of the social aspects of
the Middle Ages.
With Two Voices of the Holocaust - The students will read a poem with
two voices chorally.
- President Bingo - This lesson is
great to use as a review game of the presidents. Students have to match
the facts you name to the correct president.
- Presidential Election Timeline
- The student will be able to list the major events in order that lead
up to Presidential election.
- Putting It Back Together - Students will
"dig" this. They will learn about how archeologists are similar to detectives
when it comes to finding out the origin and use of various artifacts that
are uncovered during archeological digs.
- Research a Volcano - This project asks
students to study the effect a volcano's eruption has on the cities and
towns immediately surrounding it.
- Segregation - Students will get to
experience segregation first hand in this lesson. They will be arbitrarily
divided and one side will be treated better than the other.
- The Forbidden City - In this lesson,
students take a tour of the Forbidden City and then draw a map of what
they see. Using the online tours they are able to see so much more than
a picture in a textbook can show them.
- The Melting Pot - "One of these things
is not like the other..." Imagine how boring life in America would
be if everyone were alike? Students can learn to celebrate the differences
in each other, as well as the different cultures that make up America.
- Using a Lock to Move a Boat - How do large,
heavy water vessels pass through the shallow parts of a river? Locks!
The following experiment will give students a better understanding of
how this happens.
Other History Lesson Plans
- Age of Imperialism,
The- A complete ready-to-use online unit.
Events- Students will be able to read newspapers and watch network
and local news reports. Students will be able to increase critical thinking
skills, analysis and criticism.
- Daily Life
in Ancient Civilizations- Lesson plans on Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece,
Ancient Rome, Ancient India, and Ancient China.
Bingo- A new approach to learning.
Maps- The students will be able to read a map and follow directions.
The students will design their own simple map.
- Teachers' Guide to the Professional
Cartoonists Index-The largest collection of newspaper editorial cartoons
on the web.
- The Academy Curriculum
Exchange- 200 lesson plans appropriate for all grade levels.