Social Studies Teacher Resources
Learning more about the world around you is the first step in becoming a global citizen. Whether it’s a lesson on world history, geography, or international cultures, social studies is an important way to engage students with the stories and experiences of others.
For young learners, a lesson connects the themes of their everyday lives with common concepts from social studies. Use a presentation on American history, symbols, and leaders to teach class members about the basics of American culture.
An American history lesson compares the treatment of women in American society today with the Salem Witch Trials of the seventeenth century. Couple the resource with a complete American history curriculum, perfect for middle schoolers.
Want to connect social studies to the arts? Use an innovative resource to discuss social conflict and political protest with abstract art and song lyrics. Language arts students can write diary entries from the perspective of a historical figure with a thought-provoking writing activity.
Preparing your students to be citizens of the world may be your job, but preparing you for teaching the best lesson ever is Lesson Planet’s job!
Showing 30,581 resources
Curated OER
Citizenship
Young students view this presentation which goes over the concepts of being a good citizen, what volunteers do, what our basic rights are, and what types of organizations in our society are considered to be led by volunteers. The last...
Carolina K-12
EU Movement Role Play
Using role play, a graphic organizer, and discussion, your class members will compare and contrast the movement of people and goods between countries in the European Union before and after the organization was established. This is a...
Alabama Department of Archives and History
Yellow Journalism
What role did yellow journalism play in bringing the United States into war with Spain? As part of their study of the Spanish-American War, class groups examine newspapers of the times and other texts and then produce their own...
San Francisco Symphony
Heritage Song
Learning how to compare and contrast is a core skill. Learners compare two music selections that showcase a specific heritage. They draw and discuss how each song and the composers of each song used their personal heritage as...
Curated OER
Egypt
Tour the decayed temples, chapels, and pylons of Karnak, watch the whirling Sufi dancers, and visit the puzzling Egyptian pyramids. This is a non-narrated video, but it provides a look into Egyptian history and culture.
Curated OER
Sri Lanka
It's a small island, but it promises a big trip! Come visit Sri Lanka with this beautiful imagery. Not your typical tourism video, this non-narrated advertisement highlights some of the most popular destinations and points out some...
Curated OER
Thailand
Take the journey of a lifetime, and travel to Thailand! This video breaks down into categories like Thai life, Thai flavor, culture, adventure, etc. It is non-narrated but provides both videos and stills that depict life in Thailand.
Curated OER
South Korea
Hi from Seoul, South Korea! Take a look at the bustling city and the people who live, work and play here. Whether it's shopping or attending a festival, something always seems to be going on in world's second largest metropolitan area....
Curated OER
Peru
Peru really is a place that has it all! This video details the customs, food, and interests of the modern people and tours both the historical sites as well as the modern towns. Let's travel to Peru!
Tennessee State Museum
An Emancipation Proclamation Map Lesson
Did the Emancipation Proclamation free all slaves during the Civil War? Why was it written, and what were its immediate and long-term effects? After reading primary source materials, constructing political maps representing information...
Social Studies School Service
DVD Lesson Plan: Thirteen Days
Here you'll find a fine teacher reference for presenting the film Thirteen Days, a dramatic interpretation of the Cuban Missile Crisis during the Kennedy administration. It includes a brief description of the film, learning objectives, a...
City University of New York
Presidential Elections and the Electoral College
To understand the controversy surrounding the US 2000 presidential election, class members investigate the rationale behind the Electoral Collage, the intimidation involved in the election of 1876, and the 2004 American League...
Compton Unified School District
How Can We Locate Places?
How can we locate places? Maps, of course! Expose second graders to the tools available in maps and discuss how these tools can help people find locations. Students also look at communities, including what makes a community and the...
City University of New York
African Americans and the Populist Movement
Why did the Populist Party fail to ally itself with African American farmers? To answer this essential question, class members investigate the Populist Era (188-1900) and read an article written by Tom Watson, a Populist leader.
PBS
Technology: Conveniences and Consequences
It's a delicate balance—using technology to improve our lives while still protecting the environment, and ourselves, from the hazards of technology use. Class members examine statistics about the increase in media use, complete a survey...
Vermilionville
Mardi Gras—Secondary
Add a little glitter to your Mardi Gras celebration with a packet that includes information about the history of Mardi Gras. It also provides information about how different communities celebrate the holiday, as well as templates for...
The Alamo
A Teacher’s Guide to Lorenzo De Zavala
Who was Lorenzo de Zavala to the Texas Revolution, and how did he change the Alamo? Find out using an educational resource that asks learners to fill out graphic organizers and respond to short-answer questions to further solidify their...
C-SPAN
On This Day: Black Panther Party
An engaging resource provides viewers with information about the founding of the Black Panther Party and social programs like its food bank that the party created. The video clips also describe the political views of the party and their...
National Endowment for the Humanities
A Debate Against Slavery
Slavery is a serious topic that can be challenging for middle schoolers to study. Young scholars can see firsthand through primary sources what occurred during that time period in the United States. The third of five lessons provides...
Curated OER
The Monroe Doctrine: Whose Doctrine Was It?
Was James Monroe the sole contributor of the Monroe Doctrine? Young scholars study the doctrine and cite evidence to show contributions of John Quincy Adams and Thomas Jefferson in its formulation.
Curated OER
Colonial Rules
How did Colonists react to British rule prior to the American Revolution? Give your high schoolers a taste of oppression with this role-play activity, then let them come up with a revolution of their own. This excercise is intended to...
Curated OER
Creating a Government
A simulation gives scholars a personal look at what goes into forming a government. Each of them is assigned 1 of 4 tribes which make up Borka, a hypothetical country. The tribe distribution is based on the percentage of people in each....
Curated OER
Choosing the Best Candidate
Who would win an election between Napoleon and Julius Caesar? Group your class up to analyze and discuss which of their given choices would make the best presidential candidate, given specific criteria. The potential candidate list...
Curated OER
Presidential Election Year: Major Issues
Whether or not it's a presidential election year, this debate activity will spark research on current political issues. Split your government scholars into 4 groups and assign each a political party. One person will be the "candidate"...
