Browse lesson plans

Bullfighting in Colombia

In this lesson for grade six, students study the history of bullfighting in Spain and Colombia as an example of how cultural traditions can be transferred from one place to another. Students analyze photographs of bullfighting in Colombia and discuss the cultural tradition of the sport and the controversy surrounding it.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Social Studies)

By Eric Eaton.

Careers in medicine and the ancient Greeks

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 4.4

In this lesson for grade six, students will learn about ancient Greek medicine and the Hippocratic Oath and will research contemporary medical careers.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Social Studies)

By Mandy Matlock.

Differences across the curriculum: Part 1

Part of a set of lessons offering an integrated approach to exploring diversity with eighth graders, this lesson serves as a pre-reading activity for the drama version of "The Diary of Anne Frank." Students will learn how diversity creates bias which leads to conflict, where students confront their bias and practice tolerance.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

By Lynn Carter.

European and South American agriculture

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 4.3

In this lesson for grades six and seven, students conduct research about agriculture in South America and Europe and organize the information on a compare/contrast map.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Social Studies)

By Mandy Matlock.Edited by Julie McCann.

The five themes of geography

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 4.6

In this lesson for grade six, students will explore different career paths based on the five themes of geography.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Guidance and Social Studies)

By Shea Calloway.

Greece: Part 1

This lesson is one of three created as an interdisciplinary unit on the connection between the art and artifacts of a culture and the values and beliefs of the members of that culture. This unit begins with a class-wide investigation of Ancient Greece and concludes with a visit to the Ackland Art Museum. During the visit, students will have the opportunity to assess their predictions about the Ancient Greeks. In addition, students will look at works of art from other cultures and compare and contrast the visual information provided about those cultures with visual information provided about Greek culture.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3 Social Studies)

By Winn Wheeler.

Let's take a trip: Careers in tourism

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 4.10

In this lesson for grade six, students will create advertisements for travel destinations in Europe and South America and will research careers in travel and tourism.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Guidance and Social Studies)

By Shea Calloway.

Martin Luther's Reformation in Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The setting of Victor Hugo's novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is the fifteenth century, the transitional period between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance/Reformation era. This era ushers in the period known as the modern age and historical events are chronicled through Hugo's novel. Hugo sets The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the decline of feudalism and the infancy of absolutism through Louis XI (Spider King), the rise of a urban middle class and the beginnings of commerce as it is known today. Primarily this novel satirizes the Catholic Church's absolute power -- its abuses, and its excesses. Students will discover how Hugo's satire operates to show the Catholic Church's abuse of power during the late Middle Ages and the early Reformation in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–10 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Nancy Webber.

Medicine in ancient Greece - Overview

This lesson provides a brief look at the origins of Greek medicine and a comparison with modern medicine. Also included is an edited text of the Hippocratic Oath.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Social Studies)

By Bruce Schulman.

Those feuding Greeks!

This lesson is designed to familiarize students with the philosophical, political, economic, military and social differences between Athens and Sparta.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9 Social Studies)

By Pernell Collett.

Travel brochure for Western Europe

Students will explore a particular country in Western Europe and get a general overview of the country. This is an activity designed to cover a great amount of material in a brief period of time.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Social Studies)

By Debra Martinez.

World War I political debate

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 4.7

In this lesson for grades six and seven, students will use their knowledge of World War I to debate whether Germany should have paid reparations following the war.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Social Studies)

By Shea Calloway.

Resources on the web

Cool Planet for Teachers

This site from OxFam helps teachers bring global issues into the classroom. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: OxFam

Creating character: Citizenship

In this lesson, while participating in whole class discussion and collaborative group work, students explore the concept of citizenship. During the activities, students watch visual history testimonies of Dina Gottliebova-Babbit, Robert Mendler, and Henry... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–12 Guidance and Social Studies)

Provided by: USC Shoah Foundation Institute

Creating character: Concluding lesson

In this final lesson, students synthesize the concepts they explored in previous lessons. Students assemble a “Treasure Box” of items such as collages, writings, and more, all organized around Courage, Responsibility, Respect, Citizenship, Justice... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–12 Guidance and Social Studies)

Provided by: USC Shoah Foundation Institute

Creating character: Introduction

This introductory lesson begins with an interview of Elena Nightengale, Jewish Survivor of the Holocaust, who discusses the importance of respecting all human beings regardless of differences. Nightengale also discusses integrity and honesty and the power... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Guidance and Social Studies)

Provided by: USC Shoah Foundation Institute

Creating character: Perseverance

In this lesson, students explore the concept of perseverance and discuss their own personal experiences with hard work, inspiration, and accomplishment. Students view testimonies of people affected by discriminatory laws against Jews and Jehovah’s Witnesses.... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–12 Guidance and Social Studies)

Provided by: USC Shoah Foundation Institute

Creating character: Respect

In this lesson, students work in pairs to examine the ways that they demonstrate respect – and disrespect – to the people and institutions around them. During this activity, students watch testimonies from Felix Sparks, a liberator who believes in racial... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–12 Guidance and Social Studies)

Provided by: USC Shoah Foundation Institute

Creating character: Responsibility

In this lesson, students identify people, organizations, and ideals for which they feel responsible. By viewing visual history testimonies from Bent Lerno, Marianne Cooper, and Hedy Epstein, who are Jewish survivors of the Holocaust, they explore examples... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–12 Guidance and Social Studies)

Provided by: USC Shoah Foundation Institute

Creating character: Courage

In this lesson, students examine how people develop and define “courage”. Students watch visual history testimony clips given by three people involved in the Holocaust in different roles. The activities in this lesson include small-group work,... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–12 Guidance and Social Studies)

Provided by: USC Shoah Foundation Institute