Browse lesson plans

Back to the future!

In this lesson plan, students research the history of an important invention and present what they've learned through an annotated timeline, historical fiction journal accounts, and VoiceThread technology.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 and 8 Information Skills and Social Studies)

By Diane Ruby.

Vote for me! A re-election editorial

In Rethinking Reports, page 1.4

A research assignment in which students write an editorial for or against the re-election of a selected president.

Format: activity/lesson plan

By Melissa Thibault and David Walbert.

Resources on the web

Behind the scenes: Forest & forest product research

This lesson from the Forest History Society examines research conducted to help us utilize forest resources while managing our forestlands in a sustainable manner. Students will learn about key forest research conducted since the early 1900s, as well as key... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 Social Studies)

Provided by: The Forest History Society

Child labor: Giving voice to the industrial revolution through monologues

In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students gather information using selected websites and explore issues related to child labor, particularly as it occurred in England and the United States during the Industrial Revolution. Students then use this information... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Cyberspace explorer: Getting to know Christopher Columbus

In this lesson, students participate in a cyber scavenger hunt to find information about explorer Christopher Columbus. After the teacher engages students in a discussion about their knowledge of the explorer, the class suggests other questions they would... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Computer/Technology Skills, English Language Arts, and Social Studies)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Faulkner's As I Lay Dying: Images of Faulkner and the South

In this first lesson in EDSITEment's unit entitled "Faulkner's As I Lay Dying: Form of a funeral," students research the life of William Faulkner and investigate the relationship between the "South" of Faulkner's work and the... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 11 English Language Arts)

Provided by: EDSITEment

A Harlem Renaissance retrospective: Connecting art, music, dance, and poetry

The Harlem Renaissance was a vibrant time that was characterized by innovations in art, literature, music, poetry, and dance. In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students conduct Internet research, work with an interactive Venn diagram tool, and create a museum... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Investigating the Holocaust: A collaborative inquiry project

In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students explore a variety of resources“texts, images, movies, artwork”to learn more about the Holocaust. Beginning with journal writings and a picture book to introduce the issues, the lesson plan focuses on student-centered... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Learning about research and writing using the American Revolution

This lesson combines historical research and acrostic poetry. After listing all they know about the American Revolution, students work in groups to answer the questions they have about this historical period. Then, after reading If... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Searching for gold: A collaborative inquiry project

After the teacher demonstrates to students how to navigate online resources and gives a brief lesson on research skills, students study the Gold Rush using a collaborative inquiry strategy. In several self–selected small groups, students research... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Timelines and texts: Motivating students to read nonfiction

In this ReadWriteThink lesson, students use an historical timeline and their prior knowledge to predict when specific inventions were produced and explain their reasons for placing an invention in a particular year. During a paired thinking and sharing... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink