History Lesson Plans

Kindergarten

Long, Long, Ago
Children will learn that the world has not always been as it is today by discovering things they use in every day life that were not available long ago. They'll use reasoning and imagination to think of ways to live without those items and experiment with pioneer life.
Thanksgiving Menu
This activity allows students to be imaginative and do some creative writing, while learning about history by creating a menu for the first thanksgiving.

Middle School

American History Review
The purpose of this lesson is to review important events in American history from its discovery to present day.
The States and Capitals - Part One
In this lesson, students have to write the capital beside the state. This lesson is in two parts.
The States and Capitals - Part Two
In this lesson, students have to write the capital beside the state.
Writing a Biography - Helen Keller
Students will write a biography of Helen Keller. This lesson will take more than one class period. You can have them do the research during a class period, and then have them write their paper at home or during class the following day.
Writing a Historical Fiction Story
In this lesson, students will choose some period of history and write a fictional story, but the facts of history need to be true.
Writing a Short Story - History
Students will choose a period of history that they have studied so far and find interesting. Then, they will write a short story with the setting in that period of history. Students can do the research and rough draft of their short story at home, and then they can write the final short story in class.

High School

Acronyms - States
Students will learn about Acronyms and will fill out the worksheet that I have included in this lesson plan. This lesson is on states. Students will find information on specific states listed in the worksheet and find words that begin with the letters of the states.
Choosing A President - Writing An Essay
In this lesson, students will select the president of their choice and do some research on the president. After that, they will choose a specific topic they would like to write about such as his term as a president, or some other aspect of his life. Then, they will need to take notes while they read so they can have them available when they are ready to write their essays.
Comparing and Contrasting Two States
In this lesson, students will select two states and do some research on those two states. After that, they will choose a specific topic they would like to write about and compare and contrast the two states. For example, they might want to compare and contrast the climate or the environment in the two states. Then, they will need to take notes while they read so they can have them available when they are ready to write their essays.
Conversation with __________
In this lesson, students will select a person they would like to know better and write a scene where the student and the famous person meet to discuss a specific event. This person can be a president or another person in history. This lesson plan can also be used for literature where the studens could select Edgar Allan Poe or another writer in Literature.
Guess The State?
In this lesson, students will select a state they want to research and write down their information in the form of questions and answers so they can ask their class to guess the identity of their state.
History of Thanksgiving
Students will write a paper on the history of Thanksgiving. They will do some research on the Internet and then write their paper. This assignment can take two class periods: one for research and one for writing the final paper. You can also have the final paper as homework.
How To Write An Essay Paper
Students will learn how to write an essay paper. This lesson plan can be used in Language or in other subjects where students write essays.
Story Starters For Historical Fiction Story
The students will be given some ideas for story starters that are related to History. For example, one story starter might be: If I was the President, I would change the following: They are to write a historical fiction story and submit their papers to you for grading.
Team Exercise - History
Students will write their own questions about a specific topic related to history, so they can present them to the opposite team. Each team needs to let the other team know the area they selected, so they can prepare ahead of time. The teacher will keep score, so the students will know which team won.
Writing a Biography - Part One
This lesson is in two parts. In this lesson, you will have some discussion questions on what a biography is and how to research for information.
Writing a Biography - Part Three
In this lesson, students will edit and revise their first draft. They will type their final copy on the computer.
Writing a Biography - Part Two
In this lesson, students will gather their information and write their outlines. You can assign their first draft as homework.