High School Social Studies Lesson Plans

1. A Practical Experiment in Colonization- The purpose of this activity is to provide an opportunity for American History students to gain practical experience in the basic types of challenges that may exist in the establishment of any early colony.
2. A Question of Ethics- A Question of Ethics is a unit of instruction that helps students to understand the term ethics, learn what ethical questions are, and develop a self-checking ethics guide.
3. Alliance Game, International Alliances- After students have completed the Alliance simulation game they will understand how alliances made before WWI influenced the makeup of the war and its outcome.
4. Amendment Project- The students will be able to visualize the amendments by associating pictures or illustrations to each one.

1. American Experiences Abroad: An Interview- With foreign trade being so controversial, students need an opportunity to examine a broad spectrum of information about our complex relationships with overseas friends and foes.
2. American Political Culture- This lesson plan stimulates classroom discussion of basic values. First a personal evaluation is taken, and then those personal values are compared and contrasted with the class as a whole.
3. Citizenship and the Constitution- Students need to be informed citizens on a local, state and national level.
4. Civil Rights: Casualties of Wartime- When we warn of threats to our constitutionally guaranteed rights, our students often side more with expedience, for instance, than with due process. Likewise, in international crises, the challenge is leveled: Why don't we just nuke 'em?
5. Civil War Essay Writing- The learner will be able to list the six major themes presented in class and explain one in detail as an essay answer.
6. Class Reunion- Lesson prepared in an effort to make students ruminate about their future and preparation for life beyond high school.
7. Classical Conditioning Experiment- The learner will see the effect of classical conditioning in their everyday life.
8. Colonial Rules- This particular activity was designed to show students how the colonists felt during this oppressive period.
9. Communication in U.S. Society; Radio in America- For the MTV generation radio's impact may seem unlikely but this lesson will show them how powerful the second revolution (the first being the printed word) in the media was to life in the United States.
10. Concentration/Constitution and Bill of Rights- The class will engage in a spirited competition on the Constitution/Bill of Rights by trying to identify phrases connected with the Constitution/ Bill of Rights.
11. Conceptual Analysis In Economics- The purpose of this activity is to involve students in making decisions and pursuing their own interests within a social and economic environment.
12. Constitutional Scavenger Hunt- A fun way to learn.
13. Cultural Diversity- This activity is designed for teachers who would like to heighten student's awareness of lifestyles, stereotyping, and cultural diversity.
14. Dynamics of Relationships- Students will recognize that a relationship is more than the sum of two people, it is dynamic and built on the unique dimensions that are possessed by the people involved.
15. Entrepreneur- This activity is used as a group activity. The students work in groups of four to establish a profitable business that also helps the economy of the community.
16. Establishing Justice- This lesson can be used when studying the Court system in United States Government or American history when studying the 1960's.
17. Ethics in American Government- This activity provides exploration of ethical dilemmas which might face our present government officials.
18. Evaluating Crimes- Students will learn that a crime is something one does or fails to do in violation of a law; or it can also be behavior for which government sets a penalty.
19. Family Newscast- The purpose of the activity is to allow the students to experience what takes place in the production of a newscast or newsmagazine on a specific issue.
20. Foreign Language and Culture- Students will list activities which affect the language under study. (i.e. Bastille Day, Chinese New Year, Ramadan, San Gennaro Festival, Cinco De Mayo, Fasching, Oktoberfest, Carnival, Guy Fawkes Day, Boxing Day, Santa Claus Day, and other activities not found in the United States.
21. Foreign Policy Simulation- This activity is a simulation in which students role play to solve various foreign policy problems.
22. Forming A Government- The lesson finds the students on an island after their ship has wrecked, or their plane has crashed. Food, fresh water, and shelter are in short supply. The students must form a government, develop laws and penalties.
23. Free Enterprise: Business Magazine Project- It allows the creative student with poor writing skills an opportunity to express their economic knowledge and earn a grade that is not hampered by their specific learning deficiency.
24. Freedom of the Press- : This lesson focuses on the role the press plays as a "watchdog" for the citizenry. By examining who two reporters uncovered the story behind the Watergate break-in, students see not only the benefits of a free press, but also the obstacles that can be placed in the way of reporters trying to gather information.
25. Fun With Pacific Northwest Cities and Towns- The major purpose is fun. It also aids the students with map work.
26. Funny Money- The purpose of this(one day) lesson is to stress the importance of good attendance, student promptness, and overall student responsibility.
27. Genealogy Research- The main purpose of this activity is to create interest and personalize history.
28. Geography of the Middle East- It gives the student a visual image of the boundaries of the nation states in the Middle East. The student will also visualize the crisis areas occupied by Israel.
29. Government & Economics: The Ties That Bind- The purpose of this activity is to expand the understanding of students in the areas of both economics and government.
30. Group Newspaper Presentations- In connection with my World War I Unit, I assign a group presentation. I assign the membership in the groups to make sure that I have certain strengths in each one.
31. Have Minorities Gained Acceptance?- Students will cite evidence gathered from magazines about how much Blacks are accepted into the mainstream of American life. They will support their conclusions by writing an answer to an essay question.
32. Home Made Political Parties- The purpose of this activity is to provide students with an understanding of the role of political parties in our democracy, by offering them an opportunity to participate in one of the primary activities of any party, writing a platform.
33. How Man Negotiates Away His Natural Freedom- Students are assigned readings on John Locke's views on the political nature of man. This is followed by class discussions on ways in which his views were incorporated into the early U.S. political framework and philosophy.
34. Human Growth & Development: Aging- The purpose of this unit on aging is to provide experiences and activities to increase students understanding and empathy towards people of many different ages.
35. Introduction of Restrictions on Freedom of Speech- Students often times see the Bill of Rights granting them unlimited rights. The need for them to see the limits of those rights are important. This lesson helps them to see those limits.
36. Introduction to Business- The purpose of this activity is to reinforce their knowledge of the current material we covered in class. As an example lets say we covered material concerning wants/needs.
37. Iron Triangles- An honest look at politics.
38. Jack: Criminal or Victim? or Happily Ever After ...- This lesson encourages students to use all levels of Bloom to look at the case of 'Jack and the Beanstalk' through the eyes of our present legal system.
39. Law in the Future- Students will be able to identify the problems associated with applying the U.S. laws and history to an international situation.
40. Making Binding Agreements- To thoroughly explore "offer" and "acceptance" in relationship to making binding agreements.
41. Negotiating Treaties- This lesson helps students recognize the interaction between early settlers and indigenous people in the U.S.
42. One Person's Garbage, Another Person's...?- This lesson will ask students to consider the issue of waste recycling alternatives for isolated settings. They will be asked to transform discarded solid waste into a usable item.
43. Password- The students will be able to: Identify vocabulary words pertaining to the Constitution/Bill of Rights.
44. Personal Interests And Career Traits- Students will develop an awareness of their personal interests and relate them to career traits. The students will match their traits to various jobs to help them see beyond their immediate future.
45. Personal Investments- Students and most adults have very little working knowledge how best to invest their money or the vocabulary of investments.
46. Plotting A Hurricane Using Latitude And Longitude- This map skills lesson is to be used in the early part of the school year. It is designed to help students learn how to use the grid system to locate areas on a map and to help students understand that geography puts emphasis on "place."
47. Political Polls- Students must know polls are statements of short term probability that may easily be skewed. They are a tool to help man make rational decisions.
48. Pornography Debate- The purpose of this activity is to provide students with the insight into the complexities of protecting the individuals right of expression.
49. Post Nuclear War Survival- The purpose of this unit is to have students work together to reach consensus of a controversial issue. It helps them realize that sometimes there are no right and wrong answers.
50. Presidential Elections: A Simulation- Through this activity, students will come to better recognize and understand the intricacies of U.S. presidential elections--the simple and noble aspects, as well as those characteristics which have come under great criticism.
51. Role of Government- The intent of this activity is to introduce students to the meaning of the word "government." The students will examine why society needs a government to exist.
52. Search & Seizure Laws- The students will observe first hand a simulation of what the New Jersey vs. T.L.O. (1985) court case was about. This allows students the chance to see how the case developed, and how it may affect them today.
53. Sectionalism in the Early US- The purpose of this activity is to aid the students in putting themselves into a situation that demands a change of attitude from the 1990's to the early 1800's.
54. Separation of Powers- The purpose of this lesson is to help students understand the concept of the three branches of government.
55. Shoplifting Simulation- To further student's knowledge concerning juvenile justice, and to make them aware of the seriousness of the crime of shoplifting.
56. States & Capitals- To help the students learn in cooperative way, the geographic locations of each state of the United States.
57. Supreme Court Decisions and Their Effect On Us- The purpose of this activity is to help students understand how Supreme Court decisions affect all of us and what the Supreme Court bases its decisions on.
58. Supreme Court Decisions on Freedom of Religion- The wide range of cases help students to understand that this "freedom" has limits and bounds and is constantly under attack.
59. Supreme Court Rulings- In our changing society it is important for students to be knowledgeable concerning the potential flow of Supreme Court decisions by the high court.
60. Symbolic Speech- This lesson is to show students the role of the Supreme Court in respect to interpreting the law.
61. Teaching Basic Banking Principles- An understanding of banking is important for our students as we face the monetary situation of the coming years. This lesson is a good tool for getting them started.
62. The Declaration Versus The Communist Manifesto- In this activity a student will be challenged to see if he or she can discern the difference between the values found in the Declaration of Independence (and consequently, is a part of our system) and those of the Communist Manifesto.
63. The Founding Fathers- To lay the groundwork for understanding the people who were the first colonists and the government they left behind.
64. The Identification, Mapping, and Personification of Countries Involved in World War II- The floor map gives students a different perspective of geography and an opportunity to creatively demonstrate the knowledge they have gained. It reinforce traditional map work and builds confidence.
65. The Nineteenth Amendment- This activity provides specific knowledge about Susan B. Anthony and also about the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. The activity stimulates analytical thinking skills and class discussion by learning how different groups of people received the right to vote before women received this right.
66. The Presidential Campaign Game- The purpose of this political game is to give the students experience in working within the political process.
67. The Search for a Meaningful Dialectic- The primary purpose of this activity is to introduce each student to a framework of political and social values which may be used to evaluate the validity of any public policy debate, bill, law, etc.
68. The Stock Market- The purpose of this activity is to help students to have at least a simple understanding of the stock market, and also see how many factors can influence the market.
69. The Stock Market Game- The purpose of this activity is to give students a working knowlege and vocabualry of the stock market.
70. The US Constitution Power Grab Game- To encourage students to comprehend these points of emphasis and relate them to the study of the three branches of our federal government.
71. The Voting Game- Students will be able to classify political parties between the radical-conservative range. Students will identify their interests with a political party.
72. The Holocaust- The student will learn about prejudice, racism, and stereotyping in any society.
73. The Middle East- Following the successful completion of the introductory activity on the Middle East, 12th graders will be able to explain the different Middle East countries and their relationships with each other, with 100% accuracy.
74. The New Deal- The student will analyze how the Great Depression affected children.
75. The Pottery Project- Begin lesson by assigning a different Native American culture region to each group in your class. The group will then decorate a clay pot to reflect the culture of their assigned region. While paint is the most fun, colored pencils work best.
76. The Rain Forest- This project is long term and the culmination is the creation of a "Tropical Rain Forest" in the classroom. We had the students do research on a rain forest and then re-created it.
77. The Ripple of Society- Given a list of categories students will be able to come up with a minimum of twelve things that have been integrated into our culture and explain how they have changed the culture.
78. The Sistine Chapel Painting Project- I have students watch "The Agony and The Ecstasy", or you could read it with an upper level class, to get an idea of what Michaelangleo's life was like. The kids enjoy the love/hate relationship portrayed between Pope Julius and Michaelangelo. After viewing the movie, I introduce the project, explaining that the students will replicate chosen panels of the ceiling.
79. The Treasure Seekers- Students will discuss the connection between exploring and understanding the world. Students will explain the importance of organizations supporting scientists.
80. To Be or Not to Be Armed- The purpose of this activity (to be used in a secondary governments class) is to begin the process of teaching students communication and thinking skills and the procedures necessary to resolve problems.
81. Topical Discussions- The purpose of this activity is to encourage students to share their opinions on controversial topics and to be able to state why they hold those particular beliefs.
82. Town Meeting: Direct Representation- Students are to use discussion, negotiation, and political skill to make a group decision.
83. Trading with China- Research to learn about China's human rights record, labor unions and international trade as they relate to the China trade bill.
84. Treasures and Fingerprints- Fingerprints, getting to know the people in your school and community.
85. Voting a Privilege Through Registration- Students in the classroom will be asked to help prepare the student body for voter registration by making posters and working through rosters to determine who has voted and who has not.
86. We Live In An International Community- The purpose of this activity is to show that students are daily involved in the world of international trade and the world economic picture.
87. Who Gets the Job?- The purpose of this lesson is for students to understand that even though Senate approval is needed for presidential Cabinet appointments, there are no qualifications or standards set for each position.
88. Why a Mock Trial?- While learning the details of trial process and procedures, students are also developing a number of critical skills that are universally necessary.
89. World War II- The importance of this lesson will help the students later understand the affects of World War II on the World as a whole.