Middle School Social Studies Lesson Plans

 
  • America Before and After 9/11 - Where were you during the 9/11 attacks? What were you doing? What do you remember about that day? Students will have a chance to see how this day changed America.
  • Americans and Their Music - In this lesson, students will explore the differences between musical eras and what elements may have brought about the changes in what we listen to today.
  1. 1980 Miracle On Ice - This lesson will be about the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team and how they inspired nationalism across the country after defeating the dominant Soviet Union in the semifinals.
  2. American Landmarks - Where is the world's largest ball of twine? How about the tallest building? Students will enjoy embarking on this journey of discovering new places and what those places have to offer.
  3. Anne Frank and the Holocaust - The ability to relate to a human being who lost their life in "The Final Solution" during W.W.II and understand that 6 million other people with characters and personalities of their own died the same way.
  4. Arabian Peninsula - Students will be able to identify and describe the ways in which people had to adapt to the climate in the Arabian peninsula.
  5. Beginnings of the Revolution - Understand the chain of events in the revolutionary war and understand how particular battles effected the outcome.
  6. California - Students will describes the social, political, cultural and interactions among people of California from the pre-Columbian societies to the Spanish and Mexican periods.
  7. Cave Drawings - Are cave drawings "So easy, even a Caveman could do it", as the popular commercial says? Students will get a chance to try their hand at making similar drawings and learn about their origin and purpose.
  8. Code of Hammurabi - This lesson will encourage students to study and compare Hammurabi's laws with the laws we have in today's society. They will be able to explain why the laws were important.
  9. Colonists Have Had Enough - Students will also be able identify important figures and groups from both colonial and British perspectives leading up to the American Revolution.
  10. Concentration Camps - Have the kids understand and realize what concentration camps symbolize in this world.
  11. Concept of Stratification - Students should be able to explain and define the concept of stratification with appropriate examples.
  12. Creating a Family Tree - Students will become familiar with the creation of a family tree.
  13. Creating the Underground Railroad - This lesson introduces students to the Underground Railroad. They will learn about the places escaping slaves hid, the dangers they faced along the way, and the people that they escaped from.
  14. Current Events - Students will be able to increase critical thinking skills, analysis and criticism.
  15. Dominico Americano School - Students will learn about the physical characteristics of North America.
  16. Election Unit - This unit will cover the process of electing our chief executive officers.
  17. Establishing Jamestown - Identify the first colonists basic survival needs.
  18. Europe Map - Analyze location of European countries to determine their importance as a seaport at some time in their history and determine which countries would likely be trading partners.
  19. Exploring our US Presidents - This lesson will involve in-depth research, both library research and online research, on one of the US Presidents.
  20. Forms of Government - Students will be able to clearly recognize the main form of government each type falls under.
  21. Genealogy - To make students aware of changing family demographics.
  22. History Express Faith - What is History? Why do we study History?
  23. How Do Soldiers Communicate - The goal of the lesson is to learn about how soldiers communicate with family and friends.
  24. How to Avoid the Plague - This is a study of how the Bubonic Plague affected the populations of Europe and Asia, in the Middle Ages, before antibiotics were developed. Students will make public service announcements explaining how the disease is spread and what people can do to stop it.
  25. Jackson Battles Bank of the U.S. - Summarize key events and practices that characterized the Jacksonian Era, including Jackson's veto of the National Bank.
  26. Legacy in American Culture - What are some legacies we enjoy in New York City? Who is responsible for leaving those legacies?
  27. Linking Mesopotamia and Egypt - At the end of the lesson the students will be able to pick out several key things that made the river civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt similar and different.
  28. Mississippi River - The student will be able to give a report on an occupation associated with the Mississippi River now or in the past.
  29. Native American Wonders - To introduce children to the culture of a variety of Native American tribes through literature and related activities.
  30. Origins of the Constitution - Students will recognize the significance of the Magna Carta; the English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, Virginia Statutes of Religious Freedom, Colonial Assemblies, and the Articles of Confederation.
  31. Passport to the Cherokee Culture - Students will be learning about the Cherokee culture (in order to determine if Andrew Jackson's view about the Cherokee people being uncivilized was a correct assumption).
  32. Planning a Medieval Feast - This lesson will help familiarize students with one of the social aspects of the Middle Ages.
  33. Population Growth and the Environment - Students will be able to understand the importance of the environment and how it impacted history.
  34. Preamble and Article 1 - To have an understanding of the goals of the Preamble and to understand the main ideas of Congress and why it matters now.
  35. Presidential Election Timeline - The student will be able to list the major events in order that lead up to Presidential election.
  36. Reconstruction/Primary Source #1 - Students will be expected to analyze Political Cartoon #1 aloud in a whole class setting with the guidance of the teacher.
  37. Review of Mesopotamia - A quick review of a unit.
  38. Setting the Stage - The learner will assess the impact of geography on the settlement and developing economy of the Carolina colony by using a word processor to create and produce a class assignment.
  39. System of Checks and Balances - Students will be able to identify the powers delegated to the three branches of government, illustrate how the system of checks and balances work and determine how the checks and balances system can be seen in today's modern democratic system.
  40. The American Revolution: Causes - The student will understand the causes of the American Revolution, the ideas and interests involved in shaping the revolutionary movement, and the reasons for the American victory.
  41. The Columbian Exchange - Students will have an understanding of the animals and plants and diseases that were introduced the the Americans by Europe and the effects on the Native American population.
  42. The Roman Empire - My major outcome is to teach students the history between the roman times, and with this content specifically focusing on Julius Caesar.
  43. The Union Breaks Apart - To teach the students how the civil war started and also how slavery was an issue.
  44. Tourism Website - The students will be researching religions, major land marks, forms of government, indigenous people, and population distribution.
  45. "What's in a Name" - TLW Identify geographic and political reasons for the creation of a distinct North Carolina colony and evaluate the effects on the government and economics of the colony.
  46. What is a Griot? - Students will be become familiar with the purpose and importance of the West African griot.
  47. What is the American Dream? - Working in a team and playing roles, there will be research with several websites and the library to collect information on people and events related to immigration to America.
  48. Who were these Men? - Who were the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
  49. Where Things Come From - The lesson examines the origin of products and origin of materials using geography knowledge, face to face communication skills, communication skills using cell phones and Internet research skills.
  50. Why Were The Colonists So Mad? - Students will be able to explain how the colonists responded to British policy and how this policy caused the colonists to revolt.
  51. World Affairs - It will include reading in the content area concerning foreign-policy issues, and use of maps to help the students understand and analyze the relationships between various countries and regions across the world.
  52. World War II - To recognize that, despite America's eventual involvement in the W.W.II, not everyone initially agreed that intervention was the answer.