Middle Level Social Studies Lesson Plans

Next 50 Social Studies Middle Level Lesson Plans

1. 100th Day of Schools- Neat things to do on the 100th day of school.
2. A Living Time Line- Set aside a day for your class to celebrate your town's history.
3. A Trip to Hawaii- Each day have the children do something to plan for their trip to hawaii example: Mon. use the cardboard to make sun glasses.
4. A Virtual trip to Canadian Provincial Parks- It's a webquest.
5. Acquired Island Project- You and your group have just received an island of your very own to govern. The United States has sent out you and your group to set up a government on a deserted island that the U.S. has decided to buy.

1. Ahoy! Pirates- WOW! a Pirate unit would be lots of fun for elementary students.
2. All About Me Unit- It builds sight vocabulary and develops a sense of community in your classroom.
3. American Settlements- This project will cover why and how the physical environment affects the different types of settlements across the United States for 4th or 5th grades.
4. American West Theme Ideas- A variety of ideas on how teach western themes.
5. Ancient Egypt- Everything Egypt!
6. Ancient Greece and Greek Mythology- A complete greek unit. Complete with postcards and puzzles.
7. Anne Frank- To teach others to be just as vigilant about the subtle forms of discrimination and prejudice as we are about blatant acts of violence and hatred.
8. Another way to teach about American Culture- A quick idea.
9. Biography Interview- The team will then take turns interviewing each other in front of class, while the other person is that person they are researching.
10. Black History- A complete unit for Black History Month.
11. Book In A Couple of Days: Year of Impossible Goodbyes- Works for other books as well.
12. Branches of Government Windsocks- After students discuss the 3 branches of USA government they make a windsock.
13. Building a Pioneer Cabin- The students will understand how difficult it was for the pioneers to build their homes.
14. Camping Vests- At the end of two weeks, the children will be able to tie a knot, make s'mores, role -play correct swimming motions, recite fire safety, and other neat camping procedures you may want to include.
15. Can I Make It?- Students are given a monthly salary (I use $950) and a monthly budget form. They are required to buy a car, pay rent and utilities, and are given a list of optional expenses such as health ins., auto ins., etc.
16. Cemetery Studies- . One main purpose of this to encourage an appreciation of the unique historical significance of that place. Nearly every community has an old cemetery of historic and educational value.
17. Central America Group Map Project- Students will use the guide map to enlarge a map of Central America onto the poster paper.
18. Change Happens- Students use a comic-strip format to show change and development in various aspects of everyday life.
19. Cities- Have the children make a skyscraper by cutting the construction paper and adding windows and doors.
20. Civil Rights Movement- Students outline the contributions of such figures in African-American history as Martin Luther King, Jr., W.E.B. Du Bois, Malcolm X, Jesse Jackson, and many others.
21. Class Time Capsule- In this activity, children will record information about themselves and the class. Then they will include this information in a time capsule that they will reopen at the end of the year to see how they have changed.
22. Colony Brochure- This lesson was done in conjunction with the computer class. After studying the 13 colonies, students were to create a brochure advertising one of the colonies.
23. Come With Me to Africa- To introduce children to the cultural and social diversities of the continent of Africa.
24. Community Helpers- The students will be able to name some of the different types of helpers there are in their community. The students will also be able to write down how the different helpers benefit or help the community.
25. Comparing Christmases- To learn the Christmas customs of another culture in a foreign country.
26. Co-operative Group Jeopardy Review- Students in each group write answers to ALL questions and the teacher circulates quickly around the room to check answers and award points.
27. Costa Rica Lessons- Following the introduction to the unit on Costa Rica, students will have a basic knowledge of the country, including its location, type of government, and some aspects of its history.
28. Countries- Students will locate and recreate a map of given country with capital located.
29. Create a City- Using Penn's example of a checkerboard city (Philadelphia) students will apply the necessary concepts to develop a city on their own.
30. Create Your Own Infomercial: Industrial Revolution- After studying the inventions of the Industrial Revolution, students apply what they have learned to present day.
31. Creating a Colony- For this activity, begin after you have introduced the basic ideas of the Thriteen Original Colonies.
32. Creating a Healthier Culture- It is critical that everyone understand the importance of the culture we find ourselves in because that culture impacts our behavior.
33. Cultures in Texas- Students will understand how all the different cultures in Texas make us a more interesting place.
34. Current Events Coverage Comparison- Students will follow a current events news item for one week(or two for added detail) in various sources and write a paper summarizing their findings on the coverage.
35. Democracy- Provides for reflection on concept of democracy.
36. Developing a Class Constitution- The students will become familiar with the course requirements and class procedures for US Government and relate this process to the development of the US Constitution.
37. Donde Vives?- To invent imaginary families.
38. Dr. Martin Luther King , Jr.- A chant from the times of Dr. King.
39. Dream Machine- Dream Machine in a Nutshell: students gather data, translate it into information and maintain it.
40. Economics- For this activity, begin after you have introduced the basic ideas of law of supply and demand. Group the students into producers, middlemen, retailers and consumers.
41. Edible Topographical Geography- A great idea!
42. Elections- A complete election unit.
43. Emotions and Feelings- A complete on-line unit.