Middle School Social Studies Lesson Plans Number 51 to 100
Explore
with Pumpkins- Have a classroom discussion about longitute and
latitude. Have students locate examples using their social studies
book or a world map.
Explorer
Interviews- One student is the interviewer and one is the explorer.
Exploring Landforms-
This unit investigates several types of landforms. Students will explore
and choose a famous landform to investigate and create a presentation
on.
Fake Diary Entries: A
Window to the Past- Each student in the class will research and write
a diary entry of 3-5 pages for a fictional child of their age, living
in a different time and location.
Family
Time Line- In this activity, children will interview family members
to learn about important events that have happened in their families.
Then use that information to create a time line showing changes and growth
in their families.
Famine
looms in Africa- Students will analyze the role of countries assisting
other countries during a potential humanitarian problem, and how the political
situations in countries affect aid given and received.
Famous Historical
People- Students are put into groups. They pick a famous person from
history. It may be an explorer, president, scientist, etc. They have one
week to put together a script of the life of the famous person.
Fantastic
Flying Journey- Teacher will read the book -Fantastic Flying Journey
aloud to the class. As the characters reach each country/continent, students
will use the Internet to find out more information about that place.
Firefighters:
Community Helper- The following is a list of various activites the
teacher can choose from when teaching a unit on firefighters.
First Amendment
Guarantee of Free Speech- Students receive a list of banned books
from which they choose one to read. As a class we study the concepts that
incite people to demand that certain books be banned: violence, language,
racial discrimination, homosexuality, abortion, sex, etc.
Flag Song-
I use this after the pledge of allegiance has been recited with my kinders.
It would be fine alone for younger pre-schoolers. Discuss the words. Have
someone hold the flag!
Freedom Unit-
While exploring and comparing a variety of historical periods, students
will learn about oppression, human rights, and freedom.
Fun At the
Farm- A great unit for learning common farming activities.
Fun with Proverbs-
Having been shown several Japanese proverbs, the students will guess the
meaning of each proverb and say the English version of the proverb if
possible.
Geography &
World War II- The 30-11th & 12th graders will know the geography of
World War II Europe and discuss the various pacts, political ideologies,
and military strategies involved in the years preceding the war and the
initial confrontations that began the war.
George Washington
in Pennsylvania #1- In recognition of the bicentennial anniversary
of George Washington's death, the Pennsylvania Cable Network has created
a special television series on the nation's first President and his many
activities in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Geroge Washington
Scavenger Hunt- Have 2 children go to the computer. One will be the
pilot and navigate the site, and the other will be the secretary that
will answer questions on paper.
Getting
to Know Me- The student will construct a dated timeline of their life
using photos and magazine cutouts to display information.
Highs / Lows
of States- You will be going on a scavenger hunt on the computer to
find information about a region that your group will choose.
Hiking the
Appalachian Trail- There can be endless variation to this lesson,
geared to your grade level and the materials and time on hand.
History Hall
of Fame- Prepare your students that they will create an American History
Hall of Fame for various cultures that have been forgotten in American
History.
How Do You
Know You Won't Like It?- The learner will identify various ethnic
groups found in regions of America, Europe, and Oceania and their impact
on the development of the selected region.
How to Build
a Slave Ship- Without telling the students what they are doing (building
a slave ship) divide your class into groups of from 2-3 people in each
group.
Human
rights violations- Students will examine and evaluate the state of
human rights in China and the United States.
I Can Choose-
You, as teacher, decides how much discussion is needed to explain all
the different emotions.
'I
Love You' virus- Students will create an operational definition for
the term "computer virus." Students will compare the "I Love You" computer
virus to another prominent computer virus.
Introduction
to Sexism- This individual lesson is meant to be part of a larger
attack on sexism and other linked oppressions which will ideally discussed
over the course of the term in a Secondary III?V M.R.E. or English class.
Iowa Census
Project- The state of Iowa is appropriating 340 million dollars for
local developmental projects. The students will research and evaluate
Iowa counties recent census data.
Iowa Leaders-
To begin to learn to use the internet and compare characteristics of famous
Iowa leaders.
Love
bytes- Students will explain the process by which the Love Letter
virus spread, as well as how the source of the virus was traced.
Make a Farm-
Download the software and print out the buildings, etc. Have the students
color and cut out their buildings (barn, silo, chicken coop, etc.)
Making a Multicultural
Brochure- Pick a theme- for example, mystudents made brichures on
Countries in the Caribbean when we were studying Columbus Exploration
to the new world.
Making Culture
Concrete- Give each co-operative group some of the following items
from one of the basic elements of culture.
Marco Polo- Pretend
you are young Marco Polo and have just been told you get to go with you
uncle and father. Write a letter to a friend telling what you think.