Free History and Social Studies Activities for Middle School

Nine 9/11 Activities & Lesson Plans for the Classroom

Looking for ways to help your students understand the September 11 terror attacks and their impact? Use these 9/11 activities and lesson plans designed for middle and high school classrooms.

Brenda Iasevoli
ShapedExecutive Editor

12 Summer and Winter Games Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students

These 12 Olympics activities for elementary and middle school students will let them sharpen their math, social studies, and writing skills.

Alicia Ivory
ShapedEditor

6 Juneteenth Activities & Lesson Plans for Students

In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation had declared all enslaved people in the rebelling states free. The Proclamation had no practical effect in Texas until Union General Gordon Granger landed at Galveston on June 19, 1865, and read the order. In Texas, June 19 came to be known as Juneteenth, on which day African Americans celebrated their freedom.

Alicia Ivory
ShapedEditor

9 Fun Black History Month Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students

Use these Black History Month classroom activities to celebrate with your students and teach them about significant figures in African American history.

Shaped Staff

5 Presidential Inauguration Activities for Students

Inauguration Day is January 20. These activities will introduce students to the ceremonies and traditions involved in the transfer of power.

Brenda Iasevoli
ShapedExecutive Editor

8 Black History Month Writing Prompts

Introduce students to Black innovators with these Black History Month writing prompts and guide them into a particular type of text, such as personal narrative, informative, or persuasive.

Perry Hollins
Fourth-Grade Teacher, Evanston/Skokie School District, Illinois

6 Fun Constitution Day Activities for Students: We the People

Here are Constitution Day activities to engage your students in learning about the historic document that defines how our government works.

Brenda Iasevoli
ShapedExecutive Editor

Forgotten Stories of the Oregon Trail: Writing History

Students will learn from reading diary entries written on the Oregon Trail how such writings preserve history and bring the past to life.

Glenn Greenberg
Shaped Contributor

Forgotten Stories of the Oregon Trail: Lesson Plans and Activities

Students will read stories about people's experiences on the Oregon Trail and work on related activities that will help them build their skills in math, science, ELA, and other subject areas.

Glenn Greenberg
Shaped Contributor

Teaching Supreme Court Cases: Prayer in Schools and the First Amendment

Have your students debate and discuss prayer in schools and the First Amendment with this free lesson plan for Grades 6-12.

Shaped Staff

Teaching Supreme Court Cases: Miller v. Alabama Lesson Plan

Start a discussion with your students about the Eighth Amendment with this Miller v. Alabama lesson plan.

Shaped Staff

Television and the 1960 Election Lesson Plan: When Media and Politics Collide

Download this lesson plan to teach your students about the first-ever televised presidential debates in 1960 and their long-term impact.

Shaped Staff

Navajo Code Talkers Lesson Plan for Students

Teach students about the Navajo Code Talkers and explore how we can take action to preserve Native American languages today.

Shaped Staff

Presidents' Day Lesson Plans and Classroom Activities

Use these Presidents' Day activities and lesson plans to teach students about the institution of the presidency and those who have held the position.

Jordan Friedman
ShapedEditor

Brenda Iasevoli
ShapedExecutive Editor

Teaching Supreme Court Cases: Affirmative Action in Higher Education

Affirmative action in higher education gained national attention during the 1978 Supreme Court case University of California Regents v. Bakke.

Shaped Staff

Teaching Supreme Court Cases: You Have the Right to Remain Silent

The Miranda v. Arizona ruling stated that a detained criminal suspect has the right to an attorney and against self-incrimination.

Shaped Staff

Crimes and Punishments: Teach the Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth Amendments

Supreme Court cases pertaining to issues raised in these amendments hold relevance for students.

Shaped Staff

Glenn Greenberg
Shaped Contributor

Teaching the Fourteenth Amendment: The Power of Citizenship

Several U.S. Supreme Court cases you can cover in class relate directly to schools and children. Here are eight examples.

Glenn Greenberg
Shaped Contributor

Pearl Harbor Activities for Elementary and Middle School Students

Give a lesson on the significance of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day with these Pearl Harbor activities for elementary and middle school students.

Alicia Ivory
ShapedEditor

Teaching World History: Cold War Lesson Plan and Activities

Teach students about the decades-long period of geopolitical tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union with these free downloadable resources for Grades 6-12.

Shaped Staff

Teaching World History: World War II Lesson Plan and Activities

Use these downloadable activities and lesson plans to teach students about the bloodiest conflict—as well as the largest war—in history.

Shaped Staff

Teaching World History: World War I Lesson Plan and Activities

Teach students about the legacy of World War I and its impact at home and overseas with these downloadable activities.

Shaped Staff

Teaching World History: Absolute Monarchy Lesson Plan and Resources

Download these absolute monarchy classroom activities to teach your students about rulers including Frederick the Great and Louis XIV.

Jordan Friedman
ShapedEditor

教学世界历史:新教改革Lesson Plan

Teach your students about the Protestant Reformation that started in the 16th century, when Catholic Europe experienced a religious, political, and cultural revolution of sorts.

Shaped Staff

Teaching the Renaissance: World History Lesson Plan and Activities

Use this lesson plan and activities for middle and high school students to teach your students about this era of cultural "rebirth" during the 14th to 17th centuries.

Jordan Friedman
ShapedEditor

Teaching World History: Ancient Greece—Worksheets and Activities

Known for its architecture, democratic system of government, and impact on science and the arts, ancient Greece is an important topic often covered in middle and high school social studies.

Shaped Staff

2023–2024 Monthly Calendar Themes for School

Shaped Staff

What Is Inquiry-Based Learning in Social Studies?

Alicia Ivory
ShapedEditor

5 First-Day-of-School Icebreaker Activities for Middle School Students

Kristen Eannetta
Instructional Coach