Where did the Olympic Summer Games originate? The class takes a look at ancient origins of modern Olympic games. They research the Olympics and write a compare and contrast essay that describes how the Olympic Games have changed since...

Ninth graders compare ancient and modern technology in water transporting. In this lesson on the evolution of the aqueduct, 9th graders build a working aqueduct model and examine its components. They explain the importance and use of the...

Sixth graders investigate ancient civilizations by creating a research project.  In this world history lesson, 6th graders investigate historic civilizations developed close to important rivers of the near East.  Students...

Where did our beloved Summer Games originate? Kids look for the origins of the Summer Olympics in our ancient past. They research how the Games came to be and how they have changed. They'll complete Venn diagrams to compare and contrast...

Students explore the culture of the Mayans through a variety of activities. In this activity about Maya, students analyze pictures in books and on websites, produce scale models of Maya architecture, and create Maya mosaics. Students...

Sixth graders review what they know about Rome. In this World history instructional activity, 6th graders pretend they are Romans and try to correct some of Rome's major problems.

Students recognize environmental factors that influenced maritime trade routes and the establishment of major trading centers in classical times. They evaluate perceptions of the ancient world through ancient maps and primary source...

Third graders discover Ancient Rome through maps and worksheets.  In this world history lesson, 3rd graders locate Rome on a world map and identify the scope of the Roman Empire.  Students label an entire map of Italy after...

Students research Ancient Rome, the Mediterranean Region, Roman myths, and Latin. In this Roman life lesson, students study maps of the region, learn their language and customs, research the Punic wars, the catastrophe of Pompeii, and...

Seventh graders become museum conservators and undertake the hypothetical restoration of an ancient American work of art. Groups design a plan for reconstructing the work of art, outlining the steps they need to take and the materials...

Students, in small groups, simulate an ancient civilization and the art they created, another group represents vandals, and the final group represents archaeologists who try to figure out what life was like for the "ancient peoples". ...

Students are introduced to the Rosetta Stone and asked to consider the difficulties of translating ancient texts. They write a message in hieroglyphics and translate each other's work. They evaluate their translations.

Sixth graders discuss the rise of Rome from a republic to a dictatorship. In small groups, they role-play as congress people debating whether or not to give the president more powers. In another activity, 6th graders produce television...

The big idea for this lesson is that the past enriches our present and future. Learners explore the origin of the Olympic Games and how one man took an event from the past and reinvented it for modern times. They compare and contrast the...

Young scholars explore the relationship between Marc Antony and Cleopatra.  In this World History lesson, students research Marc Antony, Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, then answer specific questions about how they are all...

Sixth graders begin the instructional activity by discussing how artifacts are located. In groups, they define the terms supply, demand, resources and trade and discuss how the United States is affected by International trade. They use...

Tenth graders begin the lesson by plotting trade routes, major empires and items traded. Using primary sources, they examine their own values regarding trading items for royality. They participate in a role-play exercise in which they...

Fifth graders investigate the Victorian era by participating in Victorian style activities.  In this World History lesson, 5th graders read about the traditions and customs of men and woman from the Victorian era and how the...

Students examine the Great Schism in the Roman Catholic Church and research the positions of the three popes. The three groups research their popes' positions and then hold a debate. Students write position papers about the Great Schism.

First graders listen to music as the impetus to learn about the concept of Japanese harmony as it is understood in Japanese culture. They use the New Seeker's song, "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing," to compare America and Japan...

Students, debate the Eastern Schism in church history. They divide into four groups as Christians debate iconoclasts and the open debates the patriarch. Students debate the use of icons in religion and who has supreme authority over...

Students work in teams to research ancient Mayan civilization as they simulate working for the President of the United States. He is concerned that if a civilization as technologically advanced as the Maya's could disappear, could the...

Young scholars consider how archaeologists discovered and pieced together artifacts that indicate a Celtic presence in ancient Turkey. They research ancient civilizations and create archaeological digs containing items representative of...

Students are introduced to the various gods and goddesses in ancient Greek mythology. In groups, they use print and electronic resources to research the ways Greek culture has influenced the modern world. To end the lesson, they...