Introduce the Mongol Empire, its rulers, and major conquests. This easy-to-follow and brief slide show, highlights key events, timelines, and players of the Mongolian reign. Also, the concepts of the Asian steppe and nomadic life are...

Students discover the people of Mongolia. In this social studies lesson, students look at the Mongolian nomadic culture by reading a letter written by a member of the Peace Corps. They describe the different types of communities found in...

Imagine having to give up cell phones, computers, and TV? What would be lost? What gained? An examination of the Drokpa, a nomadic people who live in the grasslands of Tibet, provides class members an opportunity to consider how access...

Learners explore the lives and cities of the people of Mali. After reading the story "Mansa Musa," they discuss the illustrations in the story and which story elements are facts and which are embellishments. Students create their own...

Students investigate the lives and homes of Mongolian nomadic herders. They determine how the climate, available building supplies, and cultural traditions influence how the homes are built. Using art supplies, they make a replica of a...

Small groups learn about a present-day nomadic culture in Mongolia and the threats to its existence by exploring a photo essay. The resource includes thoughtful discussion and writing prompts about cultural sustainability, the...

With the abundance of food products we can easily access in our society today, it is easy to forget the toll this can take on our global environment. Young learners will discover how the transition to agriculture and domesticated living...

Middle schoolers explore the concept and implications of extinction using the example of the Passenger Pigeon, once an extremely abundant species that was completely eliminated by humans.

We all know about Christopher Columbus, but who else explored the Americas, and specifically, the future United States of America? Learners find out these answers and more in a resource that includes four different reading sections,...

Students describe what it means to be nomadic and the advantages and disadvantages of living this type of lifestyle. After watching a video, they pretend they are nomads and must develop a list of items to take along with them. They...

How were the development of railroads critical to the rise of empires? Scholars delve into the relationship between the two using a documents-based question from College Board. Other prompts explore ideas such as nomadic and sedentary...

Seventh graders compare and contrast sedentary and nomadic tribe life. In this Native American culture lesson plan, 7th graders research primary documents about the Osage and Kiowa tribes. Students create a series of illustrations to be...

Combine subjects with a cross-curricular writing exercise. Although limited as an engaging or interactive activity, this Han and Roman Empires worksheet has learners responding to 3 clear and simple prompts, each of which can easily lead...

In this Native Americans instructional activity, students read and discuss a 1 page article, fill in the blanks to 6 statements, match 6 vocabulary words with their correct definitions and answer 4 short answer questions referring back...

Imagine you are a Plains Indian, a nomad getting ready to follow a herd of buffalo. Now imagine what you would have to pack for your trip. Little ones examine images of a traditional parfleche (packing box), and then create packing lists...

What is a parfleche? It is a box used by the Plains Indians to carry goods as they traveled. First, the class will discuss the uses of these highly ornate boxes and the nature of the Plains Indians' nomadic lifestyle. Then, the class...

Students read Sahara, Vanishing Cultures by Jan Reynolds. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the study nomadic cultures. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing, social studies, and library...

Students examine the life of of nomadic herders in Siberia. They read and discuss an article and maps from National Geographic, identify threats to this way of life, and write a letter to the Russian government identifying ways to...

Students build and decorate miniature yurts. In this Central Asian culture lesson, students discover the uses of yurts for nomads and study the artistic motifs they often display prior to making their own miniature yurts.

Barbed wire may have made cattle farming easier, but it brought to an end the free-roaming days of the plains. No longer could Native American groups continue their nomadic lifestyle, and the days of cowboys herding large groups of...

In this cultural instructional activity, learners read a passage about different types of houses and dwellings around the world. They then answer the 10 questions on the instructional activity.

Anyone who has seen Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade will recognize the entrance to the Nabataean city of Petra. Young archaeologists don't need horses or camels to travel through the Sig and tour this fascinating city, however. With...

Students examine the imagery in a rich, spare poem about an interlude between two women of different cultures in rural Niger. They read "Interview With Susan Rich." and discuss how the interview might help in understanding the poem.

Early African society was shaped by environment and geography. Define the life ways of early African societies with this informative presentation. Topics are basic and only touch lightly on the complex nature of the subject matter.