792 results
8th grade social studies lessons for Easel Activities
13 Colonies Map and Activities | Printable & Digital
Focus on climate, geography, and the economies of the early American colonies using this informational text, comprehension worksheet, map activity, and assessment! Students will gain a better understanding of how climate and geography played a role in shaping each colonial economy. A printable PDF version and digital version is included! **This resource is part of the no-prep 13 Colonies Unit Bundle. It includes FIVE printable and digital resources at a 30% discount price! A FREE 13 Colonies wo
Grades:
5th - 8th
Types:
Also included in: 13 Colonies Unit | Colonial America | Colonization | Map & Activities
The Holocaust
Students will read and answer text dependent questions about the Holocaust, the rise of Hitler to power, concentration camps, and end of the Third Reich. There are critical thinking questions and some primary source photographs to analyze.
Grades:
4th - 8th
Types:
Also included in: World War II Bundle
Dred Scott Decision, Lincoln-Douglas Debates, Election of 1860, Fort Sumter
What finally started the Civil War? Your students will research, analyze, and use their critical thinking skills to read the passages and complete the scaffolding questions. They will use details from the text and knowledge of Social Studies to brainstorm details and arguments to determine the South's reasons for secession and what finally causes the start of the Civil War!Looking for the digital, 1:1 version of this resource? Find it here!The Last Straw Google Drive ASSLIncluded in this resou
Grades:
6th - 9th
Also included in: Civil War UNIT BUNDLE
Mesoamerica STEM Activities Project Mayans Inca Aztec Project Ancient History
Mesoamerica (Olmec, Maya, Inca, Aztec) STEM Challenges!Cross-curricular challenges for students who are studying Ancient Civilizations, Middle Ages, and/or Medieval Times!This resource has science, technology, engineering, and measurement activities to do with your upper elementary kids that will really enhance their learning! There are 2 Mesoamerica STEM Challenges in this pack. Each STEM Challenge has detailed directions, photo examples, a list of materials needed, prediction section, brainsto
Subjects:
Grades:
4th - 8th
Types:
Mayas, Incas, Aztecs
Were pre-Columbian peoples civilized? Students will research and analyze documents to determine the characteristics and elements of civilization from the Ancient Incas, Mayans, and Aztecs. They will complete a Venn diagram/compare and contrast application question in this engaging lesson and activity!Included in this resource:• Title page• Do Now/Motivation student-centered question• Ancient Maya reading passage• Ancient Inca reading passage• Ancient Aztec reading passage• Ancient Maya, Inca,
Grades:
5th - 8th
Also included in: Native Americans UNIT BUNDLE with BONUS Activities
Missouri Compromise, Compromise of 1850, Kansas Nebraska Act, Fugitive Slave Law
How did Congress compromise over the issue of slavery? Your students will research and analyze documents and complete the scaffolding questions. They will use their inferential skills to make predictions about the successes or failures of the Missouri Compromise, Compromise of 1850, and Kansas-Nebraska Act in this engaging lesson and activity!Looking for the digital, 1:1 version of this resource? Find it here!Enslavement Compromises Google Drive ASSLIncluded in this resource:• Title page • Do
Grades:
6th - 9th
Also included in: Civil War UNIT BUNDLE
Age of Exploration Project | PBL Activities | Early European Explorers Project
Age of Exploration PBL (Project Based Learning) Activities | Early European Explorers Cross-curricular challenge for students who are studying US History and the Age of ExplorationWelcome to the Age of Discovery! You have traveled back in time to the 15th and 17th centuries, during a time of exploration and discovery. Explorers traveled from their home countries to new corners of the world. Students will create their very own PBL booklet. PBL activities utilize creative learning and real-world
Grades:
4th - 8th
Types:
Civil War Battles - Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, Appomattox Courthouse
How did certain battles shape the Civil War? Students will read, research, analyze, and critically think to answer questions based on their knowledge of the Civil War in this engaging lesson and activity!★★ Looking for the digital, 1:1 version of this resource? Find it here!Civil War Battles Google Drive ASSLIncluded in this resource:• Title page • Battles of the Civil War reading passages: Bull Run, Antietam, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Gettysburg, Gettysburg Address, Sherman's Total War, Surrender at
Grades:
5th - 8th
Also included in: Civil War UNIT BUNDLE
Emancipation Proclamation Activity | Printable & Digital | Civil War Worksheets
Everything you need to teach Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation is included in this comprehensive Civil War lesson. Tier-three vocabulary support, guided questioning, summary writing, and an extension activity will ensure student understanding of the Emancipation Proclamation. Printable PDF and Google Drive versions are included. **This resource is part of the Civil War Activities Unit Bundle. It includes 8 engaging Civil War resources at a 30% discount price! Click here to preview all 8 print
Grades:
6th - 9th
Also included in: US History Primary Source Analysis BUNDLE | Printable & Digital
Andrew Jackson, Election of 1828, Jacksonian Democracy, and the Spoils System
How did Andrew Jackson shape his presidency? Your students will analyze the close-reading passages to understand the circumstances surrounding and the outcome of the Election of 1828. They will identify who the candidates were, what happened in the election, who won, and how Jackson shaped his presidency. They will complete the questions and graphic organizer(s) based on the reading and graphic organizers in this engaging lesson and activity!Included in this resource:• Cover Page• Types of Jo
Grades:
6th - 9th
Also included in: Age of Jackson UNIT BUNDLE
Judicial Branch Simulation: "No Vehicles on the Sidewalk"
"The Judicial Branch interprets the law." When I say this to my students for the first time, they all have the same blank look on their faces. My students always benefit from a simulation of what it means to "interpret a law." After completing this activity, they have a firm grasp on the importance of interpreting laws and the difficult decisions made by members of the Judicial Branch.
This packet contains 2 introduction pages and 6 scenarios in which students will help "interpret" the law.
Subjects:
Grades:
5th - 8th
Types:
Also included in: Branches of Government Bundle
Late Middle Ages Medieval Europe STEM Activities Challenges Projects Craft
Late Middle Ages - Medieval Europe STEM ChallengesCross-curricular challenges for students who are studying Middle Ages and Medieval Times!This resource has science, technology, engineering, and measurement activities to do with your upper elementary kids that will really enhance their learning! There are 2 Late Middle Ages - Medieval Europe STEM Challenges in this pack. Each STEM Challenge has detailed directions, photo examples, a list of materials needed, prediction section, brainstorming sec
Subjects:
Grades:
4th - 8th
Types:
Native Americans - Land Bridge and the First Settlers of the Americas
How did humans get to the Americas? Students will research how the first humans reached the Americas by the Land Bridge Theory and use their research and analysis of the document to answer scaffolding questions and complete the graphic organizer in this engaging lesson and activity!Included in this resource:• Title page• Do Now/Motivation student-centered map-skills questions• The Land Bridge reading passage with scaffolding questions• The Land Bridge graphic organizer• Application/Closing/High
Grades:
5th - 8th
Also included in: Native Americans UNIT BUNDLE with BONUS Activities
Bleeding Kansas, John Brown, Raid on Harpers Ferry
Aim: What was the cause of "Bleeding Kansas?" Your students will research, analyze, and use their critical thinking skills to read about John Brown and Bleeding Kansas to complete the scaffolding questions. They will examine and analyze the details and causes in this interactive activity. ★★ Looking for the digital, 1:1 version of this resource? Find it here!Bleeding Kansas Google Drive ASSLIncluded in this resource:• Title page • Do Now - Quote Analysis: students answer questions based on qu
Grades:
5th - 9th
Also included in: Civil War UNIT BUNDLE
Thirteen Colonies - New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies
How did the colonists of the thirteen colonies live? Students will research the differences between the colonial regions, identify the specific colonies within each region, understand the way of life/occupations of colonists and analyze how colonists needed to adapt to their environment in this engaging lesson and activity!Included in this resource:• Title page • Colonial Regions: New England, Middle, and Southern colonies readings with corresponding graphic organizer• Answer key for graphic or
Grades:
5th - 8th
Also included in: Thirteen Colonies UNIT BUNDLE with BONUS Activities
Early Middle Ages Medieval Europe STEM Activities Challenges Projects Craft AP
Early Middle Ages - Medieval Europe STEM ChallengesCross-curricular challenges for students who are studying Middle Ages and Medieval Times! This resource has science, technology, engineering, and measurement activities to do with your upper elementary kids that will really enhance their learning! There are 2 Early Middle Ages - Medieval Europe STEM Challenges in this pack. Each STEM Challenge has detailed directions, photo examples, a list of materials needed, prediction section, brainstorming
Subjects:
Grades:
4th - 8th
Types:
Causes of the Civil War Interactive Stations Activity
Causes of the Civil War Interactive Stations ActivityGet your students moving and engaged by taking your students through an interactive stations activity on the Causes of the Civil War!The activity consists of EIGHT interactive and differentiated stations that can either be combined or broken up into smaller/larger stations to suit your needs. The activity also comes with a notes/important connections section for each station and corresponding analysis/critical thinking guiding questions. The e
Grades:
8th - 12th, Higher Education
Types:
Louisiana Purchase - Lewis and Clark Expedition
Here is a fun and engaging activity about Lewis and Clark and the Louisiana Purchase. Your students will be answering comprehension questions about the famous expedition through the Louisiana Territory. They will be using their map skills to complete a map of the area at the time in the United States.The purpose of this activity is for students to show their understanding of the impact of Lewis and Clark's expedition through the Louisiana Territory and beyond.Here is what you'll get in this 3-pa
Grades:
5th - 8th
Types:
James Monroe and the Era of Good Feelings
What was the Era of Good Feelings? How did James Monroe's presidency promote national unity? Students will analyze the close-reading passage to understand the issues and events that contributed to the perception of the Era of Good Feelings. They will study James Monroe and surrounding issues of his presidency including significant court cases. Students will complete the graphic organizer(s) based on the reading in this engaging lesson and activity!Included in this resource:• Cover Page• Stud
Grades:
5th - 9th
Also included in: Age of Jackson UNIT BUNDLE
Roaring 20s: Primary Sources, Close Reads, Analyzing Political Cartoons
Students will read about the people and changes in popular culture during the 1920s while practicing their close reads and analytical thinking skills. Brief summaries about the legends in art, literature, and science are a part of the reading featuring, Lindbergh, Earhart, Picasso, Hemingway, Einstein, and more! There are directions on how to analyze a political cartoon and opportunity to practice on a cartoon about Women's Suffrage. Students will make connections from our growth in popular cul
Grades:
4th - 8th
Types:
Also included in: Roaring 20s Bundle: 3 Products
John Adams, Alien and Sedition Acts, XYZ Affair
How did John Adams overcome challenges during his presidency? Students will analyze close-reading documents describing challenges faced by John Adams during his presidency and will complete document-based scaffolding questions in this engaging lesson and activity!Included in this resource:• Title page • Do Now: The Election of 1796 analytical thinking question• President Adams' Challenges {document-based learning activity} with scaffolding questions and activities• Document #1: The Election of
Grades:
6th - 10th
Also included in: Federalist Era George Washington John Adams UNIT BUNDLE
Sectionalism Civil War
How does where we live determine how we live? They will examine differences of the North and South and how they created separate ways of life causing the Civil War. They will analyze differences in physical geography and climate and how they led to differences in their economies, population, transportation, and culture thus encouraging the belief of sectionalism among individuals during the period before the Civil War.Looking for the digital, 1:1 version of this resource? Find it here!Sectiona
Grades:
5th - 8th
Also included in: Civil War UNIT BUNDLE
Manifest Destiny - Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, Mountain Men, 49ers
Why did certain groups of people move west? Which trails did they travel on? Your students will analyze the primary/secondary source documents that describe the groups and circumstances surrounding migration west. They will complete the graphic organizer based on the documents and their knowledge of Social Studies in this engaging lesson and activity!Grab a free Oregon Trail reading passage here!Included in this resource:• Cover Page• Student centered Do Now question • Document Analysis and co
Grades:
6th - 9th
Also included in: Manifest Destiny UNIT BUNDLE
Louisiana Purchase
Why was the purchase of the Louisiana Territory significant in American history? Students will analyze the close-reading passages and maps to understand the causes and effects the purchase of the Louisiana Territory had on the nation. They will also decide if Thomas Jefferson was going against his strict interpretation of the Constitution while buying the territory in this engaging lesson and activity!Included in this resource:• Cover Page• Student-centered Do Now questions using map skills• T
Grades:
5th - 9th
Also included in: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, War Hawks, War of 1812 UNIT BUNDLE
Showing 1-24 of 792 results
Find Social Studies - History resources | TPT
Importance of learning social studies
Social studies offers valuable insights into history, geography, and much more. Social studies captivates students by providing them with perspectives from the past, present, and future, allowing them to understand history and navigate current events. It enables them to appreciate how previous generations have shaped their present reality. In essence, social studies opens their eyes to the vastness of life beyond their immediate surroundings.
Benefits of learning social studies
Learning social studies offers many benefits to students in terms of helping them develop a holistic understanding of the world. Namely, it helps them:
- Learn about the achievements, challenges, perspectives, traditions, and customs of different societies
- Evaluate information, analyze evidence, and make informed judgments about complex social, economic, and political issues
- Become active, responsible, and engaged citizens
- Comprehend global issues such as human rights, environmental sustainability, and economic disparities
By teaching social studies, teachers can help students develop critical thinking skills, foster civic engagement, and promote social awareness and responsibility.
Teaching with social studies resources
On TPT, social studies resources come in various formats, from worksheets to interactive notebooks to units. They can be used to enhance learning, assess a student’s mastery of social studies concepts, or to reteach a tricky topic. With plenty of TPT resources at your fingertips, teaching and learning social studies will be so much easier.
Discover printable and digital social studies resources
If you’re a teacher or parent looking for printable or digital social studies resources, TPT has an extensive array of instructional materials for every learning need, topic, or grade level. Whether you’re teaching students about America’s democratic process, the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., how to read maps, or World War II, we’ve got you covered.
Social studies resources on TPT offer informative lessons, engaging texts, intriguing facts, interactive puzzles, and enjoyable trivia games. These grade-specific resources ensure that all students can access age-appropriate materials that stimulate their minds and enhance their creative thinking abilities.
For instance, first graders can explore worksheets on senses and emotions, followed by a coloring page featuring Harriet Tubman. Older students can test their knowledge with quizzes on statistics and capital cities, then delve into the history of the Underground Railroad through an informational sheet or enjoy a word search focused on civil rights leaders. With such a wide variety of subjects and topics covered, our social studies pages provide endless opportunities for students to explore the world in captivating ways.
Frequently asked questions about teaching social studies
What types of social studies lessons are available on TPT?
There are many different types of history resources sold by Sellers on TPT. Some popular social studies lessons include U.S. history, world history, ancient history, geography, civics, and government.
How do I find social studies lessons on TPT?
Educators can save time preparing history lessons with resources created by experienced teachers. Simply start a search for social studies resources on the TPT marketplace, and filter by grade level, price, and/or resource type to find materials that've been proven to work in classrooms like yours. No matter what you’re teaching, there are plenty of social studies lessons and activities sold by Sellers on TPT that are tailored to meet your students' skill levels.
TPT is the largest marketplace for PreK-12 resources, powered by a community of educators.
IXL family of brands