7th grade civil war lesson plans

lessons on reconstruction

7th grade reconstruction lesson plans

Geography unit lesson plans

1. Reparations Students will discuss if African American’s should be given reparations (repaid) for past slavery and discriminated. There are online resources available to help students with their research. 2. Affirmative action and Free Speech This worksheet discusses affirmative action and should Americans, even extremist groups (KKK, neo-nazis) have freedom of speech. This great for Socratic seminars. Has online resources to help students answer questions 3.Busing The worksheet with the video included discusses busing issue that occurred in the 1970's in Boston. Students will examine the perspectives of African Americans, whites and the elected leaders involved.

Attached is a Powerpoint, links to videos and a webquest on the Cuban missile crisis and future of nuclear war. This webquest has students explore the threat of nuclear war during the cold war era in conjunction with the threat today and how countries are attempting to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of Terrorists. *Technology is needed for this assignment.

Students will research the geography, population and unique characteristics that make up a particular country

"Give Us the Ballot, We Will Transform the South" This video guide will demand students use their critical thinking and writing skills to look at the perspectives of key figures in African American's quest for the right to vote. Included is essay questions as well as video questions that follow the movie.

Students will investigate the construction and fall of the Berlin Wall as well as comparing and contrasting speeches by both President Kennedy and President Reagan made at the Berlin Wall. There are links for the videos they will be watching as well as a 2 page worksheet. Total Pages 3 Teaching Duration 45 Minutes

This activity involves both videos and a reading that explores why the Soviet Union collapsed. Students read and then answer questions on the subject. I did this with my students when I we were studying the differences between communism and capitalism.

These two video guides will help students compare and contrast the similarities of Apartheid laws in South Africa and Jim Crow laws in the Southern United States. I used these to finish up my 8th grade Civil Rights unit. I have provided links to both videos. The Color of Friendship is on google play. 1. The first video guide goes into detail about apartheid in South Africa and briefly reviews Jim Crow laws in the South 2. The second video guide follows a Disney movie titled: The Color of Friendship. This is a film about a relationship between a white South African girl and a African American girl. The film is based on actual events. At the end of this unit students can write an essay on the similarities and differences of Jim Crow laws and Apartheid. They can do a compare and contrast diagram and label the following: Jim Crow Apartheid Summary Timeline Classifications Location Examples of Segregation Overturned Total Pages-4 Teaching Duration-3 hours

In groups of three or four, students will study a pivotal Civil War battle and technology that made the Civil War one of the first modern war. There are 10 key battles and new technologies that students can select from. There are three roles in this project: Historian, Artist and Thespian. The Historian will study the battle and answer 10 questions relating the the battle. They should put this on a powerpoint presentation or a Prezi. The Artist will draw an overhead view of the battle, so students can have a visual of the battle that occurred. Make sure they include arrows and directions for troop movement. The Thespian is in charge of creating a 45 second play of the battle as well as studying the technology. Recommended-Students will need technology for this project.

Provided is three video guides designed for the movies American Genius on Netflix.com. I designed these videos for my 7th and 8th classes, however they may be able to be applied for high school. Video guides: Gates vs. Jobs- follows video and ask students what they think it means to be "think different" Apples slogan Space race-Soviet Union vs. USA Edison vs. Tesla- AC vs. Direct Current

1. Religious Freedom: Engel vs. Vitale-School Prayer This activity is very excellent when studying the first amendment, religious freedom and the separation of church and state. Students will be researching and having a Socratic seminar on whether prayer should be allowed in school. Provided is videos, resources and links to scaffold student research etc... Students will also have a worksheet to help them fill out arguments for their respective side. -3 day assignment with debate 2. Four Supreme Court cases Students will examine four Supreme Court cases and research how they relate to the Bill of Rights. Great homework assignment! -1.5 hour assignment

In the is activity students will study and explore which candidate for President they most identify with. Students will take a series of online tests to discover where they stand on the issues, the candidate who is the closest to matching their political ideology and which political party platform is most congruent with their beliefs. Students will also read and answer what it takes to be a great President and the characteristics that defined great Presidents of the past. Also included is an activity that explores how physical characteristics of men and women can influence voters and why men may have an evolutionary advantage in politics. The activity explores how men and women have different leadership styles.

Students will have an opportunity to choose from 14 major events of the Cold War. They will research the event and it's consequences during this hostile and politically charged period . Provided are instructions for their presentation, a rubric and online links to help students gather information for their project. For my 8th grade students I gave them 2 to 2.5 hours to research, create and practice their presentation. I then had students take notes on why each event was significant. -Your students will need technology for this assignment -I would suggest you have students do this in pairs and that you assign them topics. -Make sure you check for understanding and preview what students said was significant.

Students will be brainstorming ideas and creating a Bill to make their school a better place. Students will put their knowledge of the process of how laws are created and ultimately submit their ideas to the Principle if their Bill is chosen. A very fun 3 day assignment. Great essay assignment on how to change your school. This was my final benchmark for my 8th graders, after we had finished studying Constitution, US government and the democratic process of how ideas become laws.

Students will have opportunity to choose and research one of 13 important events that have occurred over the last 25 years in the United States and the World. Examples: September 11th, Dot.com boom, Great Recession. Students will be analyzing the impact and the ramifications these events had on they had on history. For my 8th grade class I gave them 2.5 hours of class time to research and create a presentation, I then had students introduce and present their topic to the class. In total the project took about 3.5 hours of class time. Provided in this project outline with guided questions and a grading rubric.

1.Roaring 20's/causes of Great Depression Powerpoint PowerPoint discusses the culture of the 1920's and the causes of the Great Depression. Includes videos Bank Run, Great Depression etc... 2.1920's research project This is a highly interactive project based learning activity that allows students to research and explore important events and the culture of the 1920's. Students have the opportunity to explore one of 14 different topics of the 1920's and become experts on that particular topic. Involves subjects such as: crime, sports, fashion, entertainment etc.... Total Pages-2 Teaching Duration-3 Days 3.Dust Bowl Powerpoint/Grapes of Wrath video guide This Powerpoint discusses the Dustbowl that swept across middle America in the 1930's and it's repercussions. It also discusses modern day dust bowls and it's effect. Has videos and links Also included: Grapes of Wrath video link with video guide. Great to use when talking about the Great Depression. 3 hours in length if video is included. Total Pages-6 Teaching Duration:3 hours Vocabulary and notes on the 1920's are also included

Students will look up an adjective or verb that can be used to describe a positive characteristic that has been displayed in history. Students will be researching examples in history and will be drawing a poster to illustrate what this word means. There are also a series of questions students need to answer on the back of their paper. This is an excellent back to school project! Total Pages-2 Teaching Duration- 90 Minutes