It does not have to be challenging to find engaging history lessons for middle school. History might be old, but our approach to teaching it shouldn’t be! In this blog round-up, you’ll find new ideas for engaging students in history lessons and Remembrance Day lesson plans, as well as ideas for incorporating history teaching into the ELA classroom and more! I’ve also included links to some of my most popular middle school History lessons available on Teachers Pay Teachers.
History Lessons Ideas
13 Ways To Make History Class Engaging for Students
History class is much more than reading out of a textbook. Use these 13 tips to make your lessons engaging and relevant to your students.
Cross-Curricular Learning In The ELA Classroom
It is important to keep learners engaged in their ELA subject material by creating cross-curricular lessons. Students are more likely to see a purpose for their learning if it can be used in other classes.
Easy and Engaging Canadian History Sub Plans For Middle School Students
Canadian history sub plans can be a challenge to find. You want to ensure that engaging and relevant lessons are left for your students when you are absent. This blog post contains lessons and resources to leave with substitute or supply teachers when away.
Remembrance Day Lesson Plans for Middle School Students
Remembrance Day is an important time to reflect and learn. Use these Remembrance Day lesson plans to help your students learn more about this important day and the sacrifices of service members.
Teaching women’s history month in middle school does not need to be challenging. Check out the resources mentioned in this blog post.
Black History Month Books & Lesson Ideas
Find Black History Month books for your middle school classroom as well as supporting lesson resources.
History Lessons Teaching Resources
Remembrance Day Unit
Help your students develop a deeper connection to Canadian Remembrance Day in this two-week-long middle and high school-focused teaching unit. Teachers are provided with 11 in-depth, engaging, and relevant multimedia lessons to help their students explore and understand key concepts related to Remembrance Day.
Lesson Overview:
- What is Remembrance Day?
- Music Lyric Analysis
- Poem & Song Comparison and Analysis
- Video Analysis
- How Does the Poppy Relate to Remembrance Day?
- World War 1 Trench Life Simulation Game (Optional)
- Choral Reading
- Modern Day Armed Forces
- Opinion Writing
- Photo Analysis
- Contributions of Indigenous Peoples
You can find the Remembrance Day Unit on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Grade 6 Social Studies Lessons
Grade 6 Social Studies Bundle
This Grade 6 Social Studies Bundle for Strand A and Strand B contains 32 lessons to help your Grade 6 students explore and understand Canada’s Heritage and Identity: Communities in Canada, Past and Present, as well as Canada’s Interaction With the Global Community.
You can find the Grade 6 Social Studies Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Modified Grade 6 Social Studies Bundle
This modified Grade 6 Social Studies bundle is for classroom teachers who are required to teach the Grade 6 Ontario Social Studies Curriculum but have students working significantly below grade level in reading, writing, and comprehension. Each of the 34 lessons aligns with a critical concept in the curriculum but has significantly reduced reading and writing expectations within the lesson.
You can find the Grade 6 Modified Social Studies Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Grade 7 History Lessons
Grade 7 History Bundle
Teachers are provided with 38 in-depth, engaging, and cross-curricular lessons to help their students explore and understand New France, British North America, and the Conflict and Challenges eras 1713 – 1850 of Canadian history. This unit is aligned with the Ontario Social Studies Curriculum 2013 Grade 7 Strand A and B.
You can find the Grade 7 History Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Modified Grade 7 History Bundle
This modified Grade 7 History bundle is for classroom teachers who are required to teach the Grade 7 Ontario History Curriculum but have students working significantly below grade level in reading, writing, and comprehension. Each of the 43 lessons aligns with a critical concept in the curriculum but has significantly reduced reading and writing expectations within the lesson.
You can find the Grade 7 Modified History Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Grade 8 History Lessons
Grade 8 History Bundle
In this Canadian history 1850-1914 bundle, teachers will find 31 in-depth and engaging lessons to help their students explore and understand this era of Canadian history. Topics include Confederation, Western Settlement and Development, and Canada A Changing Society.
You can find the Grade 8 History Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Modified Grade 8 History Bundle
This modified Grade 8 History bundle is for classroom teachers who are required to teach the Grade 8 Ontario History Curriculum but have students working significantly below grade level in reading, writing, and comprehension. Each of the 34 lessons aligns with a critical concept in the curriculum but has significantly reduced reading and writing expectations within the lesson.
You can find the Grade 8 Modified History Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Are you teaching split grades?
All 2 Peas and a Dog history lessons are available for split grades, including all modified units. Click the links below to learn more.
- Grade 6/7 Social Studies Bundle – CAD$ or USD$
- Modified Grade 6/7 Social Studies Bundle – CAD$ or USD$
- Grade 7/8 History Bundle – CAD$ or USD$
- Modified Grade 7/8 History Bundle – CAD$ or USD$
Don’t forget the report card comments!
2 Peas and a Dog makes assessments easy with these 100% editable report card comments. These comment banks are for Strands A and B for grades 6, 7, and 8 and are sorted by Levels 1-4, strengths, and next steps. They are a great accompaniment to your history lessons.
- Grade 6 Social Studies Report Card Comments – CAD$ or USD$
- Grade 7 History Report Card Comments – CAD$ or USD$
- Grade 8 History Report Card Comments – CAD$ or USD$
Looking for sub plans?
This Canadian History Sub Plans Bundle is full of engaging and historically relevant activities to leave with your supply teacher when you have to be out of the classroom. This bundle includes 6 resources to help your students learn about a variety of Canadian historical places and events.
Included Resources:
- Significant Moments in Canadian History
- The Avro Arrow
- Parliament Hill Cat Colony
- Parliament Hill
- All About Canada – Canadian Alphabet Activity
- Prime Ministers of Canada Research Assignment
You can find the Canadian History Sub Plans Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
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