Less than $5 8th Grade European History Internet Activities (by date, oldest first)

Make learning about World War 1 interesting with this no-prep digital escape game.  The game includes access to a website where your students will hunt for the keys to unlock a set of locks.  Students will need to read the clues very carefully and watch videos, visit websites, and read texts to find the information they need to win the game.  Very easy to use - just send your students to the website and let them work!  Students can play individually or in teams. 

Your great-grandfather has left you a medal from his time during the great war but you can't open the box it is in without figuring out the codes to several locks. Learn about World War 1 and open the locks to obtain the medal in this World War 1 digital escape game. This is a challenging activity that students will need to work together and think critically in order to complete.

Digital escape games are a fun way to start a unit, or to review at the end of a unit.  They can also be used to learn about a cultural or historical event.  This game will have your students reading carefully and paying attention to the smallest details in order to complete the challenge and unlock the locks.  

This item includes:

• Access to a website where your students can play the game
• Complete teacher's guide to playing the game
• Answer key so you can help students if they get stuck!

Your students will enjoy learning without even realizing that they are learning!  The challenging game format will get them excited about finding the code to unlock each lock - and the format of the clues for each lock will have them paying close attention - there's no way to solve the puzzles  without being 100% focused! 

Topics in this game include:

• submarines
• trench warfare
• the assassination of Franz Ferdinand
• the Armistice
• the Treaty of Versailles

Prep is very easy - you just need to share the website URL with your students.  You may want to test the site before you use it, just to make sure nothing is blocked by your district.  As some of the clues can be challenging to unlock, you may choose to help your students with the trickier ones.  With the teacher guide, you will have the answer key - so you can help guide students towards the correct answer by giving them hints, or if you have limited time, you can adjust the game by reducing the number of locks they need to unlock - just give them the answer(s) to help the activity fit your time constraints.

Note: If you're not sure if this item will work on your school's computer system, please visit https://sites.google.com/view/joyeuxnoel to try out a free breakout.

Looking for more history-related breakouts?

The Renaissance

The Great Depression

The Cold War

The Vietnam War

The US Civil War

The American Revolution

The US Constitution

Make learning about the French Revolution  interesting with this no-prep digital escape game.  The game includes access to a website where your students will hunt for the keys to unlock a set of locks.  Students will need to read the clues very carefully and watch videos, visit websites, and read texts to find the information they need to win the game. 

Very easy to use - just send your students to the website and let them work!  Students can play individually or in teams. 

Digital escape games are a fun way to start a unit, or to review at the end of a unit.  They can also be used to learn about a cultural or historical event.  This game will have your students reading carefully and paying attention to the smallest details in order to complete the challenge and unlock the locks.  

This French Revolution digital escape game includes:

• Access to a website where your students can play the game
• Complete teacher's guide to playing the game
• Answer key so you can help students if they get stuck!

Your students will enjoy learning without even realizing that they are learning!  The challenging game format will get them excited about finding the code to unlock each lock - and the format of the clues for each lock will have them paying close attention - there's no way to solve the puzzles  without being 100% focused! 

Topics in the French Revolution game include:

• The Marseillaise
• Marie Antoinette
• The execution of Louis XIV
• The Declaration of the Rights of Man
• The Bastille Prison.

Prep is very easy - you just need to share the website URL with your students.  You may want to test the site before you use it, just to make sure nothing is blocked by your district.  As some of the clues can be challenging to unlock, you may choose to help your students with the trickier ones.  With the teacher guide, you will have the answer key - so you can help guide students towards the correct answer by giving them hints, or if you have limited time, you can adjust the game by reducing the number of locks they need to unlock - just give them the answer(s) to help the activity fit your time constraints.

Bring History to Life with this European Explorers Biography & Tombstone Research Project!

Engage your students in a hands-on, creative way to explore the lives and legacies of key European explorers with this World History Research Project. Perfect for middle and high school students, this unique project encourages research, critical thinking, and creativity as students dive into the Age of Exploration.

What’s Included:

• Explorer Biography Research Guide: Students will research the life, achievements, and journeys of famous European explorers such as Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, and more.
• Explorer Map Activity: Students visualize the expeditions of their chosen explorer on a world map.
• Research Prompt & Questions: Step-by-step guidance to help students gather information on the explorer’s early life, voyages, discoveries, and historical significance.
• Project Rubric: A clear, easy-to-follow rubric for grading and evaluation, ensuring both creativity and research are rewarded.

Key Features:

• Interactive & Creative: This project allows students to get creative while reinforcing their research and writing skills, making history engaging and memorable.
• No Prep, Ready to Use: Perfect for teachers looking for a no-prep, student-driven activity that can be completed individually or in small groups.
• Cross-Curricular Connections: Students develop skills in research, writing, creativity, and critical thinking while learning about the exploration that shaped the modern world.
• Flexible for In-Class or Homework: Suitable for a variety of learning environments, whether it’s a classroom project, homework assignment, or independent study.

Topics Covered:

• Age of Exploration: Investigate the motivations behind European exploration, from economic factors to technological advancements that enabled global voyages.
• Famous Explorers: Research major explorers like Columbus, Magellan, Vasco da Gama, and Cortez, understanding the routes they took, their discoveries, and their impact on indigenous peoples and global trade.
• Exploration’s Impact on World History: Examine how European exploration led to the spread of European empires, the exchange of goods and ideas, and the start of the modern global economy.

Bring Ancient Law to Life with an Interactive Lesson on Justinian’s Code!

Introduce your students to one history's most famous rulers and examine first-hand a selection of the laws he created! Students will be engaged during this interactive lesson, geared toward great discussion and debate!

If you don't know about Peardeck, it's a free Google extension that allows students to actively participate in your lesson through formative assessments and interactive questions you can add to your presentations right from Google Slides.