$5 - $10 Higher Education Other (Social Studies & History) Activities (by date, oldest first)

In our global society, our students need to understand how **cultures are developed **and how they adapt to and adopt practices and beliefs from others through cultural diffusion. As students understand cultures vs subcultures, it will help them navigate and appreciate the diverse world we live in. In this lesson, students will look at "the American culture" vs its subcultures.

Students will enjoy working in **cooperative groups **to create a collage that illustrates various American subcultures. This activity will require them to use **higher-order thinking skills **as they analyze, compare, and evaluate American culture alongside its subcultures.

Additionally, students will complete a short preliminary assignment in which they will interpret a political cartoon. This approach caters to** visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners** in grades 5 through 12, ensuring that even older students will find it engaging!

Disclaimer:

One purchase is for the use of one teacher. If additional teachers would like to use this product, please purchase additional licenses.

Dive into Colonial America: A Reading Comprehension Bundle

Transport your students back in time with this captivating reading comprehension bundle that explores the fascinating world of Colonial America! Sixteen engaging worksheets delve into diverse topics, providing a well-rounded understanding of this pivotal period in history.

What's Included:
1. From Flax to Fancy

• Focus: Analyzes how clothing reflected social status, the materials used, and common garments worn in colonial America.

2. City Hustle & Bustle

• Focus: Describes a typical day in a colonial town, including markets, shops, apprenticeships, and social interaction.

3. Farms, Fields, & Family

• Focus: Explains daily tasks on a farm - planting, harvesting, chores, and the importance of family roles.

4. Dinner on the Table

• Focus: Discusses common crops, typical meals, cooking methods, and food preservation techniques used in colonial America.

5. Humble Abodes

• Focus: Describes typical colonial houses, furniture, and differences between Northern & Southern styles.

6. Jamestown: Where America Began

• Focus: Summarizes the founding of Jamestown, challenges faced by settlers, the role of John Smith, and interaction with the Powhatan people.

7. Seeds of Conflict: King Philip's War

• Focus: Explains the causes and events of King Philip's War, key figures, and the war's impact on colonists and Native Americans.

8. Lost Colony: The Mystery of Roanoke

• Focus: Describes the Roanoke Colony, its mysterious disappearance, and different theories about its fate.

9. The Dark Side of Freedom

• Focus: Explains the Triangle Trade, how slavery came to America, and the harsh realities of enslaved people's lives.

10. Women in the Colonies

• Focus: Discusses the various roles of women in colonial America (housework, education, business), highlighting their contributions to society.

11. Captain John Smith: Leader of Jamestown

• Focus: Highlights John Smith's leadership in Jamestown, ensuring colony's survival, and relationship with Native Americans.

12. Keeping Healthy (Colonial Style!)

• Focus: Explains common illnesses in colonial America, limited medical knowledge, the use of home remedies, and the challenges faced by colonists.

13. Beyond Religious Freedom: Why They Sailed the Mayflower

• Focus: Expands on the reasons for the Mayflower voyage, highlighting religious freedom alongside economic hardship and desire for a better life.

14. From Jamestown to Plymouth: Founding Stories

• Focus: Compares and contrasts the founding of Jamestown and Plymouth, highlighting the challenges faced by early colonists.

15. Pilgrims & Progress: The Truth About Thanksgiving

• Focus: Deconstructs the myth of the "First Thanksgiving," emphasizing the harvest celebration as a shared meal and acknowledging the complexities of the relationship between colonists and Native Americans.

16. Plain & Principled

• Focus: Compares the contrasting beliefs and practices of Quakers and Puritans, their impact on government and social life.

17. Bound Not Broken

• Focus: Explains the indentured servitude system - how people became indentured, their work conditions and eventual path to freedom, and its role in colonial society.

Each worksheet features:

• A captivating reading passage packed with interesting facts and details.
• A variety of comprehension questions including multiple choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer to assess reading comprehension, critical thinking, and analysis skills.
• A detailed answer key to save you time and ensure accurate grading.

Learning Objectives:

• Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of daily life in colonial America, including clothing, food, homes, and occupations.
• Students will analyze the founding stories of Jamestown and Plymouth, as well as the challenges faced by early colonists.
• Students will evaluate the complexities of historical events like King Philip's War and the "First Thanksgiving."
• Students will explore the diverse roles of people in colonial society, including enslaved Africans, indentured servants, and religious groups like the Quakers and Puritans.

Common Core Standards Addressed:

• RI.5.1: Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
• RI.5.2: Determine the central ideas or author's purpose of a text and explain how it is supported by key details.
• RI.5.3: Explain the relationships or connections between ideas or events in a text.
• RI.5.7: Draw information from all features of a text (e.g., title, headings, illustrations, diagrams) when reading to learn or perform a task.

Content Discussion Points:

• How did clothing, food, and homes reflect social class in colonial America?
• What were the challenges and benefits of living in a colonial town versus a farm?
• How do the stories of Jamestown and Roanoke highlight the difficulties of early colonization?
• Why is it important to understand the complexities of historical events like King Philip's War and the "First Thanksgiving"?
• How did different groups of people contribute to colonial society?

Ready to unlock your students' critical thinking potential? Explore my store for a treasure trove of reading comprehensions that tackle diverse themes and inspire insightful discussions. From historical mysteries to scientific explorations, there's something for every classroom!

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Unravel the Mysteries of the Incas: A Comprehensive Reading Comprehension Bundle!

Transport your students to the breathtaking heights of the Andes Mountains and into the heart of the fascinating Inca Empire! This captivating bundle of reading comprehension worksheets delves into the unique culture, achievements, and enduring legacy of the Inca people.

Explore a Range of Engaging Topics:

• Conquering Challenges: Discover how the Incas mastered a harsh environment, showcasing their ingenuity in architecture, agriculture, and engineering.
• Marvels of Machu Picchu: Unravel the secrets of this "Lost City of the Incas," from its construction techniques to its possible purpose and symbolic significance.
• Daily Life and Religion: Immerse yourself in the daily routines and spiritual beliefs of the Inca people who inhabited Machu Picchu.
• Communication and Record-Keeping: Uncover the intricate communication systems, including the Qhapaq Ñan road network, and the enigmatic Quipu knot-recording system.
• Divine Power and Kingship: Understand the central role of the sun god Inti in Inca religion and its connection to the Inca emperor's power.
• Military Might and Conflicts: Explore the organization and strategies of the Inca army, and delve into their encounters with other civilizations.
• Spanish Arrival and Lasting Impact: Analyze the arrival of the Spanish and its dramatic consequences, while examining the enduring legacy of the Inca culture.

Engage Students with:

• Multiple choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer questions.
• Primary source analysis with thought-provoking discussion prompts.
• Comparisons and contrasts with other ancient civilizations.
• Comprehensive answer key for easy assessment.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain in-depth knowledge about various aspects of the Inca Empire, including its history, culture, achievements, and challenges.
• Analyze primary sources and develop critical thinking and research skills.
• Compare and contrast the Inca civilization with other societies, fostering historical understanding.
• Appreciate the ingenuity and resilience of the Inca people in the face of adversity.
• Understand the impact of cultural encounters and the lasting legacy of the Inca Empire.

Common Core Standards:

• Reading: RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.3, RI.5.4, RI.5.5, RI.5.6, RI.5.7, RI.5.8, RI.5.9, RI.5.10
• Writing: W.5.2, W.5.4, W.5.5, W.5.6, W.5.8
• Social Studies: SS.5.G.2.1, SS.5.G.3.1, SS.5.H.2.1, SS.5.H.4.1

Ready to ignite your students' curiosity about the Incas?

Explore my store for more engaging reading comprehensions on diverse themes!

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Your feedback helps others and benefits you too!

Are you looking for a way to bring history to life for your students? Our assignments focus on what was happening on each continent at specific moments in history. You can choose individual assignments or complete sets that cover each continent—perfect for a well-rounded approach to learning!

Each assignment includes four informative paragraphs that highlight significant events on a continent, along with four questions designed to encourage discussion and critical thinking. Whether you select a single continent or explore them all with our bundle options, these resources are designed to enhance your curriculum and make history more accessible for your students.

This Bundle also includes a timeline around 2000 BCE for students to examine. It includes 10 questions to help students explore the timeline.

Each assignment is written at a 7th-grade level, with a special focus on ESOL students, but they are suitable for a wide variety of learners.

Visit my store to check out the available bundles and see how these assignments can fit into your lessons. They are a great way to engage your students and help them connect with the past in a meaningful way!