Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Virginia Department of Education's Mali Elementary Lessons features three lessons: Journey to Mali, Lion King of Mali Character Study, and Mali Cause and Effect. The Journey to Mali lesson is broken into activities, including: Here Today - Gone to Mali, a Day in the Life, to Market to Market, King for a Day, the Village Voice, and Little by Little the Bird Builds its Nest. Lessons include objectives, materials, teaching methods/procedures, and evaluations. Lessons are aligned with Virginia's Standards of Learning for History and Social Science.

tag(s): africa (166)

The Ducksters page on Sundiata Keita offers a student-friendly biography of the legendary founder of the Mali Empire. It traces his journey from a physically challenged child to a powerful leader who united the Malinke people and defeated the Soso at the Battle of Kirina. The site highlights his establishment of Niani as the empire's capital, his control over gold and salt trade routes, and his legacy as the "Lion King of Mali."
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): africa (166)

The MexicoLore website's "Ancient Maya Music" section provides valuable resources for teachers exploring the role of music in Maya civilization. It covers the types of instruments used, their cultural and religious significance, and how music was integrated into ceremonies and daily life. The content is well-researched and includes images, expert insights, and interactive elements to engage students. This resource is ideal for supplementing lessons on the Maya, helping students connect with their traditions through the universal language of music.

tag(s): mayans (32), mexico (46), musical instruments (54)

This PBS LearningMedia resource introduces students to the Mayan writing system, one of the most advanced in the ancient world. Through an engaging video and supporting materials, students will explore how the Maya used glyphs to record history, communicate ideas, and document daily life. The lesson includes discussion questions and activities encouraging students to analyze and create their own glyphs. Perfect for upper elementary and middle school classrooms, this resource brings history and language to life through interactive learning!
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): mayans (32), mexico (46)

Bring Ancient Egypt to Life with Engaging Videos! This Ancient Egypt YouTube Playlist is a fantastic resource for teachers looking to make history more interactive and visual. These videos cover topics like pyramids, pharaohs, daily life, and mythology, and help students see and hear the world of Ancient Egypt beyond the textbook. Perfect for introducing new concepts, sparking discussions, or reinforcing lessons, this playlist brings history to life in an educational and engaging way for learners of all levels. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): asia (121), egypt (59), myths and legends (41), pyramids (24)

Take Your Students on a Journey Through Ancient Egypt! The Twinkl Ancient Egypt Map Lesson is a fantastic resource for helping students explore the geography of this fascinating civilization. Students will learn about key locations like the Nile River, pyramids, temples, and ancient cities with detailed maps, interactive activities, and guided lessons, This ready-to-use lesson makes it easy to connect geography with history, helping students understand how the landscape shaped Egyptian life, trade, and culture. Perfect for an engaging and visual learning experience!

tag(s): asia (121), egypt (59), map skills (64), maps (223)

"What Life Was Like As An Incan" is a twelve-minute YouTube video highlighting the ancient Incas. The video highlights surgery, food, travel, astronomy, architecture, babites, marriage, and mummification.

tag(s): south america (77)

The Discover Peru website's page on Andean and Inca music offers an accessible introduction to the musical traditions of the Inca civilization. It explains that the Inca primarily utilized wind and percussion instruments, such as panpipes (zamponas), flutes (quenas), and drums (tinya and wankara), in their music. These instruments played a significant role in various aspects of Inca society, including religious ceremonies, agricultural festivals, and daily life. The site also notes that string instruments were introduced later by the Spanish.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): musical instruments (54), south america (77)

Discover an interactive digital lesson that explores how the Inka Empire engineered a 25,000-mile road network across challenging Andean terrain without the use of wheels or metal tools. The lesson incorporates maps, videos, historical illustrations, and inquiry-based activities to examine Inka innovations in transportation, agriculture, and water management. It also highlights how Indigenous communities continue to use and preserve these technologies today.

tag(s): inquiry (29), south america (77)

The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian website features "Children of the Sun," a creation story from the Inca tradition. This illustrated, child-friendly resource shares how the Inca believed the first people were sent by the sun god to bring order and knowledge to the world. Presented as part of the "Inka Road" exhibit, the story emphasizes cultural values such as leadership, unity, and connection to nature.

tag(s): south america (77), stories and storytelling (59)

Share the podcast episode "The Inca Empire: Everything You Wanted To Know." This one-hour program, available on Apple Podcasts, explores everyday life in the Inca civilization. It answers questions such as what daily routines looked like, how the Inca used knotted cords (quipu) to count and record information, and why stones held deep spiritual significance in their culture.

tag(s): podcasts (112), south america (77)

Explore the Inca civilization's sophisticated use of quipu--a system of knotted cords--for recording information. These cords, made from cotton or camelid fiber, utilized a base-ten system to represent numbers, effectively functioning as a three-dimensional, tactile spreadsheet. The article highlights how quipu served as a powerful administrative tool, enabling the Incas to manage their vast empire without a written language.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): communication (130), south america (77)

View this engaging article on Ruth Bader Ginsburg, highlighting her life, achievements, and impact on the U.S. Supreme Court. The student-friendly article explores Ginsburg's fight for gender equality, her role as a trailblazing justice, and her lasting influence on American law. With accessible language and engaging visuals, this resource is ideal for classroom discussions on influential women in history, social justice, and the Supreme Court's role in shaping society. Teachers can use it to spark conversations about perseverance, fairness, and civic responsibility.

tag(s): civil rights (215), courts (22), jews (46), religions (107), supreme court (29)

The Holocaust Museum Houston's Educators page provides a comprehensive collection of resources tailored for teachers at both elementary and secondary levels. It offers specialized lesson plans, classroom activities, and professional development opportunities to enhance Holocaust education. These materials are designed to support educators in delivering accurate and engaging content about the Holocaust, fostering critical thinking and empathy among students. Additionally, the museum provides contact information and avenues for further assistance, ensuring educators can access the support they need. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

tag(s): critical thinking (135), ebooks (44), empathy (36), holocaust (43), immigrants (40), immigration (76), jews (46), professional development (390), religions (107)

PBS's Timbuktu | Religion & Ethics Newsweekly is a six-minute video featuring what appears to be an ancient manuscript found in Timbuktu. It highlights the city's history and the Islamic religion. Share the video via Google Classroom or from the provided link. Teachers can also build a lesson with the video. The video aligns with the New York State Core Curriculum.

tag(s): africa (166), religions (107)

Sundiata, Lion King of Mali is a Reader's Theatre script for middle school students. Sundiata was the prince and founder of the Mali Empire. The play focuses on life before he was born and continues throughout his adult life.

tag(s): africa (166)

Britt Hawthorne's blog post on Jewish American Heritage Month activities provides teachers with engaging ways to celebrate Jewish contributions to U.S. history in the classroom. The site includes book recommendations, discussion prompts, hands-on crafts, and interactive activities suitable for elementary and middle school students. Educators can use these resources to foster inclusivity, cultural appreciation, and meaningful conversations about Jewish identity and history. The activities are adaptable across subjects and promote critical thinking, making them a valuable addition to classroom celebrations during Jewish American Heritage Month.

tag(s): blogs (67), crafts (74), cross cultural understanding (176), cultures (200), identity (32), immigrants (40), immigration (76), jews (46), religions (107)

The PBS lesson plan "Who Are You?" is designed for grades 8-10 and focuses on exploring individual identity and its intersection with broader historical events. Aligned with history, social studies, humanities, and language arts subjects, the lesson encourages students to reflect on their identities and understand how various factors shape them. Through activities like journal entries and class discussions, students examine the complexities of identity formation and its relevance in historical contexts.

tag(s): cultures (200), identity (32), immigrants (40), immigration (76), jews (46), religions (107)

The PBS article "Jews & The Arts: 10 Innovators" introduces students to ten influential Jewish-American artists who have significantly impacted various creative fields. The resource provides brief biographies of figures such as lyricist E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, feminist artist Judy Chicago, and graphic designer Milton Glaser, highlighting their contributions to music, visual arts, and design. This compilation serves as a valuable tool for educators aiming to explore Jewish Americans' diverse cultural and artistic contributions in their curriculum.

tag(s): artists (85), composers (16), cultures (200), famous people (20), immigrants (40), jews (46), religions (107)

Inca Empire for Kids: Myths, Legends, and Stories highlights how studying myths, legends, and stories tells the story of the civilization. Featured are links to the Incan creation myth video, the llama legend, the myth of Mano Capac, the myth of the Rod of Gold, and more.
This site includes advertising.

tag(s): myths and legends (41)