Creating U.S. History lessons can be time-consuming and overwhelming. With the pressures of knowing what to teach, where to find reliable resources, and how to teach in an engaging way, it’s all too easy to fall into the comfortable trap of textbook reading.
Now, don’t get me wrong, textbooks have a lot of great information and can be very helpful when teaching history. But there are so many more meaningful and exciting resources out there. To help get you started, I will outline five of my favorite free U.S. history lessons for middle school!
1. 13 Colonies Maps and Worksheets
Do you need some maps for your 13 colonies unit? Although maps are a great way to teach historical concepts visually, they can be tricky for students. Many middle school students don’t have basic map skills (ex: what’s a map scale again?). Furthermore, some students can become overwhelmed by all the elements that make up a map.
But, once students understand how to read maps, a new world opens up to them. I want to help you teach your students how to analyze historical maps. In this blog post, I give my best tips and tricks so that it can finally *click* for your students.
In addition, I’ve sorted through dozens of online maps to find the five best ones to use with your students. I want to save you time, so you can focus on what you love most –teaching!
I’ve also paired these maps with the “Analyze a Map” worksheet from the National Archives. I like this worksheet because it breaks down the analysis into bite-sized pieces so students don’t get overwhelmed.
Finally, everything is formatted in Google Slides to give you flexibility in assigning the maps.
Get access to the five maps and learn my best tips for using them in the classroom.
2. Parts of the U.S. Constitution
Do your students struggle to understand how the Constitution is organized? It can be a confusing document. To help, I’ve created this free lesson and graphic organizer. These resources will help your students better understand the U.S. Constitution by breaking it into manageable parts.
In this lesson, students learn:
- the parts of the Constitution
- the purpose/function of each part
No boring worksheets here! Students organize this information in an engaging foldable graphic organizer.
Students research the information using an interactive online version of the Constitution, interesting articles, and fun videos. I know that the U.S. Constitution can be tricky to understand for many students. So, I’ve provided great secondary sources that break down the concepts.
Access the Parts of the U.S. Constitution graphic organizer and lesson plan!
3. Revolutionary War Timeline
Do your students struggle to connect the events of the Revolutionary war together? As teachers, we often assume they are doing this independently and usually aren’t. This free timeline will help your students bridge the 16 critical events from the Revolutionary War.
This zero-prep timeline will help students:
- view events as part of a larger movement
- sequence events in order
- identify cause and effect
- deepen their understanding of a historical period
I’ve also included a video about the Revolutionary War for students to watch and follow along on their timelines.
Access the Revolutionary War timeline and video!
4. How to Plan a U.S. History Lesson (Free Template)
Are you wanting to create U.S. history lesson plans but don’t know where to begin? This free template and sample lesson will save you time and stress by seeing step-by-step how to plan a US history lesson. These steps include:
- Select from your state standards
- Create an objective
- Create an assessment
- Decide upon steps to teach the lesson
- Note the accommodations and modifications
I’ve created an editable template and an example lesson (that you can use in your classroom tomorrow!). Then, you can make a copy of the template on your google drive and start planning immediately.
Learn how to plan a US history lesson with a FREE template and example lesson!
5. Columbian Exchange Food Project
Need a quick and intriguing lesson for your students? This engaging activity will help your students better understand the Columbian Exchange.
The Columbian exchange was the transfer of plants, animals, diseases, and people between the Old World and the New World. This was a result of the Age of Exploration.
Old World and New World ingredients make up many of the foods we eat today, such as pizza, tacos, and hamburgers .
In other words, they did not exist before 1492! (Can you imagine a world without tacos?)
In this free lesson, students break down their favorite foods into New World and Old World ingredients. They also learn the impact the Columbian Exchange has on our world today.
The included lesson plan and worksheet can solve more than one problem in your classroom. After using this as a lively whole-group lesson, quickly turn it into a zero-prep early finisher activity!
Access the exciting Columbian Exchange Food project!
Free U.S. History Lessons
I hope you find yourself enjoying these free lessons. Would you like more?! Check out these exclusive freebies only for teachers on my email list.
- Colonization Map lesson
- Declaration of Independence Timeline lesson
- Revolutionary War battles lesson
- 13 Colonies timeline lesson
- Bill of Rights Lesson
- Free Westward expansion maps lesson
- Civil War Battles Lesson
- Early Republic Booklet Lesson
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- Civil War Battles Lesson
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- Colonization of the Americas Map Lesson
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- Revolutionary War Battles Lesson
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- Declaration of Independence Timeline Lesson
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- Westward Expansion Maps Lesson
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- Early Presidents Booklet Lesson
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- 13 Colonies Timeline Lesson
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- Bill of Rights Lesson
More U.S. History Resources
Are you looking for additional U.S. History resources? You may be interested in my U.S. History units for middle schoolers. These time-saving units each have 10-15 lessons prepped (so you don’t have to) and are ready to go!
Age of Exploration Unit | Age of Discovery | 5th Grade – 8th Grade
American Revolution | Revolutionary War Unit | 5th Grade – 8th Grade
https://www.thecleverteacher.com/product/us-constitution-unit/
Road to Revolution Unit | Events Leading to the Declaration of Independence
This is amazing! As a homeschool mom of 3 I am grateful for what you have shared!!