Shaped

A community-driven blog supporting educators, building lifelong learners,
and shaping the future of education.* 

Latest Posts

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Meet Chris Dier, a teacher of World History and AP Human Geography at Chalmette High School in St. Bernard’s Parish, Louisiana, who is the 2020 Louisiana Teacher of the Year. Chris’s focus is to provide an equitable and multicultural education for all.

Ali Habashi
Former Shaped Editor

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Teach students about the legacy of the Great War with these World War I lesson plans and activities.

Shaped Staff

Age Of Imperalism Lesson Plans

Use this Age of Imperialism lesson plan to teach students about the actions taken by Europe and the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to acquire new territories.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

Due Process Lesson Plan

Download this Goss v. Lopez due process lesson plan to teach students about the 1975 Supreme Court case regarding the role of the Fourteenth Amendment in student suspensions.

Shaped Staff

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Meet Ms. Debra Reynolds, a world history teacher at Wicomico Middle School. She talks about building relationships with her students from day one, and how she finds time for her hobbies (like skydiving and antiquing)!

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

Enlightenment Lesson Plan

Download these Enlightenment and American Revolution lesson plans to teach your students about how the latter was influenced by an era defined by human reason and science.

Shaped Staff

Black History Month

These tools can be used throughout the year—but especially during Black History Month—to promote lifelong learning.

Geraldine Stevens
Social Studies Content Expert

Absolute Monarchy Lesson Plan

Download this absolute monarchy lesson plan to teach your students about rulers including Frederick the Great and Louis XIV.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

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Affirmative action in higher education gained national attention during the 1978 Supreme Court case University of California Regents v. Bakke.

Shaped Staff

Rosa Parks Lesson Plan

Teach students about a key figure in the civil rights movement with this Rosa Parks lesson plan. Teach them about the legacy she left behind with these Rosa Parks activities.

Shaped Staff

Martin Luther King Discussion Questions

On MLK Day, reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.’s powerful message of equality and human potential with a list of Martin Luther King discussion questions.

Alex Honeysett
Former Director of Communications, Channel One News

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Use this New Jersey v. T.L.O. lesson plan to teach your students about the Fourth Amendment and unreasonable search and seizure.

Shaped Staff

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Download this Protestant Reformation lesson plan to teach your students about this period of upheaval in Europe. These Protestant Reformation activities for middle school and high school encourage critical thinking through writing and primary source analysis.

Shaped Staff

Renaissance Lesson Plan

Use this Renaissance lesson plan and activities for middle school and high school to teach your students about this era of cultural "rebirth" in the 14th to 17th centuries.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

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Teach your students about a controversial Supreme Court decision in 1952 regarding the role that religion should play in public school classrooms.

Shaped Staff

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Listen to a 15-minute conversation about how teachers can facilitate difficult classroom discussions, particularly considering questions that may arise about the impeachment inquiry currently in the news.

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

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What do all civilizations have in common? Teach students how to answer that question by focusing on early American civilizations with this lesson plan.

Jordan Friedman
Former Shaped Editor

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Listen to a podcast on the objectives of civic education, the role of schools in teaching civics, and how to remain non-partisan while creating informed future voters. Featuring Sylvia Acevedo (CEO, Girl Scouts) and Dr. Emma Humphries (Chief Education Officer, iCivics).

Onalee Smith
Shaped Contributor

*The views expressed in our blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of HMH.