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Shaped

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

 

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History activities

High School History Lesson Plans and Activities

Give students a better understanding of our global society with these high school world history and American history lesson plan ideas and activities.

Shaped Staff

World history lessons activities

Free High School World History Lesson Plans and Activities

From the Renaissance to the Reformation, these world history lessons for high school students can help your students better understand how the past has shaped the present.

Shaped Staff

Free High School American History Lesson Plans and Activities

Free High School American History Lesson Plans and Activities

These high school American history lesson plans will help your students understand the importance of learning from the past in order to build a better future.

Shaped Staff

Fourth of july poems

Patriotic Poems from HMH Poets for the Fourth of July

Celebrate July 4th with six patriotic poems from HMH poets. Explore a selection of Fourth of July poems to help commemorate America’s Independence Day.

Susan Steinway
Archivist, HMH

History of political parties lesson plan

Teaching U.S. Government: History of Political Parties Lesson Plan

Use this history of political parties lesson plan and activity to teach your students about how the U.S. political system in time for the 2020 presidential election.

Shaped Staff

Enlightenment Lesson Plan

Teaching World History: Enlightenment and American Revolution Lesson Plans

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

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11 Essential 9/11 Activities & Lesson Plans for the Classroom

Looking for ways to help your students understand the September 11 terror attacks and their impact? Use these 9/11 activities and lesson plans designed for middle and high school classrooms.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

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8 Fun Constitution Day Activities for Students: We the People

Here are Constitution Day activities to engage your students in learning about the historic document that defines how our government works.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

WF1692531 Shaped 2023 Blog Post C3 Framework for Social Studies Hero

What is the C3 Framework for Social Studies?

The C3 framework is designed to make work in social studies more meaningful and connected to daily life.

Zoe Del Mar
Shaped Executive Editor

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Speaking (Not Public Speaking!) Activities for Middle and High School Students

Try these public speaking activities for middle and high school students to improve their speaking skills.

Erik Palmer
Program Consultant, Into Reading and Into Literature

State of the Union Address Activities Hero

2026 State of the Union Activities and Lesson Plans

Explore 2026 State of the Union activities and lesson plan ideas you can have students do before, during, and after the speech.

Brenda Iasevoli
Shaped Executive Editor

WF1510577 Shaped 2022 NTL Talk First Write Later Hero

Talk First, Write Later: Oral Communication in the Classroom

Hear from Erik Palmer why speaking is just as important as reading and writing as a form of communication.

Erik Palmer
Program Consultant, Into Reading and Into Literature

Mayan pyramids vs egyptian pyramids lesson plan idea hero

Mayan Pyramids vs. Egyptian Pyramids Lesson Plan Idea

Looking to include ELA instruction in your social studies classroom? This Mayan pyramids vs. Egyptian pyramids lesson plan idea has students discuss the similarities and differences between the two types of structures through writing an essay.

Shaped Staff