Middle School Literacy Lessons in Social Studies

Characteristics of Civilizations

In this social studies-themed literacy lesson, middle school students learn about the characteristics of ancient civilizations by analyzing images, artifacts and text from primary and secondary sources. (Lexile level: 925-1055)

Messages of Ancient Civilizations

In this social studies-themed literacy lesson, middle school students use strategies to determine the central information and summarize the main ideas of primary and secondary sources in order to identify characteristics of ancient societies. (Lexile level: 925-1185)

Historical Processes in Classical China and Medieval Europe

In this social studies-themed literacy lesson, middle school students analyze how individuals, events or ideas develop over the course of a text to examine the historical processes in Classical China and Medieval Europe. (Lexile level: 925-1185)

Land and Life in the Ancient World

In this social studies-themed literacy lesson, middle school students determine the meaning of unfamiliar words and phrases that describe characteristics of ancient civilizations. (Lexile level: 925-1185)

Conflict and Peace in the Twentieth Century World

In this social studies-themed literacy lesson, middle school students examine documents related to 20th century war, conflict and peace, and review how this information is presented and organized. (Lexile level: 925-1185)

The Rise and Fall of Ancient Leaders

In this social studies-themed literacy lesson, middle school students integrate visual information with other information in print and digital texts in order to analyze the accomplishments of ancient leaders. (Lexile level: 925-1185)

Women Crusaders for Rights

In this social studies-themed literacy lesson, middle school students read speeches written and delivered by important women in history in order to separate fact from opinion. (Lexile level: 925-1185)

National Constitutions of the World

In this social studies-themed literacy lesson, middle school students analyze the relationship between a primary and secondary source to examine links between constitutions from around the world. (Lexile level: 925-1185)

Developing Nations of the Modern World

In this social studies-themed literacy lesson, middle school students use thesis statements to examine and organize evidence related to challenges developing countries face. (Lexile level: 925-1185)

Important Processes in the Early U.S. Government

In this social studies-themed literacy lesson, middle school students identify key steps in a text's description of the settlement and statehood of western lands in the early U.S. government. (Lexile level: 1050-1335)

Creating and Maintaining the Union

In this social studies-themed literacy lesson, students use the organization of information to determine the content and meaning of sources on early U.S. history. (Lexile level: 1050-1335)

Early Native American Policy

In this social studies-themed literacy lesson, students examine two speeches concerning the U.S. government's policy regarding American Indians in the 1800s to study how point of view is conveyed. (Lexile level: 1050-1335)

Westward Expansion

In this social studies literacy lesson, middle school students integrate visual information with other information in print and digital texts in order to analyze the role of manifest destiny. (Lexile level: 1155)

The Lowell Mill Girls

In this social studies-themed literacy lesson, middle school students read primary and secondary resources to distinguish fact, opinion and reasoned judgement. (Lexile level: 1075)

Maryland's Champions of Freedom

In this social studies-themed literacy lesson, middle school students analyze the relationship between primary and secondary sources on the topic of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman. (Lexile level: 1075)

The Role of African Americans in the Civil War

In this social studies-themed literacy lesson, middle school students write informative or explanatory texts describing the role of African Americans during the Civil War. (Lexile level: 1180)

Ancient River Valley Civilizations

Students are asked to think like an archaeologist by selecting artifacts and analyzing primary and secondary sources to write an informative brochure article about the Ancient River Valley Civilizations.

Agribusiness in Kenya

Students research policies, environmental topics and agricultural issues to write an argumentative debate defending or rejecting a new agribusiness in Kenya.