History doesn't have to be boring - bring it to life with comics! These lesson plans and activity ideas will have students depicting historical events, outlining important philosophies, and analyzing different time periods. They can even create posters and infographics for summative projects or information reinforcement outside of a traditional essay.
Other Project Ideas
- Timelines
- 5 Ws of Events
- Geography Infographics
- Biography Posters
- Political Cartoons & Propaganda
- Development of Ancient Cultures
- PSA Infographic
- Travel Posters
US History
- 13 Colonies
- 1850s America
- Age of Exploration in America
- American Revolution
- Atlantic Slave Trade
- Civil Rights Movement
- Cold War: 1945-1962
- Common Sense
- Constitutional Convention
- COVID 19 Pandemic
- Declaration of Independence
- Election of 1800: Jefferson vs. Adams
- Emancipation Proclamation
- Events Leading Up to the American Revolution
- Federalism
- French and Indian War
- Great Depression
- History of the US Civil War
- Indigenous Peoples
- Jacksonian Democracy
- Japanese American Incarceration in WWII
- Massachusetts Bay Colony Teacher Guide
- Missouri Compromise of 1820
- New Deal
- Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony
- Presidency of Abraham Lincoln
- Presidency of Harry Truman
- Presidency of Richard Nixon
- Presidency of Ronald Reagan
- Reconstruction Era
- Revolutionary War
- Tinker vs. Des Moines
- Transcontinental Railroad
- U.S. Territorial Expansion 1783-1959
- Voting Rights
- War of 1812
- World War II: (1939-1941)
- World War II: (1942-1945)
- World War II: An Introduction
World History
- Ancient China
- Ancient Civilizations
- Ancient Egypt
- Ancient Greece
- Ancient India
- Ancient Mesopotamia
- Ancient Rome
- Buddhism
- Canadian History
- Canadian History 1784-1896
- Christianity
- Communism and the Russian Revolution
- COVID 19 Pandemic
- Early Humans
- Enlightenment & Scientific Revolution
- French Revolution
- Geography of Canada
- Hinduism
- History of Imperialism
- History of the Holocaust
- Indigenous Peoples
- Industrial Revolution
- Islam
- Judaism
- Primary and Secondary Sources
- Sikhism
- Vietnam War
- World Geography Projects
- World War I (1914-1918)
- World War II: (1939-1941)
- World War II: (1942-1945)
- World War II: An Introduction
Civics
Primary Sources
- Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
- Bill of Rights
- Boy on the Wooden Box, The
- Common Sense
- Declaration of Independence
- Emancipation Proclamation
- General History of Virginia, The
- I Have a Dream
- Letter from Birmingham Jail
- Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
- Night
- Of Plymouth Plantation
- Speech in the Virginia Convention
Historical Fiction
- A Single Shard
- A Tale of Two Cities
- A Thousand Splendid Suns
- Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The
- Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The
- Boy in the Striped Pajamas, The
- Boy on the Wooden Box, The
- Breadwinner, The
- Catcher in the Rye, The
- Cay, The
- Chains
- Color Purple, The
- Don Quixote
- Echo
- Elijah of Buxton
- General History of Virginia, The
- Grapes of Wrath
- Great Expectations
- Great Gatsby, The
- House on Mango Street, The
- Johnny Tremain
- Julie of the Wolves
- Kira-Kira
- Kite Runner, The
- Last Cherry Blossom, The
- Long Walk to Water, A
- Milkweed
- Moon Over Manifest
- Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
- Night
- Night Diary, The
- Of Mice and Men
- Of Plymouth Plantation
- Prince and the Pauper, The
- Red Badge of Courage, The
- Refugee
- Scarlet Letter, The
- Silas Marner
- Sunflower, The
- Their Eyes Were Watching God
- Things They Carried, The
- To Kill a Mockingbird
- Tuesdays with Morrie
- War That Saved My Life, The
- Wednesday Wars, The
- Witch of Blackbird Pond, The
- Wolf Hollow
How Tos about Social Studies Lesson Plans & Activities for High School
How to introduce historical comics to your classroom for the first time
Begin by explaining how comics can make history engaging and accessible. Share examples of historical comic strips or graphic novels relevant to your curriculum. This helps students see history from a new, visual perspective.
Choose a simple historical event for your first comic activity
Select a short, recognizable event such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence or a moment from World War II. Focus on events with clear characters and actions so students can easily depict the scene.
Guide students to brainstorm comic panels before drawing
Encourage students to map out the story in 3–5 panels on scratch paper. Prompt them to identify the setting, main characters, and key actions for each panel to keep their ideas organized.
Model how to add captions and speech bubbles for clarity
Demonstrate adding short captions and dialogue to give context. Show how speech bubbles can highlight important quotes or feelings from historical figures in the scene.
Facilitate a share-and-reflect session after comic creation
Invite students to present their comics to the class and discuss what they learned about the event. Encourage positive feedback and reflection to reinforce historical understanding and creativity.
Frequently Asked Questions about Social Studies Lesson Plans & Activities for High School
What are some easy history lesson plans for middle school teachers?
StoryboardThat offers a variety of easy history lesson plans for middle school, including comic-based activities, timelines, biography posters, and infographics. These resources help teachers bring historical events to life and engage students in creative learning.
How can I make history more engaging for students using comics?
Using comics in history lessons encourages students to depict historical events, analyze philosophies, and visualize time periods. This creative approach helps make history more engaging by combining storytelling with visual learning.
What are the benefits of using infographics and posters in social studies projects?
Infographics and posters allow students to summarize information visually, reinforce learning, and present research in an accessible format. They're ideal for summative projects and help students organize complex historical topics.
Where can I find lesson plans for teaching the Declaration of Independence?
You can find Declaration of Independence lesson plans on StoryboardThat, including activities and resources that guide students through the document's authors, historical context, and impact on US history.
What are creative project ideas for teaching world history in grades 6–8?
Creative project ideas for teaching world history include timelines, 5 Ws activities, geography infographics, travel posters, and political cartoons. These hands-on projects help students explore different cultures and historical periods in depth.
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