America's Meet Sumo Wrestlers for the 1st Time

This engaging primary source reading activity describes a colorful encounter between American sailors on the Matthew Perry expedition to Japan of 1852–1854 and a group of Japanese sumo wrestlers.

The primary source article includes a brief introduction to help students understand the background, then the short excerpt reading. This is a fantastic, colorful primary source that students can easily visualize and appreciate. The article is followed by a 1 page set of reading analysis questions.

One of my goals each year is to increase my students' reading skills and comprehension. I found that using short (1 page or so) readings like this that are interesting for students while also highlighting historic events is an awesome way to improve their reading and understanding of the events.

An answer key is also provided in the download for your convenience.

You can download this awesome resource for your classes by clicking here.

Thanks so much for looking!

PS: As a reminder, you can get this resource PLUS over 500 more amazing teaching activities for World or American History through a simple monthly subscription to my site StudentsofHistory.org! Joining gives you immediate access to every engaging resource — each highly reviewed by thousands of teachers across the world! Save yourself time, energy, and sanity by joining today!

World War 1 Reading on Christmas Truce Lesson Plan

This magical, true story from World War I tells of the famous Christmas truce that took place between German and British soldiers in 1914.

The 1 page article begins with the background to the event before explaining how and why it came to be that both sides emerged from their trenches to celebrate the Christmas holiday together.Following the article is a set of Common Core-aligned comprehension questions and an activity in which students create postcards to send home telling about the event.

Also included are ideas on a song to feature in class along with the lesson and another article about the last survivor of the Christmas Truce reflecting on the event.

Thank you for looking and Happy Holidays!

You can also find a Complete World War I Unit here with over 2 weeks of resources on the Great War including PowerPoints, projects, interactive notebooks, and more!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Flash Freebie on Modern Ethnic & Religious Conflicts

I've had a great week and wanted to celebrate and thank everyone out there who has supported me, the blog, and my store! I just posted a new worksheet reading on modern ethnic and religious conflicts around the world that will be free to download for the next 24 hours!

  

I use it for my 10th grade World History II students to cover recently added standards on conflicts around the modern world. Please head here and download yours! After 24 hours, this will go up to its regular price $1.49

Thanks so much for all your support!

The History of St. Patrick's Day

Here is a great reading for students on the history of St. Patrick's Day and who Saint Patrick really was. A great resource for younger students who are interested in why the holiday is connect to Ireland and the cultural connections involved. 

You can download this simple, 2 page lesson here for just $1!

Choose Your Own Adventure Along the Underground Railroad

This fantastic, interactive story brings your students into history! In this reading, students assume the role of a slave in 1852 who is given a chance to runaway with Harriet Tubman along the underground railroad.

However, they can choose to stay or go and the story changes based off of the choices they make throughout the story. Similar to the old Choose Your Own Adventure stories you might have read as a kid, this is a fantastic way to teach students about how the Underground Railroad worked and the dangers escaped slaves faced.

My students loved this and read each different scenario to see what would have happened if they had made different choices. While a fictional story, all information is based off historic accounts and is aligned with state and Common Core Standards.

A set of questions for students to answer based on their choices is included as well. This makes for an excellent in class reading or homework assignment for your social studies classes!

There is also a FREE preview file that you can download this amazing story for your classes by clicking here!

"Uncle Wiggle Wings - The Candy Bomber " Berlin Airlift & Communism Story

This lighthearted, heartwarming true story tells of American Air Force pilot Gail Halvorsen who flew supplies over Germany during the famous Berlin Airlift of 1948.

After the Soviet Union cut off Berlin from West Germany, the US plan to fly in supplies rather than break the blockade famously embarrassed the Soviet Union. This tension eventually led to the building of the Berlin Wall.

During his flights, Halvorsen would drop candy out of his plane to the children of Berlin, earning him the nickname "Uncle Wiggle Wings the Candy Bomber".

This worksheet includes one page on this fantastic story, mixing essential Common Core knowledge like the Berlin Airlift, Allied Powers, President Truman, Stalin, and more with the amusing tale of Uncle Wiggle Wings. My students really enjoyed this story and were able to relate very well to the children of Berlin.

Just the title of the story had them laughing and anxious to read it!

You can download this worksheet for your students by clicking here. An answer key is included for your convenience.