Category: Lesson Plans

As a former teacher, I have 11 years’ worth of lesson plans that I am slowly rolling out that I want to share with you. Most of them below are free for you to use, but some are paid.

All of them are based on the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs).

I loved teaching World History and have lots of resources to share. I taught it for 4 years. I also carried a smaller class load of World Geography.

I also enjoyed teaching Civics and Economics, as well as Government, and am slowly adding my plans. One unit I was able to shoehorn into my teaching was The Stock Market Game. I taught those courses for about 6 years.

At one point, I was scheduled to teach AP Psychology, but that fell through. I ended up with some limited lesson plans.

I then transitioned to teaching general technology, Computer Science, and enjoyed teaching with Arduinos. I also created a small lesson plan on GitHub.

Finally, at one point, I taught a lesson at the end of the school year on Archaeology.

There’s a lot to look at, and not all lesson plans are fully built out, but hopefully it helps you!

Posted on May 17, 2015May 17, 2015 by Pat Costa — 1 Comment

Lesson Plans World History II SOL 13d

Lesson Plans World History II SOL 13d: Cold War People

Standard WH II: The student will demonstrate knowledge of major events in the second half of the twentieth century by

Objectives: describing major contributions of selected world leaders in the second half of the twentieth century, including Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Deng Xiaoping.

Lesson Plans:
Introduction: A Bell-ringer activity
Notes: Students copy-down and discuss teacher generated notes
Activities: Students complete various in class activities to support learning including video analysis, maps, charts, diagrams, graphic organizers, worksheets, text-book questions, group discussion, KWL Charts etc.
Assessment: Informal, Formal, Exit-Questions, Teacher Questioning. Quizzes, Tests, Projects.

Essential Knowledge
Indira Gandhi
• Closer relationship between India and the Soviet Union during the Cold War
• Developed nuclear program
Margaret Thatcher
• British prime minister
• Free trade and less government regulation of business
• Close relationship with United States and U.S. foreign policy
• Assertion of United Kingdom’s military power
Mikhail Gorbachev
• Glasnost and perestroika
• Fall of the Berlin Wall
• Last president of Soviet Union
Deng Xiaoping
• Reformed Communist China’s economy to a market economy leading to rapid economic growth
• Continued communist control of government

Activities that Support Lesson Plans

Cold War Match: Lesson Plan from Teacher Pay Teachers

Indira Gandhi Biography Reading: Student reading on biography. Students answer questions.

Ronald Reagan and End of the Cold War: Lesson Plan for use with video below.

Posted on May 17, 2015May 17, 2015 by Pat Costa

Lesson Plans World History II SOL 13c

Lesson Plans World History II SOL 13c: China and Vietnam

Standard WH II: The student will demonstrate knowledge of major events in the second half of the twentieth century by

Objectives: describing conflicts and revolutionary movements in eastern Asia, including those in China and Vietnam, and their major leaders, i.e., Mao Tse-tung (Zedong), Chiang Kai-shek, and Ho Chi Minh.

Essential Knowledge:
Terms to know
• containment: A policy for preventing the expansion of communism

Conflicts and revolutionary movements in China
• Division of China into two nations at the end of the Chinese civil war
• Chiang Kai-shek (Jiang Jieshi): Nationalist China (island of Taiwan)
• Mao Tse-tung (Mao Zedong): Communist China (mainland China)
• Continuing conflict between the two Chinas
• Communist China’s participation in Korean War

Conflicts and revolutionary movements in Vietnam
• Role of French Imperialism
• Leadership of Ho Chi Minh
• Vietnam as a divided nation
• Influence of policy of containment
• The United States and the Vietnam War
• Vietnam as a reunited communist country today

Activities that Support Lesson Plans

To Live China Lesson Plan: Lesson Based on the movie “To Live”.

To Live Lesson Plan Type 2 : Another Lesson based on the move “To Live”.

Mao Zedong Document readings worksheet: A worksheet where students analyze documents and answer questions.

Mao Zedong Biography Questions: Questions related to the biography on Mao Zedong: China’s Peasant Emperor.

Mao Zedong Hero or Villain Handout: Student handout where they analyze Mao’s quotes, complete a chart, and answer questions.

Chiang Kai-shek Short Biography Reading: Biography reading on Chiang Kai-Shek.

Vietnam War Reading Analysis: A student reading of primary sources (interviews) of those involved in the Vietnam War. Student complete a chart and answer questions.

Vietnam War Schlessinger Video: A video question guide to go with the Vietnam War as produced by Schlessinger.

Vietnam War Questionnaire Assignment: Student interview sheet where they select someone who involved in the Vietnam war and interview them.

Vietnam War Questionnaire Assignment PowerPoint: Teacher-led PowerPoint where the class analyzes their responses.

Vietnam Event Timeline: Timeline activity where students answer questions from the textbook.

How did the US Get involved in Vietnam readings: A reading on how the US got involved.

Vietnam US Involvement Reading: Another reading on how the US got involved in the Vietnam War.

Posted on May 17, 2015May 17, 2015 by Pat Costa

Lesson Plans World History II SOL 13b

Lesson Plans World History II SOL 13b: Cold War Events

Standard WH II:
The student will demonstrate knowledge of major events in the second half of the twentieth century by

Objectives: Assessing the impact of nuclear weaponry on patterns of conflict and cooperation since 1945.

Essential Knowledge:
Characteristics of the Cold War (1948– 1989)
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) vs. Warsaw Pact
• Korean War
• Vietnam War
• Berlin and significance of Berlin Wall
• Cuban Missile Crisis
• Nuclear weapons and the theory of deterrence

Activities that Support Lesson Plans:

Berlin City Divided Graphic Novel: Graphic Novel reading on Berlin Wall

Berlin City Divided Questions: Student Questions on the above Graphic Novel

Berlin Wall Reading and Graffiti Assignment: Teacher answers for Graphic Novel reading on Berlin Wall. In a PowerPoint format.

Berlin Wall Reading A student reading on the Berlin Wall

Cold War Web-hunt of events A web-hunt on several different Cold War Events. Note: Students will need headphones and teachers should check to ensure the links still work.

Posted on May 17, 2015September 16, 2016 by Pat Costa

Lesson Plans World History II 13a Collapse of Communism

Lesson Plans World History II 13a: Collapse of Communism

Standard WH II: Lesson Plans World History II 13a-The student will demonstrate knowledge of major events in the second half of the twentieth century by

Objectives: Explaining key events of the Cold War, including the competition between the American and Soviet economic and political systems and the causes of the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
Note: I tend to break SOL 13a into two parts. One part is on the causes of the Cold War. The other is on the causes of the Cold War ending.

Essential Knowledge:
Collapse of communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe
• Soviet economic collapse
• Nationalism in Warsaw Pact countries
• Tearing down of Berlin Wall
• Breakup of the Soviet Union
• Expansion of NATO

Activities that Support Lesson Plans:

Lesson Plans World History II 13a-To analyze the collapse of Communism I put students into groups. They analyze the documents below and complete the questions. Students rotate around to different stations, analyze the documents, and complete the questions.

Premium Lesson Plans- What Killed the Cold War: A Reading and Map Analysis Worksheet.

Blue Jeans and Rock and Roll Reading: A reading on Blue Jeans, Rock and Roll and the desire for consumer goods led to the collapse of communism.

Nine Days The Pope John Paul II visits Poland Reading: A reading on Pope John Paul II’s visit to Poland.

Solidarity Movement in Poland Reading: Student reading on Solidarity

Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan Reading: Student reading on Russian invasion of Afghanistan.

Gorbachev Biography Reading: Student Reading on Gorbachev. Touches on glasnost and perestroika.

Cold War Ending Document Analysis: Student handout with questions.

Communism and Toilet Paper: Student reading on Communism, Long Lines, and Toilet Paper.

Collapse of the Soviet Union Readings Worksheet Cartoons: An analysis of communism’s collapse using cartoons.

Ronald Reagan: Below are some lesson plans I have used in the past regarding Ronald Reagan’s role:
Did Ronald Reagan End the Cold War? Inquiry Activity: One type that focuses on Ronald Reagan.

Did Ronald Reagan End the Cold War? Inquiry Activity: Second type that focuses on Ronald Reagan.

Posted on May 17, 2015 by Pat Costa — 1 Comment

Lesson Plans World History II 13a

Lesson Plans World History II 13a: Beginning of the Cold War

Standard WH II: The student will demonstrate knowledge of major events in the second half of the twentieth century by

Lesson Plans
Introduction: A Bell-ringer activity
Notes: Students copy-down and discuss teacher generated notes
Activities: Students complete various in class activities to support learning including video analysis, maps, charts, diagrams, graphic organizers, worksheets, text-book questions, group discussion, KWL Charts etc.
Assessment: Informal, Formal, Exit-Questions, Teacher Questioning. Quizzes, Tests, Projects.

Essential Knowledge:
Beginning of the Cold War (1945– 1948)
• The Yalta Conference and the Soviet control of Eastern Europe
• Rivalry between the United States and the U.S.S.R.
• Democracy and the free enterprise system vs. dictatorship and communism
• President Truman and the Policy of Containment
• Eastern Europe: Soviet satellite nations, the Iron Curtain

Activities that Support Lesson Plans

Communism vs Capitalism Analysis: Students may read a comparison between Communism and Capitalism and then answer questions.

What Caused the Cold War Inquiry Method: A set of 12 documents. I normally assign students to a group and then using a carousal format, rotate around the room stopping at each station and completing the questions.

What Caused the Cold War Type 2 Data Set Analysis: Student worksheet with questions.

What Caused the Cold War PowerPoint: Introduction PowerPoint, complete with answers.

Posted on May 14, 2015July 7, 2025 by Pat Costa

World History II SOL Review

World History II SOL Review

World History II: Premium Lesson Plan-Review of Isms
Premium Lesson Plans: Review of Isms Student Worksheet : Student 40-question worksheet on important World History II ideas and “isms”. Answers to the ism worksheet are in a PowerPoint format.

World History II Review of Isms and Topics

World History II: Premium Lesson Plan- Review of Revolutions, Wars and Conflicts
Premium Lesson Plans: Review of Revolutions Wars and Conflicts : Student 47 question matching worksheet with word-bank on important World History II Wars, Conflicts, and Revolutions. Answers to the worksheet are in a PowerPoint format.

World History II Premium Lesson Plan-Review of People
Premium Lesson Plan World History II SOL Review of People : Student worksheet where students match-up 89 important people. Includes teacher answers.

World History II SOL online Practice Tests

Practice Test 1

Practice Test 2
World History II: Who am I Review?
Who Am I Review of World History II People with pictures: A PowerPoint guide with information about each person. Student’s then guess which person is being described. Complete with answers.

World History II SOL Review Packet

World History II SOL Packet Review: Complete Study Guide with all essential knowledge for year
World History II SOL Packet Review Student Questions: Questions for students to answer. Based on SOL Packet Review

Posted on May 10, 2015November 20, 2024 by Pat Costa

World Geography SOL Review Worksheets

World Geography SOL Review Worksheets:

World Geography SOL Review Worksheets: Powerpoint, worksheets, handouts, and review materials for reviewing World Geography.

Premium Lesson Plans: Unit Study Guides

Premium Lesson Plan World Geography 1st Nine Weeks Review: Study guide with questions related to material taught in the first 9 weeks.

Premium Lesson Plan: Asia World Geography Review: Study Guide/Review Worksheet that covers South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. Includes student questions and six maps.

Premium Lesson Plan: Sub-Sahara World Geography Review: Study Guide/Review Worksheet for Sub-Sahara Africa. Includes student questions and a physical map.

Premium Lesson Plan: Europe World Geography Review: Study Guide/Review Worksheet for Europe. Includes student questions and political and physical maps.

Premium Lesson Plan: Russian and Central Asia World Geography Review: Study Guide/Review Worksheet for Russia and Central Asia. Includes a physical map.

Premium Lesson Plan: Central and South America Study Guide/Review worksheet for Central and South America. Includes student questions and a combined physical and political map.

Middle East and North Africa

North America

Premium Lesson Plan: World Religions Review: Study Guide/Review worksheet that covers the major world religions with a focus on Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Includes student questions and three images. No maps are included.

World Geography SOL Review Worksheets Non-premium

World Geography Study Guide Human Geography: Review of Human Geography.

World Geography Third Nine Weeks Review: Study guide with questions related to material taught in the third 9 weeks.

Website Review:

Online Geography Practice Test 1: Multiple Choice Practice Test 1 that includes answers

Online Geography Practice Test 2: Multiple Choice Practice Test 2 that includes answers

Packet Trivia Questions:
Trivia questions for students to use with their Review Packet.

World Geography Trivia Questions Part 1 : Part one of the review questions. 30 questions.

World Geography Trivia Questions Part 2 : Part two of review questions. 30 questions.

World Geography Trivia Questions Part 3 : Part three of review questions. 30 questions.

World Geography Trivia Questions Answers : Answers for the above trivia questions.

SOL Review Packets:
Packets that include review materials.

World Geography SOL Review Packet: Study materials that include essential knowledge, maps, and questions.

World Geography SOL Review Packet Key: Key to the above review packet.

World Geography SOL Word Bank Review : Review packet that includes questions from all the World Geography SOLs. For each set of questions, students are given a word bank to select answers. Includes Answers.

WG SOL Parent Review Pages: Generic SOL Review Packet that includes all essential knowledge.

SOL Review Handouts:
These are the handouts included in the What I Need To Know books:

World Religions Handout : Handout discusses major world religions.

Types of Govt handout : Handout that discusses major world government types and economies.

Major areas of Conflict handout : Handout that discusses major areas of conflict in the world.

Cultural Geography Review:

Cultural Geography Review: Powerpoint that shows pictures of different cultural features. Includes answers. Linked to my dropbox account.

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Pat Costa

Lesson Plans World History II SOL 12c

Lesson Plans World History II SOL 12c: Outcomes of World War II

Standard WH II: The student will demonstrate knowledge of the worldwide impact of World War II by

Objectives: Explaining the terms of the peace, the war crimes trials, the division of Europe, plans to rebuild Germany and Japan, and the creation of international cooperative organizations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).

Essential Knowledge:

Outcomes of World War II
Loss of empires by European powers
Establishment of two major powers in the world: The United States and the U.S.S.R.
War crimes trials
Division of Europe, Iron Curtain
Establishment of the United Nations
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Marshall Plan
Formation of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Warsaw Pact

Efforts for reconstruction of Germany
Democratic government installed in West Germany and West Berlin
Germany and Berlin divided among the four Allied powers
Emergence of West Germany as economic power in postwar Europe

Efforts for reconstruction of Japan
United States occupation of Japan under MacArthur’s administration
Democracy and economic development
Elimination of Japan’s military offensive capabilities; guarantee of Japan’s security by the United States
Emergence of Japan as dominant economy in Asia

International Cooperative Organizations
United Nations
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Warsaw Pact

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Established and adopted by members of the United Nations
Provided a code of conduct for the treatment of people under the protection of their government

Activities That Support Lesson Plans

Truman Doctrine Document Analysis of the Truman Doctrine

Formation of Western Alliances Creation of NATO

Germany and Japan Reconstruction Comparison. Comparing reconstruction. Includes a post-WWII timeline activity.

Germany and Japan Reconstruction Activity Teacher Answers Teacher Answers for the Germany and Japan Comparison

Click here to return to my Virginia SOL Lesson Plan Page

Posted on March 30, 2015April 4, 2016 by Pat Costa

Lesson Plans World History II SOL 12a

Lesson Plans World History II SOL 12a: Start of World War II, Events, Leaders

Standard: SOL 12a The student will demonstrate knowledge of the worldwide impact of World War II

Objective: explain economic and political causes, describing major events, and identifying leaders of the war, with emphasis on Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, George C. Marshall, Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Hideki Tojo, and Hirohito.

Essential Knowledge:
Economic and political causes of World War II
• Aggression by the totalitarian powers of Germany, Italy, Japan
• Nationalism
• Failures of the Treaty of Versailles
• Weakness of the League of Nations
• Appeasement
• Tendencies towards isolationism and pacifism in Europe and the United States

Major events of the war (1939–1945)
• German invasion of Poland
• Fall of France
• Battle of Britain
• German invasion of the Soviet Union
• Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
• D-Day (Allied invasion of Europe)
• Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Major leaders of the war
• Franklin D. Roosevelt: U.S. president
• Harry Truman: U.S. president after death of President Roosevelt
• Dwight D. Eisenhower: Allied commander in Europe
• Douglas MacArthur: U.S. general
• George C. Marshall: U.S. general
• Winston Churchill: British prime minister
• Joseph Stalin: Soviet dictator
• Adolf Hitler: Nazi dictator of Germany
• Hideki Tojo: Japanese general
• Hirohito: Emperor of Japan

Activities that Support Lesson Plans

Can Hitler Be Trusted? Munich Conference: Appeasement Analysis
D-Day Worksheets: D-Day Landing Reading
D-Day Primary Source Readings: Primary Source reading analysis
Winston Churchill Speech 1940: Battle of Britain Winston Churchill Speech
SPR Video Permission Form: Permission slip for Saving Private Ryan
Truman and the Bomb: Truman and the Dropping of the Atomic Bomb Reading
Atomic Bomb Primary Source Readings : Students read a selection of Primary sources and answer questions
Dropping the Atom Bomb :Students answer questions about dropping the bomb
Atom Bomb Reading: Powerpoint with Teacher’s Answers about dropping the bomb
WWII Pacific Map : Map and reading analysis activity of Fighting in the Pacific
Battle of Midway in the Pacific World War II: Worksheet and analysis on Battle of Midway
WW2 Video Schlessinger Media: Video Questions for use with the World War II vide0 on Schlessinger Media.
WW2 Event Timeline : World War II Timeline of the Battles activity.

Click Here to Go Back to Virginia SOL Lesson Plan Page

Posted on March 15, 2015May 7, 2024 by Pat Costa

Lesson Plan World History II SOL 11b

Lesson Plan World History II SOL 11b: Worldwide Great Depression

Standard: The student will demonstrate knowledge of political, economic, social, and cultural developments during the Interwar Period

Objective: Cite causes and assess the impact of worldwide depression in the 1930s.

Essential Knowledge

Causes of the Worldwide Great Depression
-German reparations
-Expansion of production capacities and dominance of the United States in the global economy
-High protective tariffs
-Excessive expansion of credit
-Stock Market Crash of 1929

Impact of worldwide depression
-High unemployment in industrial countries
-Bank failures and collapse of credit
-Collapse of prices in world trade
-Nazi Party’s growing importance in Germany; Nazi Party’s blame of European Jews for economic collapse

Activities

Great Depression Data. Note: Data is taken from the Great Depression part of the unit. Students are put into groups and using their data analysis chart (see below) analyze the information:
Interwar Period Curriculum Unit

Great Depression Data Analysis. Note: May need to edit out my chart examples
Great Depression Data Analysis

Great Depression Curriculum Unit:
The Great Depression Curriculum Unit

Videos

America in the 20th Century Great Depression-Blackline Masters and Viewing Guide:
America in the 20th Century Great Depression Instructions

America in the 20th Century Great Depression-Instructions and Teachers Guide:
America in the 20th Century Great Depression Blackine Masters

America in the 20th Century Great Depression Video Link

Americas Hope and Sorrow Great Depression Viewing Guide:
America’s Economy Sorrow and Hope Viewing Guide

Click here to go back to the World History II Lesson Plan Page

Lesson Plans World History II SOL 13d: Cold War People

Lesson Plans World History II SOL 13c: China and Vietnam

Lesson Plans World History II SOL 13b: Cold War Events

Lesson Plans World History II 13a: Collapse of Communism

Lesson Plans World History II 13a: Beginning of the Cold War

World History II SOL Review

World Geography SOL Review Worksheets:

Lesson Plans World History II SOL 12c: Outcomes of World War II

Activities That Support Lesson Plans

Lesson Plans World History II SOL 12a: Start of World War II, Events, Leaders

Lesson Plan World History II SOL 11b: Worldwide Great Depression

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