Free High School World History Lesson Plans and Activities

World history lessons 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. Discuss significant events and time periods, and follow along with your students as they learn about influential dates and figures.

Absolute Monarchy Lesson Plan

Teaching World History: Absolute Monarchy Lesson Plan and Resources

Download this absolute monarchy lesson plan to teach your students about rulers including Frederick the Great and Louis XIV.

Jordan Friedman

January 31, 2020

Hmh World Map 4C284B73B1B0834026B992B9Ac93D6Bd

Teaching World History: Early American Civilizations—Activities and Resources

What do all civilizations have in common? Teach students how to answer that question by focusing on early American civilizations with this lesson plan.

Jordan Friedman

October 31, 2019

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

February 26, 2020

Renaissance Lesson Plan

Teaching the Renaissance: World History Lesson Plan and Activities

Use this Renaissance lesson plan and activities for middle school and high school to teach your students about this era of cultural "rebirth" in the 14th to 17th centuries.

Jordan Friedman

November 27, 2019

Protestant reformation lesson plan Martin Luther

Teaching World History: A Protestant Reformation Lesson Plan

Download this Protestant Reformation lesson plan to teach your students about this period of upheaval in Europe. These Protestant Reformation activities for middle school and high school encourage critical thinking through writing and primary source analysis.

Shaped Staff

December 17, 2019

Age Of Imperalism Lesson Plans

Teaching World History: Age of Imperialism Lesson Plans

Use this Age of Imperialism lesson plan to teach students about the actions taken by Europe and the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to acquire new territories.

Jordan Friedman

March 16, 2020

Ancient Greece Lesson Plan

Teaching World History: Ancient Greece—Worksheets and Activities

Known for its architecture, democratic system of government, and impact on science and the arts, ancient Greece is an important topic often covered in middle and high school social studies.

Shaped Staff

August 30, 2019

Blue and orange map of the world

Teaching World History: Code of Hammurabi Activity and Lesson Plan

Download these Code of Hammurabi activity and lesson plan resources to teach students the context surrounding the creation of the code of laws.

Shaped Staff

July 31, 2019

Charlemagne Middle Ages Activities

Teaching World History: The Early Middle Ages—Worksheets and Activities

Use these downloadable resources to teach students about Charlemagne and the Early Middle Ages.

Shaped Staff

September 30, 2019