Skip to main content
ReadWriteThink - Powered by NCTE
  • About
  • Classroom Resources
    • Lesson Plans
    • Teaching Comics
    • Teaching With Primary Resources
    • Calendar
    • Printouts
    • Student Interactives
  • Collections
    • Assessment
    • Authors
    • Booklists
    • Media Literacy
    • Poetry
    • Primary Sources
    • Writing
  • Professional Development
    • Strategy Guides
    • Professional Library
    • Meetings & Events
  • Join NCTE
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Classroom Resources
    • Lesson Plans
    • Teaching Comics
    • Teaching With Primary Resources
    • Calendar
    • Printouts
    • Student Interactives
  • Collections
    • Assessment
    • Authors
    • Booklists
    • Media Literacy
    • Poetry
    • Primary Sources
    • Writing
  • Professional Development
    • Strategy Guides
    • Professional Library
    • Meetings & Events
  • Join NCTE
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Breadcrumb

  1. Home

Type

  • (-) Historical Figure & Event

Grades

  • 1 (7)
  • 2 (7)
  • 3 (23)
  • 4 (25)
  • 5 (33)
  • 7 (40)
  • 8 (40)
  • 12 (35)
  • K (4)
  • (-) 6 (36)

Learning Objectives

  • (-) inquiry / research (36)
  • collaboration (20)
  • Comprehension (6)
  • critical thinking (55)
  • digital literacy (3)
  • listening (7)
  • literary analysis (2)
  • Media literacy (19)
  • metacognition (20)
  • multicultural awareness (7)
  • multimodal literacy (16)
  • oral communication (10)
  • print awareness (7)
  • Vocabulary (2)
  • writing genres (8)
  • writing process (6)

Topics

  • arts
  • careers
  • community
  • drama
  • Family
  • fiction
  • nonfiction
  • poetry
  • science
  • seasons / holidays
  • social action
  • social studies / history
  • Sports
  • STEM
Rosa Parks was born on this day in 1913.
Grades
K - 12
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
Rosa Parks was born on this day in 1913.
Rosa Parks was committed to the struggle for social justice and human rights until her death, inspiring millions of people around the world. Today, we celebrate her!
Astronomer Annie Jump Cannon was born today.
Grades
4 - 8
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
Astronomer Annie Jump Cannon was born today.
Students research a constellation and share their learning using an interactive or mobile app.
Pedro Albizu Campos leads the Puerto Rican Independence movement.
Grades
6 - 12
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
Pedro Albizu Campos leads the Puerto Rican Independence movement.
After learning about the story of Pedro Albizu Campos and his commitment to Puerto Rican independence, students research and share their learning about another nationalist figure from around the world.
Grades
3 - 12
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
The "1984" Macintosh commercial aired today during Super Bowl XVIII.
Original advertisements are created after students review advertising techniques they've studied.
Today is Benjamin Franklin's birthday.
Grades
1 - 6
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
Today is Benjamin Franklin's birthday.
Students discuss Benjamin Franklin's contributions to postal history, investigate the roles of the Postmaster General, and write letters to their classmates using the Letter Generator.
The Space Shuttle <em>Challenger</em> exploded in 1986.
Grades
3 - 12
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986.

Students interview a parent or another adult about the Challenger and hypothesize about differences. Students can also write about the Columbia disaster in 2003.

Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in the US to earn a MD degree in 1849.
Grades
3 - 12
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in the US to earn a MD degree in 1849.
"Famous Firsts" are researched by students, followed by small group research and multimedia presentations to report research results.
On this day in 1910, animal rights activist Joy Adamson was born.
Grades
K - 6
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
On this day in 1910, animal rights activist Joy Adamson was born.
A KWL chart is used to organize information about lions. Persuasive letters are written lobbying for programs and resources to protect these animals.
Amelia Earhart completed her solo flight from Honolulu to Oakland in 1935.
Grades
3 - 12
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
Amelia Earhart completed her solo flight from Honolulu to Oakland in 1935.
Students explore the definition of a hero and use the interactive Venn diagram to identify the most common characteristics of a hero.
The Statute of Anne, an influential copyright law, went into effect in 1710.
Grades
6 - 12
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
The Statute of Anne, an influential copyright law, went into effect in 1710.
Student groups do web research, compile their information, and make a booklet on copyright rules for the class to use as a reference.
CNN debuted as the first television news network in 1980.
Grades
3 - 12
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
CNN debuted as the first television news network in 1980.
Students brainstorm a list of modern news sources and from previous centuries. Groups then research one of these sources and create a timeline showing the evolution of news.
The Scopes Trial began today in 1925.
Grades
5 - 12
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
The Scopes Trial began today in 1925.
Students brainstorm a list of objects and processes that have changed over time and use the Timeline tool to sketch out the evolution of the item they have chosen. A giant class timeline can be created to show the evolution of the items students have investigated.
It's Independence Day!  Or is it?
Grades
3 - 12
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
It's Independence Day! Or is it?
Students consider why there are so many different dates associated with the Declaration of Independence and why the nation's birthday is celebrated on July 4.
The first U.S. zoo opened in Philadelphia in 1874.
Grades
1 - 6
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
The first U.S. zoo opened in Philadelphia in 1874.
Students consider how zoos have changed over the past century and design their own zoo of the future using drawings, posters, dioramas, or other displays.
The first typewriter patent was awarded in 1868.
Grades
3 - 12
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
The first typewriter patent was awarded in 1868.
Students take part in an inquiry-based study that compares typewriters to computers.
Anne Frank received her famous diary in 1942.
Grades
5 - 12
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
Anne Frank received her famous diary in 1942.
Students learn about eyewitness reports through a lesson that is grade-level appropriate. Then, groups use primary source documents and research an event using eyewitness accounts.
Sally Ride, first American woman in space, was born in 1951.
Grades
3 - 8
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
Sally Ride, first American woman in space, was born in 1951.
After exploring information about Sally Ride on the StarKids Who's Who site, students write a letter using the Letter Generator to Dr. Ride's foundation, Sally Ride Science.
Malcolm X was born in Nebraska in 1925.
Grades
5 - 12
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
Malcolm X was born in Nebraska in 1925.
Students write about the origin of their name and explore the names that Malcolm X used during this life.
Commercial ice cream is first sold in the U.S. in 1786.
Grades
5 - 12
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
Commercial ice cream is first sold in the U.S. in 1786.
After finding advertisements from the past, students evaluate them and discuss how ads have changed over the years. Students then create an advertisement for a new flavor of ice cream.
The RMS <em>Titanic</em> sank on this day in 1912.
Grades
3 - 12
|
Calendar Activity
|
Historical Figure & Event
The RMS Titanic sank on this day in 1912.
Students use the Internet Workshop model to explore web links about the Titanic disaster.

Pagination

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Next page ››
  • Last page Last »

Explore Resources by Grade

  • KindergartenK
  • 1-2
  • 3-4
  • 5-6
  • 7-8
  • 9-10
  • 11-12

RWT-logo

Powered By NCTE

Footer 1 Menu

  • About
  • Classroom Resources
  • Professional Development
  • Collections
  • Contact Us

Footer 2 Menu

  • National Council of Teachers of English
  • Contribute to RWT
  • FAQs
  • Join NCTE

Footer 3 Menu

  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policy
  • Promotional Materials
  • Site Demonstrations

Want to stay in touch with RWT and NCTE? Sign up here!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

© NCTE 2026. All rights reserved