History and Society

220 Activities

History and Society

Dive into the stories and movements that have shaped the world. Learners explore history, government, and civic action while discovering their own place in shaping change. Projects blend research, discussion, and creativity.

Activities

Innovation, Stagnation, and Decline: What Happened to the Blackberry Phone?

STEM • History and Society

45m

•

Grades 9 - 12

Innovation, Stagnation, and Decline: What Happened to the Blackberry Phone?

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45m

The once-innovative BlackBerry was left behind in the wake of its more forward-thinking competition. Students discuss the history of the BlackBerry and explain its innovation, stagnation, and decline.

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Innovation, Stagnation, and Decline: What Happened to the Blackberry Phone?

STEM • History and Society

45m•Grades 9 - 12

Should Hate Speech Be Protected by the First Amendment?

History and Society • Digital Media and Communications

55m

•

Grades 9 - 12

Should Hate Speech Be Protected by the First Amendment?

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

55m

Many scholars cite the First Amendment of the United States Constitution as the most important set of rights in any functioning democracy. Students should understand these basic rights and how they have been challenged, and continue to be, throughout our history. The censorship of hate speech is 1 example of how the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech, relates and helps inform the debates in which Americans engage today. This activity will help students consider some of the arguments both in favor of and against the censorship of hate speech.

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Should Hate Speech Be Protected by the First Amendment?

History and Society • Digital Media and Communications

55m•Grades 9 - 12

Skills for 21st-Century Workers

Career and Future Readiness • History and Society

45m

•

Grades 9 - 12

Skills for 21st-Century Workers

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45m

In this activity, students research the skills that 21st-century workers need. First, they pick 3 careers from the included handout—a liberal arts career, a STEM career, and a vo-tech career. Then, they research those careers and take notes on the necessary skills.

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Skills for 21st-Century Workers

Career and Future Readiness • History and Society

45m•Grades 9 - 12

Economic Concepts: What Is Supply and Demand?

Career and Future Readiness • History and Society

45m

•

Grades 3 - 8

Economic Concepts: What Is Supply and Demand?

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 8

45m

Students participate in a simulated silent auction for items of varying interest. Students are given a spending limit for bidding and offer bids for the items. The instructor collects the bids and determines the winner, or highest bidder, of each item. Then, group discussion focuses on how students’ interest in various items and their availability affected their willingness to pay.

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Economic Concepts: What Is Supply and Demand?

Career and Future Readiness • History and Society

45m•Grades 3 - 8

How Has Technology Changed the Way Businesses Operate?

Career and Future Readiness • History and Society

45m

•

Grades 6 - 8

How Has Technology Changed the Way Businesses Operate?

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45m

Technology and the economy are constantly affecting each other. In this activity, students evaluate how technology has changed the nature of work for a selected assortment of jobs. They write job ads to recruit employees for those jobs.

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How Has Technology Changed the Way Businesses Operate?

Career and Future Readiness • History and Society

45m•Grades 6 - 8

Foot Maps

STEM • History and Society

45m

•

Grades K - 2

Foot Maps

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

45m

In this activity, children will create their own simple maps in the shape of their foot. They will develop map skills by naming the map and including features such as a compass rose, map key, and simple pictorial symbols.

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Foot Maps

STEM • History and Society

45m•Grades K - 2

Career Match Exploration

Career and Future Readiness • History and Society

45m

•

Grades 9 - 12

Career Match Exploration

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45m

High school students have many options when they enter the next stage of their lives. Many students choose to enroll in college, either locally or far away, while others enroll in a vocational-technical school or enlist in the military. In this activity, students research an institution of interest for their lives after high school and share their findings with the group.

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Career Match Exploration

Career and Future Readiness • History and Society

45m•Grades 9 - 12

A Call to Service (Grades 3-5)

Social and Emotional Awareness • History and Society

45m

•

Grades 3 - 5

A Call to Service (Grades 3-5)

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

45m

Students research ideas for service projects, choose a service project, and present it to the group, explaining why it is worthy of their time. Students then vote to determine which service project they will potentially do.

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A Call to Service (Grades 3-5)

Social and Emotional Awareness • History and Society

45m•Grades 3 - 5

The Constitutional Convention

Literacy • History and Society

45m

•

Grades 6 - 8

The Constitutional Convention

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45m

Students act out debates that took place during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 to gain a better understanding of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Students learn U.S. history while developing key critical-thinking and analysis skills, as well as collaboration and debate skills.

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The Constitutional Convention

Literacy • History and Society

45m•Grades 6 - 8

Questions and Answers

Literacy • History and Society

45m

•

Grades 9 - 12

Questions and Answers

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45m

Students learn reading comprehension and analysis skills, writing down questions that come to mind about ideas and concepts in assigned texts. After reading, students discuss and work through the most challenging questions together.

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Questions and Answers

Literacy • History and Society

45m•Grades 9 - 12

How Successful Are Monarchies?

Literacy • History and Society

45m

•

Grades 9 - 12

How Successful Are Monarchies?

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

9 - 12

45m

Students investigate the nature of historic and modern monarchies and learn about the distinctions between absolute and constitutional monarchies. They research important monarchs from the past to better understand the system. Finally, they discuss potential benefits and drawbacks of monarchies and reflect on the activity by evaluating the success of the monarchies they studied.

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How Successful Are Monarchies?

Literacy • History and Society

45m•Grades 9 - 12

Issues of Intellectual Property Rights

Career and Future Readiness • History and Society

45m

•

Grades 6 - 8

Issues of Intellectual Property Rights

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 8

45m

Students define the concept of intellectual property rights and then research and report on issues involving these rights. They share their findings with the whole group and discuss the importance of these rights to a business or entrepreneur.

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Issues of Intellectual Property Rights

Career and Future Readiness • History and Society

45m•Grades 6 - 8

Collections

10 Activities Exploring Black History Month

History and Society • Social and Emotional Awareness

8 Items

•

Grades K - 8

Collection

10 Activities Exploring Black History Month

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 8

Explore our curated playlist of activities for Black History month in Mizzen. These activities span the topics of social justice, civil rights, the civil war, abolitionist leaders and more. Allow Mizzen to help with planning Black History Month for students and get started with these activities today.

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10 Activities Exploring Black History Month

History and Society • Social and Emotional Awareness

Grades K - 8

COLLECTION

Exploring 'The 1619 Project'

History and Society • Digital Media and Communications

8 Items

•

Grades 6 - 12

Collection

Exploring 'The 1619 Project'

By Pulitzer Center

6 - 12

This module is designed to introduce students to The 1619 Project, an initiative of The New York Times Magazine that examines the legacy of slavery in contemporary U.S. systems and society, and celebrates Black Americans' contributions to democracy.

Students will explore images, multimedia, and short text excerpts associated with the project. They will strengthen their knowledge and critical thinking skills through engaging discussion and hands-on activities such as a fact-sorting challenge, a gallery walk, and the collaborative construction of a timeline of racial (in)justice.

For more activities that explore the injustices of slavery and uplift the resistance and innovation of Black Americans, visit The 1619 Project playlist from the Pulitzer Center, also available on Mizzen.

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Exploring 'The 1619 Project'

History and Society • Digital Media and Communications

Grades 6 - 12

COLLECTION

American History: Elevating Black Voices (6-12)

Literacy • History and Society • Leadership and Teamwork

13 Items

•

Grades 6 - 12

Collection

American History: Elevating Black Voices (6-12)

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 12

The American History: Elevating Black Voices Collection is a weekly, inquiry-driven playlist that invites learners to examine how storytelling, innovation, creativity, and leadership shape American history and civic life. Through complex texts, Innovator Trading Cards, and theme-based activities across literacy, STEM, the arts, and collaborative problem-solving, students engage with lesser-known Black Americans—whose contributions have influenced systems, culture, and community change. Each week introduces a thematic lens that builds historical analysis, critical reading, argumentation, and interdisciplinary thinking, culminating in a challenge-based game that requires evidence, reasoning, and collaboration. Designed to support meaningful discussion and application, this Collection highlights innovation as a collective process and underscores the power of amplifying voices that shape our shared history.

This collection is designed to have learners apply ideas from the weekly themes introduced through the Innovator Playing Cards with additional related activities; it is recommended to follow this sequence to maintain consistency:

Week 1: Storytelling and Voice

Designing Innovator Trading Cards

What Makes a Good Story?

One Minute Speeches

Erasure Poetry as Resistance

Week 2: Inventing and Problem Solving

Designing Innovator Trading Cards

Cell City

Catapult (Team Building) Game

Build an Extension Arm

Week 3: Creativity and Expression

Designing Innovator Trading Cards

Create a Cardboard Self-Portrait

Improv: Say the Line

How to Look at Dance

Week 4: Leadership and Change

Designing Innovator Trading Cards

Playing Innovator Trading Cards

Analyzing and Constructing Timelines of Racial (In)justice

Dream Team

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American History: Elevating Black Voices (6-12)

Literacy • History and Society • Leadership and Teamwork

Grades 6 - 12

COLLECTION

Clay Projects Inspired by Mesoamerican Culture

Arts • History and Society

7 Items

•

Grades 3 - 8

Collection

Clay Projects Inspired by Mesoamerican Culture

By OregonASK

3 - 8

This module includes fun, hands-on clay projects using air-dry clay that focus on simple techniques like coil, slab, and pinch construction of vessels, animals, and human forms inspired by Mesoamerican Culture and history.

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Clay Projects Inspired by Mesoamerican Culture

Arts • History and Society

Grades 3 - 8

COLLECTION

American History: Elevating Black Voices (K-2)

History and Society • Literacy • STEM • Arts • Leadership and Teamwork

13 Items

•

Grades K - 2

Collection

American History: Elevating Black Voices (K-2)

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

The American History: Elevating Black Voices Collection is a weekly, hands-on playlist that helps young learners explore how stories, creativity, problem-solving, and leadership shape communities and American history. Through engaging texts, Innovator Trading Cards, and theme-based activities in literacy, STEM, the arts, and teamwork, students discover lesser-known Black Americans whose voices and ideas have made a lasting impact. Each week introduces a new theme that strengthens early reading skills, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking, while giving learners multiple opportunities to apply their understanding through play and exploration. Designed for easy facilitation and joyful learning, this playlist shows that innovation takes many forms—and that every voice matters.

For a consistent learning experience, it is recommended that this collection be completed in the sequence outlined below. This allows learners to apply the weekly themes from the Innovator Playing Cards through supplementary activities.

Week 1: Storytelling and Voice

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (K-2)

New End to the Story

Round Robin Storytelling

Animal Interviews

Week 2: Inventing and Problem Solving

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (K-2)

Balanced Mobile

Sound on a String

Mechanical Engineering Tops

Week 3: Creativity and Expression

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (K-2)

Masquerade Masks

Music and Rhythm (Grades k-2)

Creative Play Design Challenges

Week 4: Leadership and Change

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (K-2)

Playing Innovator Trading Cards (K-2)

People Bingo

What is a Quality

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American History: Elevating Black Voices (K-2)

History and Society • Literacy • STEM • Arts • Leadership and Teamwork

Grades K - 2

COLLECTION

The 1619 Project for Grades 2–6: Exploring Enslavement and Resistance

History and Society • Literacy

11 Items

•

Grades K - 8

Collection

The 1619 Project for Grades 2–6: Exploring Enslavement and Resistance

By Pulitzer Center

K - 8

This collection offers students an engaging, affirming introduction to the concepts of history, culture, and resistance to injustice, all while centering the experiences of Black Americans. Activities guide students in multimedia explorations, personal reflections, and group discussions before culminating in a range of hands-on projects, including research, art, creative writing, and presentations. Students are consistently encouraged to reflect on how they can honor the contributions of Black Americans and build a more just world for all people.

Using elementary-friendly text and multimedia resources, students will learn about the history, culture, and resistance of early African civilizations; enslaved Black Americans; and contemporary Black American communities. At the core of these resources is The 1619 Project, an award-winning collection of journalism and history resources about the legacy of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans in moving the country towards its stated ideals.

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The 1619 Project for Grades 2–6: Exploring Enslavement and Resistance

History and Society • Literacy

Grades K - 8

COLLECTION

Innovator Trading Cards (6-12)

History and Society • Literacy • Leadership and Teamwork

2 Items

•

Grades 6 - 12

Collection

Innovator Trading Cards (6-12)

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

6 - 12

This collection invites learners to analyze the work of lesser-known Black American innovators and transform their learning into a collaborative, challenge-based experience. Students design Innovator Trading Cards by closely reading informational texts, identifying historical context, and synthesizing each innovator’s contribution using evidence and symbolism. In the final game, learners apply teams of innovators to complex community scenarios, justifying their choices with text-based reasoning and historical insight. Together, the card design and gameplay encourage critical thinking, interdisciplinary connections, and a deeper understanding of how innovation, leadership, and culture shape society.

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Innovator Trading Cards (6-12)

History and Society • Literacy • Leadership and Teamwork

Grades 6 - 12

COLLECTION

Innovator Trading Cards (K-2)

History and Society • Literacy • Leadership and Teamwork

2 Items

•

Grades K - 2

Collection

Innovator Trading Cards (K-2)

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

K - 2

Students will engage in a four-week learning experience focused on creating innovator trading cards. This project allows them to explore and highlight the varied contributions of Black Americans to their communities, developing key skills such as listening, drawing, speaking, and foundational categorization. In the final week, Week 4, students will use their completed trading cards to determine the most suitable type of community helper for various scenarios.

There are two activities in the Innovator Trading Card Collection:

Activity 1, Designing Innovator Trading Cards, focuses on the "theme of the week," learning about the innovators and their influence, and designing the innovator trading cards.
Activity 2, Playing Innovator Trading Cads, focuses on facilitating the associated game to reinforce learning.

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Innovator Trading Cards (K-2)

History and Society • Literacy • Leadership and Teamwork

Grades K - 2

COLLECTION

American History: Elevating Black Voices (3-5)

History and Society • Literacy • Leadership and Teamwork

13 Items

•

Grades 3 - 5

Collection

American History: Elevating Black Voices (3-5)

By Mizzen Education, Inc.

3 - 5

This Collection is a weekly, hands-on playlist that helps learners explore how stories, creativity, problem-solving, and leadership shape communities and American history. Through engaging texts, Innovator Trading Cards, and theme-based activities in literacy, STEM, the arts, and collaboration, students discover lesser-known Black Americans whose voices and ideas have made a lasting impact. Each week introduces a new theme that strengthens reading comprehension, evidence-based thinking, creativity, and teamwork, while giving learners multiple opportunities to apply their understanding through discussion, design, and gameplay. Designed for flexible facilitation and active learning, this playlist shows that innovation happens in many ways—and that elevating diverse voices deepens our understanding of history.

For a consistent learning experience, it is recommended that this collection be completed in the sequence outlined below. This allows learners to apply the weekly themes from the Innovator Playing Cards through supplementary activities.

Week 1: Storytelling and Voice

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

Word Detectives

What is that Tone

Rhythm and Language

Week 2: Inventing and Problem Solving

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

S.INQ Mechanical Engineering Self Propelled Cars

Arm and Belt Accessories

Engineering an Upgrade (Grades 3-5)

Week 3: Creativity and Expression

Designing Innovator Trading Cards (3-5)

The Animal Spin