Balanced Learning Resources
Lesson Plans

Grades K-2. To cultivate the resilient trait of gratitude, and in honor of Thanksgiving, students will brainstorm about what they are thankful for and watch the Sesame Street video, Thankful for Friends on Thanksgiving. As a culminating activity, students create a poster of the things they are thankful for – from objects, nature, and experiences – to the kind actions of friends, family, teachers, and others.

Grades K-2. Students will carefully observe a famous painting of the First Thanksgiving, learn a few basic historical facts, watch a short video clip from A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and create a poster comparing Thanksgiving long ago with Thanksgiving today.

Grades 3-5. In this lesson, students will be introduced to little-known facts about Native Americans from names of U.S. states that derive from Native American languages to the unbreakable code of the Navajo language used by Native Americans during World War II.

Grades: 6-12. These videos introduce students to the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Great Law of Peace. Teachers may want to explain that Haudenosaunee is the name many members use for themselves, while Iroquois Confederacy is a term often used in historical sources. The videos discuss how Native American systems of government influenced American thinkers.

Grades K-2. In this fun lesson, students are introduced to the American flag. Namely, what each symbol on the flag means, and what the original flag looked like at the time of the American Revolution. The lesson includes an engaging video, paying attention to key words while listening to The Star-Spangled Banner, and an art activity to build students’ appreciation of our cherished national symbol.

Grades 3-5. This video presents an overview for students of the American Revolution. Students learn about the Stamp Act and the Boston Tea Party, and why the American colonies wanted independence from Great Britain. The video also introduces students to several key people involved, and how the war ended with the creation of the United States of America.

Grades 6-12. In this engaging lesson, students learn about the major events that pushed the American colonies toward independence from Great Britain. After studying a short timeline, students watch The American Revolution — OverSimplified, Part 1 to understand how British taxes, colonial protest, punishment, and growing conflict led to the Declaration of Independence. Students focus on: Which events most pushed the colonies toward independence, and why?

Grades: 6-12. In this engaging lesson, students learn what happened after the colonies declared independence from Great Britain. Students watch The American Revolution — OverSimplified, Part 2 to explore how the Americans continued fighting despite military defeats, low morale, harsh winters, lack of supplies, and the power of the British military.

Grades K-2. Students learn that the Constitution is an important document with rules that is a shared agreement about how Americans are to treat each other. Using simple language, visuals, and a short video, students connect the Constitution to their own classroom community. Together, students create, sign and display a classroom constitution poster that they agree to follow during the school year.

Grades 3-5. Students learn why Constitution Day is observed on September 17th and how the U.S. Constitution helps organize government, protect rights, and unite people under shared rules. Students connect the Constitution to the idea of a social contract: people agree to shared responsibilities so a community can function fairly. After watching two short videos, students complete engaging worksheets that help them identify key ideas and connect rights with responsibilities.

Grades 6-12. With clear explanations, interesting historical references, and engaging artwork, this video introduces students to the origins of the U.S. Constitution, why it was written, and how it created the framework for the United States government. Students also learn about the Bill of Rights and how these first ten amendments continue to protect the rights and freedoms of all Americans.

Grades 6-12. In this lesson, students watch a short video full of interesting and essential ideas about the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution — the opening statement that explains the purpose and goals of our government. Students will reflect on what the famous words "We the People" mean, why the Preamble is often called the Constitution's mission statement, and how its ideas continue to shape our country today.

Grades 9-12. Students learn about the Stonewall Uprising as a key moment in the history of human rights in the United States. Through video, discussion, and guided analysis, students examine what happened before Stonewall, why people’s human rights were not being protected, and how democratic systems can allow people to speak up, organize, challenge unfair treatment, and work toward expanding rights over time.

Grades 5-12. Students learn about Esther Brown, who worked in Kansas during the 1940s alongside Black families and the NAACP to challenge school segregation. Through a mini timeline, short video, guided discussion, and a primary source excerpt from Webb v. School District No. 90 (1949), students examine how local organizing, evidence-gathering, and legal action helped build early challenges to unequal schooling that contributed to Brown v. Board of Education.

Grades K-2. Students learn about Albert Einstein, a scientist known for asking big questions about how the world works. Through a short video, discussion, and drawing activity, students explore how curiosity and thinking can help people learn new things and make discoveries. Einstein was a Jewish American, an identity that influenced his life and work.

Grades 3-5. Students learn about Dr. Jonas Salk, a scientist who helped stop polio by creating a vaccine. Through a short video, guided discussion, and role-play, students explore how identifying a problem, working persistently, and choosing to help others can make a difference. Salk was a Jewish American scientist whose identity and experiences shaped his life and commitment to helping others. Students will connect his work to their own lives by thinking about how they can h

Grades 6-12. Students learn about Dr. Jonas Salk, a scientist who developed the polio vaccine. Through video, discussion, and analysis, students examine how scientific knowledge, persistence, and ethical decision-making contributed to a major public health breakthrough.

Grades 3-5. Students learn about the United Nations and how international organizations work together to help people during global challenges such as war, natural disasters, and displacement. Through a short video, discussion, and guided questioning, students examine what the UN is meant to do, how organizations attempt to solve problems, and why it is important to ask thoughtful questions about whether solutions are working effectively.

Grades 6-12. This lesson introduces students to the United Nations, its purpose, structure, and key bodies (General Assembly and Security Council). Students explore the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, examine which countries are democracies, and research member states to discuss how political differences affect UN decision-making.

Grades 6-12. Students learn about the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its mission to protect and assist people who have been forced to flee their homes due to war, persecution, or disaster. Through two short videos and guided discussion, students explore how UNHCR operates, the services it provides, and how international cooperation helps address refugee crises.