history assignments for high school

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Young People Shake Up Elections (History Proves It) Educator Guide

Becoming US

Head to Head: History Makers

What Will You Stand For? Video Discussion Guide

What Will You Stand For? Video

Educator Guide for World War I: Lesson and Legacies

The Suffragist Educators' Guide for the Classroom Videos

The Suffragist

World War I: Lessons and Legacies

Japanese American Incarceration: The Diary of Stanley Hayami

...If You Traveled On The Underground Railroad

A Boy at War: A Novel of Pearl Harbor

A Boy No More

A Bus of Our Own

A Carp for Kimiko

A Christmas Tree in the White House

A Different Mirror for Young People: A History of Multicultural America

A Fence Away From Freedom: Japanese Americans and World War II

A Multicultural Portrait of Immigration

A Picture Book of Eleanor Roosevelt

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As COVID-19 deaths spiked in 2020, Suzanne Firstenberg’s public art installation "In America: How could this happen…"

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PODCAST: HISTORY UNPLUGGED J. Edgar Hoover’s 50-Year Career of Blackmail, Entrapment, and Taking Down Communist Spies

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Free History Worksheets

Here you will find hundreds of free history worksheets designed by professional educators that can be adjusted for elementary, middle, or high school students.

These are nearly 500 student history worksheets in this package that cover all aspects of history, from Ancient Greece to World War One, World War Two, and the Cold War. The worksheets can be modified to accommodate K-12. Please feel free to share these on Pinterest or any other places where teachers’ resources are made available.  Included are full-color and black-and-white worksheets, word searches, quizzes, overviews, info graphs, diagrams, anagrams and activity sheets that provide everything you need to teach your class on any time period in history imaginable. Below are listed our currently available free student worksheets. More are to come.

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History Lesson Plans

The Opper Project , Using Editorial Cartoons in the Classroom: These standards-based, teacher-created, primary source lessons are based on editorial cartoons covering more than a century of American history.

Teaching History with Historic Clothing Artifacts : The History Teaching Institute in conjunction with The Ohio State University Historic Costume & Textiles Collection provides lesson plans to teach history using historical clothing artifacts.

Cold Cases: Lessons in Historical Skills and Methods : These standards-based, teacher-created, primary source lessons feature primary source materials from the Byrd Polar Research Center archives at Ohio State—all organized around the theme of polar exploration.

United States History Lesson Plans : Here you will find a variety of lesson plans for elementary, middle, and high school grades. Most of these use primary sources, and all were prepared by teachers.

The Great War in Global Context includes teacher created lesson plans, bibliography, and links to online resources that address the military, diplomatic, political, and cultural aspects of World War I.

World War II Lesson Plans were created by participants at a summer institute for educators (Ohio Chautauqua).

The Scientific Revolution : These lesson plans examine science, society, and culture from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

Inventors and Innovators Lesson Plans were created by educators at a summer institute (Ohio Chautauqua).

European History, 1450 - Present : These lesson plans include several primary-source based lessons.

Central Asia in World History : These are lesson plans in World History, World History AP, Geography, Family and Consumer Science, English, Journalism, Media Studies, and Global Studies for teaching Central Asia in World History.

Back to History: American History Lesson Plans created by educators

Back to History: American History Primary Source Activities created by educators

Lesson Plans Based on Current Events : These lesson plans are related to content from the "Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective" web site.

The purpose of this lesson plan is to place a human face on the Holocaust , by focusing on survivor's testimony, letters and journals from survivors and those who were killed, and poetry.

This lesson plan focuses on the French Revolution and how it challenged political, social and cultural norms in European society.

This lesson plan addresses the effect the Industrial Revolution had on people and industry.

These lesson plans focus on American history and integrate a variety of primary sources.

The Slavic Center at Ohio State University also has many K12 teacher resources, including some online teaching modules by some of our History Department faculty and graduate students. Check out their website here .

Direct links to the online teaching modules:

• " From Population Exchange to Ethnic Cleansing: Forced Migration in 20th-Century Eastern Europe " by Dr. Theodora Dragostinova. Format: Youtube video with a  fully accessible transcript available .
• " An Introduction to Uzbekistan " by Henry Misa, Alisher Khaliyarov, and Dr. Madina Djuraeva. Format: u.osu.edu website.
• " Medical and Healthcare Innovation in Estonia " by Dr. Lorraine Wallace and Steven Mousetes. Format: Youtube video with a  fully accessible transcript available . PowerPoint available for download through  Knowledge Bank .
• " An Overview of Czech Language, History, and Culture " by Ashton Kimbler. Format: Youtube video with a  fully accessible transcript available .
• " Youth Culture in Postcommunist Romania " by Dr. Adela Lechintan-Siefer. Format: Google website with embedded content.

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In This Section

• Classroom Materials: Digitized Primary Sources
• Classroom Materials: Rubrics and Syllabi
• Classroom Materials: Sample Assignments
• Classroom Materials: Teaching Modules
• Classroom Materials: History Skills
• Classroom Materials: Reflections on Teaching
• Classroom Materials: History Lessons and Background Materials

Sample Assignments

Sample assignment showcasing the importance of local/regional history in the early american survey course.

Brittany Adams focuses on incorporating more regional history into the early survey. She also emphasizes the importance of de-centering the British colonial narrative when teaching students who identify more with western US history, as do many of her students at UC Irvine.

Assignment: Social History of the Atlantic Slave Trade

Shannon Bontrager not only incorporated global contexts into his survey, but he also used non-traditional and digital pedagogical tools to engage his students.

Chinese Immigrants in America in the 19th Century: A Study Module

These materials, produced by Vincent A. Clark as a result of his work in the Bridging Cultures program, consist of an illustrated introduction, excerpts from four contemporaneous articles, an online quiz (not included in these materials), and an assignment for an e-mail discussion. The introduction describes not only the life of the immigrants in the United States but their economic and cultural background in China. The goal is to expand the students’ knowledge to include the China from which these immigrants came. Two of the articles oppose Chinese immigrants; two praise them. They are designed to let students see the varying perceptions of the immigrants, the arguments for and against Chinese immigration, and the complex class and ethnic dimensions of this controversy.

Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Extra Credit Assignment

As part of her work in the Bridging Cultures program, Cheryll Cody designed a course assignment using the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database. It requires students to answer a series of questions by looking at the database’s extensive collection of maps and charts.

The US Becomes an Empire, Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries

As part of his work in the Bridging Cultures program, Carlos Contreras provided some classroom assignments and activities that challenge students to think "Atlantically" and "Pacifically" as they think broadly about American history. This set of discussion questions focuses on the expansion of the US as it becomes an imperial power and has students critically examine the US-Caribbean relationship, Hawaii and the Philippines in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Discussion Questions on the Film Manifest Destiny

History and policy education program.

Oct. 2, 2015 -  Modeled on the National History Center's Congressional Briefings by Historians program, the History and Policy Education Program aims to help students appreciate the importance of bringing historical perspectives to contemporary policy conversations.  Designed to be adaptable to many courses and teaching styles, the Mock Policy Briefing initiative provides a guide for history educators to develop and host briefings about the historical dimensions of current policy questions.  Read more about the background of the initiative in the October issue of  Perspectives on History. 

Paper Assignment: Encountering Commodities in the Atlantic and the Pacific Worlds

This sample assignment requires students to use primary and secondary sources to connect American history with the Atlantic and Pacific worlds and write a paper that focuses on the circulation of commodities, peoples, and ideas throughout those worlds. This paper assignment has three major parts: a list of sources for students to read and study along with guiding questions on each reading; a mapping exercise; and the five page paper.

Paper Assignment: Localizing Global Encounters, Case Study: New Netherland/New York (Suffolk County Community College)

This sample assignment requires students to use primary and secondary sources to connect American history with the Atlantic and Pacific worlds and write a paper that focuses on encounters between different groups of Europeans in New Netherland/New York. This paper assignment has three major parts: a list of sources for students to read and study along with guiding questions on each reading; a mapping exercise; and the five page paper.

Sample Assignments from Globalized US History Courses

As part of her work in the Bridging Cultures program, Amy Forss employed wide-ranging techniques such as PechaKucha presentations, oral history research, and greater study of maps to engage her students in their globalized US history courses. She even had her students find historical recipes and try them out.

Revolutions, Independence and New Nations: The Great Transformation

As part of his work in the Bridging Cultures program, Carlos Contreras provided some classroom assignments and activities that challenge students to think "Atlantically" and "Pacifically" as they think broadly about American history. This set of discussion questions helps students consider the implications of revolution in the Atlantic world.

Discussion Questions on the Film Black in Latin America

As part of his work in the Bridging Cultures program, Carlos Contreras provided some classroom assignments and activities that challenge students to think "Atlantically" and "Pacifically" as they think broadly about American history. This set of readings and discussion questions helps students consider the complexities of the Transatlantic slave trade and the broader Atlantic world during the colonial era, particularly considering the film "Black in Latin America."

Films and Readings on the African Slave Trade and the Atlantic World

As part of his work in the Bridging Cultures program, Carlos Contreras provided some classroom assignments and activities that challenge students to think "Atlantically" and "Pacifically" as they think broadly about American history. This set of discussion questions helps students consider the complexities of the Transatlantic slave trade and the broader Atlantic world during the colonial era.

Africans in the Americas: Discussion Questions from Lepore, Benjamin, Articles, and Film

Video assignment based on isabel allende's daughter of fortune.

Oscar Cañedo crafted this creative assignment about the California Gold Rush and the experiences of people traveling from South America to get to California. He used a story from prominent Latin American novelist Isabel Allende as a backdrop for the assignment. Students craft their own characters based on Isabelle Allende's novel Daughter of Fortune and produce videos to explain why they wished to make the arduous journey to California

Plagiarism: Curricular Materials for History Instructors

History instructors can use this guide to teach students how to avoid plagiarism. It includes a discussion of how the American Historical Association defines plagiarism, tips on preventing and detecting plagiarism in student work, exercises to sharpen students’ understanding of plagiarism, a list of suggested readings for graduate students, an annotated bibliography, and a list of useful web sites.

ChronoZoom Memory and History Project Rubric

Discovering american social history on the web.

Dan Kallgren developed several sample assignments for use in his undergraduate survey course "United States History Since the Civil War," in the spring of 2000. Assignments can be used inidividually or in series, as each is accompanied by suggested reading and primary sources.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

One of Dan Kallgren's assignments. Students read a section from "Out of Many; A History of the American People" by John Mack Faragher, et al., to contextualize primary source documents about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. After analyzing the sources, the students write a short report.

The Anti-Saloon League

One of Dan Kallgren's assignments. Students analyze digital primary sources in order to contextualize and understand the motivation of the Anti-Saloon League members.

Mapping Suburbanization

One of Dan Kallgren's assignments. Using topographical maps from the University of New Hampshire, students explore how the landscape surrounding a 1950s New Hampshire city changed over time. Students are asked to consider how sociopolitical factors such as the Cold War might have affected the development of the United States.

World Civilizations: The Ancient Period to 500 CE

In David Smith's project, students use world history methods (Big Picture, Diffusion, Syncretism, Comparison, and Common Phenomena) to interpret secondary and primary materials. Primary material is handled through directed reading questions that focus on three classics: the Odyssey, the Ramayana and the Analects.

JFK's Executive Orders and the New Frontier

One of Dan Kallgren's assignments. Students analyze executive orders from President Kennedy to draw out themes and place them in the context of Kennedy's agenda.

United States History from the Civil War to the Present Syllabus

Sue C. Patrick's syllabus for her United States History from the Civil War to the Present course, which includes assignments and links to digital primary sources.

United States History through the Civil War Syllabus

Sue C. Patrick's syllabus for a United States History through the Civil War course. The syllabus includes assignments and links to digital primary sources.

Sample Assignment: Charting Your Journey with ORBIS

Created by John Rosinbum as part of his Teaching with #DigHist series on AHA Today, This assignment asks students to craft a hypothetical journey using ORBIS, a digital humanities project at Stanford University that allows users to plot a route between sites in the Roman Empire and simulate the journey. After rationalizing the choices made when planning their trip, students use a comic strip or travel diary to recount the trials and tribulations of their journey. The assignment helps develop skills in writing narratives, real or imagined. In addition, it develops the historical skills of contextualization and causation by asking the students to ground their narratives in a place they have already learned about and then justify the steps in their journey. While designed for middle school students, the assignment and attached rubric could easily be adapted for students ranging from elementary school to entry-level undergraduate.

Sample Assignment: Comparing Spatial Depictions of the Roman World

Created by John Rosinbum as part of his Teaching with #DigHist series on AHA Today, this assignment requires students to analyze the depictions of the Roman world created in digital projects ORBIS and the Digital Atlas of Roman and Medieval Civilizations. Designed for high performing high school students and freshman/sophomore undergraduate students, the assignment pushes students to compare the two projects and gives them the opportunity to explore how purpose, argument and data shape a project.

Sample Assignment: Visualizing the Transatlantic Slave Trade with Voyages

Created by John Rosinbum as part of his Teaching with #DigHist series on AHA Today, this assignment offers students the opportunity to use their visual and/or technical skills to create a visualization of the transatlantic slave trade. Students will use the information provided by Voyages to create either a digital or an analog data visualization of the trade. In addition they will write a detailed guide explaining their process and defending their choices. This assignment asks them to think deeply about the process of visualizing history and personally involves them in the process of generating a better understanding of the past.

Sample Assignment: Tracking a Slave Ship with Voyages

Created by John Rosinbum as part of his Teaching with #DigHist series on AHA Today, asks students to investigate a specific slave vessel and contextualize its journeys within their broader knowledge of the trade and concurrent historical events/processes that might have affected it.

Teaching the Slave Trade with Voyages: The Transatlantic Slave Trade Database (AHA Today)

New perspectives on 19th-century america [assignment].

John Rosinbum uses American Panorama, a digital atlas created by the University of Richmond's Digital Scholarship Lab, to teach students about the economic, cultural, and territorial transformations that changed America during the 19th century. In this assignment, students must create their own visualization of changes in 19th-century America. Students must also develop a guide that defends their research choices in the creation of the visualization, explains how the visualization extends our current understanding of the period, and distinguishes their visualization from American Panorama.

Analyzing Visual Depictions of America's Expansion with American Panorama

John Rosinbum uses American Panorama, a digital atlas created by the University of Richmond's Digital Scholarship Lab, to teach students about the economic, cultural, and territorial transformations that changed America during the 19th century. In this sample assignment, he asks students to compare two maps from American Panorama dealing with the 19th century and explore how each map presents American expansion differently.

Creating Maps Using Carto [Assignment]

Lindsey Passenger Wieck (St. Mary's Univ.) explains how students in her history classroom use Carto to create maps. The exercise helps students become critical consumers of maps and media, while designing and implementing digital projects that communicate historical content. In this assignment, students explain the significance of maps they created using Carto.

Creating a Dataset [Assignment]

Lindsey Passenger Wieck (St. Mary's Univ.) explains how students in her history classroom use Carto to create maps. The exercise helps students become critical consumer of maps and media, while designing and implementing digital projects that communicate historical content. In this assignment, students develop and analyze a dataset and consider its potential for mapping.

Mapping the Early Modern World [Instructions)

Julia M Gossard (Utah State Univ.) uses the widely available Google Maps to assign a mapping project to her students. The assignment allows students to think carefully about the economic, political, religious, and ideological connections between Europe and the rest of the world in the early modern period.

The Historian's Toolbox: Source Evaluation [Worksheet]

Julia M Gossard (Utah State Univ.) uses the widely available Google Maps to assign a mapping project to her students. The assignment allows students to think carefully about the economic, political, religious, and ideological connections between Europe and the rest of the world in the early modern period. In this worksheet, Gossard asks her student to carefully evaluate the sources they use for their Google Map entries.

Visualizing the Past [Sample Assignment]

John Rosinbum looks at a spectrum of digital archives available on the web today and explores how teachers can use them in the classroom. In this sample assignment, students are asked to use data from a digital archive to visualize the past.

Operation War Diary Project [Sample Assignment]

In this assignment, Susan Corbesero (The Ellis School) discusses using the crowdsourcing project, Operation War Diary, to help students learn about the First World War. The project contains over one million digitized images of war diaries from British and Indian troops.

Teach Your Family

In this project, you will show your instructor—and your family or friends—what you’ve learned in class.

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High School Introduction

Are you looking for a hook to teach about life in post-war America or strategies for teaching historical thinking skills? Wondering whether digital storytelling will really help students learn about the past? Teachinghistory.org, a rich resource for teaching American history, has answers. Explore current best practices, find primary sources and classroom activities, and discover resources for teaching history in new, exciting ways. Let’s take a closer look at three sections— History Content , Teaching Materials , and Best Practices .

Instead of searching the endless sea of online resources, simply click on History Content, and then Website Reviews . Imagine you're teaching about women's lives in the first half of the 20th century. Here's a website with more than 7,000 ads—from beauty culture to World War II campaigns. These show gendered ideals, as well as the changing roles of women in the workplace and the marketplace. Looking for multimedia to use in tomorrow’s class or a way to learn more about a complicated topic? Search History in Multimedia to find everything from a short history of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire to an electronic field trip on the history of music to a lecture on the origins of the Vietnam War.

Teachinghistory.org goes beyond easy access to content and resources. It also demonstrates innovative ways to teach about the past. Lesson Plan Reviews provide good models and a rubric for assessing a lesson's quality. Reviews help you think about how to choose from the millions of lessons available online, including those you find through our Lesson Plan Gateway . Teaching Guides offer a range of strategies from using blogs in the classroom to creating structured academic controversy. Watch video of historians in action talking about how they make sense of the past. This clip focuses on a 1957 market report about selling more potato chips to American consumers. Using Primary Sources focuses on tools for analyzing evidence of the past from letters to objects to film. Find handouts from the National Archives or good questions to ask of advertisements . Teaching with Textbooks presents creative ways to use the tools at your fingertips. Questioning Textbook Authority , for example, outlines steps for teaching students to read critically and to ask questions of all sources.

Keep exploring Teachinghistory.org to find many other features. Visit the blog or follow us on Twitter for the latest content and resources. Ask a Historian , Master Teacher , or a Digital Historian when you come across a problem or interesting question. Whether you're looking for content or methods, Teachinghistory.org can lead the way.

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Activities & Lessons

Free High School World History Lesson Plans and 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.

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

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.

October 31, 2019

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

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.

November 27, 2019

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.

December 17, 2019

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.

March 16, 2020

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.

August 30, 2019

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.

July 31, 2019

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

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

September 30, 2019

View more high school social studies activities . Or, check out our full list of free learning activities for all grades and all subjects.

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World History Lesson Plans

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Social Studies Lesson Plans & Activities for High School

History doesn't have to be boring - bring it to life with comics! These lesson plans and activity ideas will have students depicting historical events, outlining important philosophies, and analyzing different time periods. They can even create posters and infographics for summative projects or information reinforcement outside of a traditional essay.

Other Project Ideas

• 5 Ws of Events
• Geography Infographics
• Biography Posters
• Political Cartoons & Propaganda
• Development of Ancient Cultures
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Example from the Declaration of Independence

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• Election of 1800: Jefferson vs. Adams
• Emancipation Proclamation
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• Jacksonian Democracy
• Japanese American Incarceration in WWII
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• Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony
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• Christianity
• Communism and the Russian Revolution
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• Enlightenment & Scientific Revolution
• French Revolution
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• History of Imperialism
• History of the Holocaust
• Industrial Revolution
• Primary and Secondary Sources
• Vietnam War
• World Geography Projects
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Introduction to US Government

• Bill of Rights
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• Political Parties
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Primary Sources

Diary of Anne Frank

• Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
• Boy on the Wooden Box, The
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• I Have a Dream
• Letter from Birmingham Jail
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Historical Fiction

The Scarlet Letter

• A Single Shard
• A Tale of Two Cities
• A Thousand Splendid Suns
• Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The
• Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The
• Boy in the Striped Pajamas, The
• Breadwinner, The
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• Things They Carried, The
• To Kill a Mockingbird
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• Wolf Hollow

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8 US History Games For High Schoolers To Play Online

Greetings, fellow adventurers of the past! Are you ready to embark on a thrilling journey through the annals of history? Well, hold on to your hats because this is no ordinary trip down memory lane – we’re going to be playing games! That’s right, we’ll be testing our knowledge of the past, competing against each other to see who can be crowned the ultimate history buff.

But don’t worry, we’re not just going to be reciting boring facts and dates. We’ll be playing interactive games that will transport us back in time to experience historical events firsthand. Imagine being a soldier in the American Revolution, a citizen during the French Revolution, or even a gladiator in ancient Rome!

So gather your friends, form a team, and get ready to travel through time and space as we explore the fascinating and often surprising world of history. The past awaits us, and with these games, we’re going to make it come alive!

Online games to test your knowledge of US History

Calling all history buffs! Are you ready to put your knowledge to the test and explore the fascinating events of the past? Look no further than these 8 fantastic online history games that will transport you to different eras and civilizations. After all, knowing about the US and World history is often there on every freshman’s and senior’s bucket list .

1. Civil War Battles Digital Scavenger Hunt

The “Civil War Battles Digital Scavenger Hunt” is an online game that challenges players to find and answer questions about famous battles of the Civil War.

To play the game, players must navigate through a virtual battlefield, where they’ll encounter different clues and questions. Each question requires players to use their knowledge of the Civil War and its battles to answer correctly.

The game features a timer, and players must complete the scavenger hunt before time runs out. The game is suitable for high school students and offers an engaging way to learn about Civil War history while testing knowledge and critical thinking skills.

2. Halls of History

Halls of History” is an engaging online US history game that challenges players to answer questions on a range of topics, from the American Revolution to modern-day America.

To play the game, players must navigate through different rooms, each with its own historical theme. In each room, players must answer a set of questions correctly to progress to the next level. The game offers hints and explanations for each question, allowing players to learn as they play.

Suitable for high school students, “Halls of History” offers an interactive and enjoyable way to test US history knowledge while exploring the country’s past.

3. Sortify American Revolution

Sortify: American Revolution” is an educational game that challenges players to sort various items and events related to the American Revolution into the correct categories.

To play the game, players are presented with a collection of items, such as people, events, and documents, that are associated with the American Revolution. The goal is to sort these items into the correct categories, such as “Causes of the Revolution” or “Key Figures”.

The game provides feedback on each sorting attempt and offers historical context for each item. Suitable for high school students, “Sortify: American Revolution” offers a fun and interactive way to learn about one of the most significant periods in American history.

4. Sortify Native American History

Step into the fascinating world of Native American history with “Sortify: Native American History” – an engaging educational game that challenges players to categorize a variety of intriguing items related to the indigenous peoples of North America.

Navigate through a captivating collection of artifacts, tribes, and significant events that are deeply rooted in Native American culture. The objective is to skillfully sort these items into their respective categories, such as “Native American Tribes” or “Important Native American Leaders.”

With immediate feedback on each sorting attempt, players are able to delve deeper into the historical context of each item. This fun and interactive game is designed for high school students and provides a unique and creative way to learn about the rich and diverse cultural history of Native Americans. This is also a good cultural diversity activity for the kids as it helps them understand more about various cultures across the globe and the country. 

5. American Civil War Sides Puzzle

Step back in time to the American Civil War with the “US Civil War Quiz” – an online game that challenges players to test their knowledge of this pivotal period in American history.

As the clock ticks down, players must answer a series of multiple-choice questions that cover everything from the causes of the war to the key events and major figures that shaped it.

This engaging and interactive game is designed for high school students and offers a fun way to learn about this defining era of American history. In addition to reviewing their answers, players can also deepen their understanding of the Civil War through the game’s rich historical explanations.

6. Up From The Dust Mission

Up From The Dust is an immersive interactive game that takes players on a journey through the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s in the United States.

As high school students in Texas, players navigate the struggles of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, making choices that impact their character’s future. Along the way, they encounter historical figures and experience life as a sharecropper, all while dealing with the harsh realities of poverty and discrimination.

Through engaging gameplay and compelling storytelling, “Up From The Dust” provides a unique window into one of the most challenging periods in American history. Suitable for high school students, the game offers a rich and interactive way to learn about this significant time in America’s past.

7. City of Immigrants

City of Immigrants is an interactive game that invites players to step into the shoes of a young Jewish immigrant in New York City at the turn of the 20th century.

As they explore the bustling streets and vibrant neighborhoods of the city, players must make decisions that shape their character’s journey and ultimately influence the course of their life. Along the way, they encounter historical figures and experience the challenges of immigrant life, from navigating language barriers to finding work and dealing with discrimination.

Through engaging gameplay and immersive storytelling, “City of Immigrants” offers a unique perspective on one of the most significant periods in American history. Designed for high school students, this game provides a creative and interactive way to learn about the immigrant experience and the impact it has had on American culture.

8. Who Is That? 

“Who Is That?” is a fast-paced, engaging game that tests players’ knowledge of famous historical figures from a variety of eras.

To play the game, players must examine a series of clues and then guess the identity of the historical figure being described. With each correct guess, players earn points and move up the leaderboard.

Suitable for high school students, “Who Is That?” offers an entertaining and educational way to learn about a diverse range of historical figures, from political leaders and artists to scientists and activists. With a wide variety of clues and characters to choose from, this game offers a challenging and rewarding experience for anyone interested in history.

Learning history can sometimes be a daunting task, but with the right tools, websites , and resources, it can also be engaging and fun. These online history games for high school students offer a unique and interactive way to learn about some of the most significant events and figures in American and world history.

From testing knowledge of key historical events to immersive experiences that put players in the shoes of historical figures, these games provide a diverse range of engaging and educational experiences for high school students. By incorporating interactive gameplay and storytelling, these games make history come alive and help students develop a deeper understanding of the past.

Whether you’re looking to brush up on your history knowledge or simply looking for a fun way to learn, these online history games are a great place to start.

Sananda Bhattacharya, Chief Editor of TheHighSchooler, is dedicated to enhancing operations and growth. With degrees in Literature and Asian Studies from Presidency University, Kolkata, she leverages her educational and innovative background to shape TheHighSchooler into a pivotal resource hub. Providing valuable insights, practical activities, and guidance on school life, graduation, scholarships, and more, Sananda’s leadership enriches the journey of high school students.

Explore a plethora of invaluable resources and insights tailored for high schoolers at TheHighSchooler, under the guidance of Sananda Bhattacharya’s expertise. You can follow her on Linkedin

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