History Lesson Plan Template

Plan a history or social studies lesson from its guiding question and sources to the discussion questions and the check.

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Topic:Date:Grade:Guiding questionThe question this lesson answersBackgroundWhat students need to know firstSources students readPrimary (made at the time) and secondary (written later)Words to teachTerms, people and placesActivityWhat students do with the sourcesDiscussion questionsIn the order you will ask themCheckHow students show what they learned
History lesson plan, guiding question and sources Topic, Date and Grade lines, then seven ruled boxes with a prompt each: Guiding question, Background, Sources students read (the full width, for primary and secondary sources), Words to teach, Activity, Discussion questions, and Check.
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Next step Print the words for a word wallPrint timeline worksheets

How it works

This history lesson plan template is built around a guiding question and the sources students read to answer it, so it suits any social studies lesson that works from documents, maps or pictures. The sheets print on Letter and A4.

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Primary and secondary sources on one plan

A primary source was made at the time you are studying: a diary, a document, a photograph, an object. A secondary source is an account written afterward. List both in the wide box, then write the discussion questions in the order you will ask them. Primary source lesson plan gives four sources a row each.

A middle school social studies lesson plan template

The middle school sheet runs one class period in five parts, from a map or picture to open to an exit question, with the minutes, what students do and the source or map for each. Social studies week has Monday to Friday across and a guiding question for each day.

  • The geography lesson plan template has a Place or region line, Maps and data students use and a Map skill block.
  • Timeline planner lists eight events of a unit in order, each with why it matters and its source or page.
  • Teaching from the news? Current events lesson plan has blocks for what happened, the background students need and more than one point of view.

Questions and answers

Is there a blank social studies lesson plan template?

Yes. Every sheet but the sample is blank and free to print. Social studies lesson plan on ruled lines has a printed title and eight headings, from Objective to Written task or exit question.

Is this lesson plan template for a history class only?

No. Social studies primarily includes history, economics and civics, and draws in elements of geography. The unit sheet has a row each for history, geography, civics and economics under one guiding question.

Is there a high school history lesson plan template?

Yes. It has five rows, Hook, Lecture and notes, Document work, Discussion and Written response, with columns for the sources and pages and what students produce. It works as a high school social studies lesson plan template for civics or economics too.

Is there a social studies lesson plan template PDF?

Yes. Each sheet saves as its own PDF from the print window, so the lesson plan and the timeline planner are two files.

All 11 sheets

One lesson 2

  • History lesson plan, guiding question and sources Topic, Date and Grade lines, then seven ruled boxes with a prompt each: Guiding question, Background, Sources students read (the full width, for primary and secondary sources), Words to teach, Activity, Discussion questions, and Check.
  • Social studies lesson plan on ruled lines A blank plan under a printed title, with room to write in sentences: ruled lines under Objective, Guiding question, Words to teach, Opening: a map, picture or story, Reading or sources, Activity, Discussion questions, and Written task or exit question.

Sources, timelines, maps and the news 4

  • Current events lesson plan, one news story A Story line, then ruled lines under What happened, in two sentences, Where it happened, Background students need, Words to teach, Discussion questions, More than one point of view, and Check.
  • Geography lesson plan, maps and data A Place or region line, then ruled lines under Guiding question, Maps and data students use, Words to teach, Map skill, Activity, Discussion questions, and Check.
  • Primary source lesson plan, four sources and a question for each Four rows for a lesson built on documents, pictures or objects: Source, Who made it, and when, What it shows, and Question I will ask, under a Guiding question line. A Written task line at the foot.
  • Timeline planner, 8 events to teach Eight rows for the events of a unit in order: Date or year, Event, Why it matters, and Source or page, under Unit and Years covered lines.
Show all 11 sheets (5 more)

Middle school and high school 2

  • High school history lesson plan, lecture, documents and discussion Five rows for a period or a block, Hook, Lecture and notes, Document work, Discussion, and Written response, with Minutes, Sources and pages, and What students produce columns. A Reading for next class line at the foot.
  • Middle school social studies lesson plan, from a map or picture to an exit question Five rows for one period, Map or picture to open, Reading and notes, Group task, Discussion, and Exit question, with Minutes, What students do, and Source or map columns under a Guiding question line.

A week, or a unit 2

  • Social studies unit across history, geography, civics and economics Four rows named History, Geography, Civics and Economics, with What students learn, Lesson or activity, and Source or map columns under a Guiding question line.
  • Social studies week, a guiding question for each day A sideways page with Monday to Friday across and four rows: Guiding question, Source or map, Activity, and Check.

Filled-in sample 1

  • Sample: a local history lesson on Main Street, then and now, filled in Sample. The opening sheet filled in for a made-up lesson that sets two photos and an old map of one street beside a later book about the town.

How this list was compiled: Our own layout, made for this page on October 9, 2026. Every sheet is a plain form; the headings are everyday school words, and no school district's, publisher's or program's form is copied. The sample lesson is made up. What a primary and a secondary source are, and which subjects social studies takes in, follow Wikipedia's articles Primary source, Secondary source and Social studies, read on October 9, 2026. Licence: own work

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