Spring is a time of growth–both inside and outside of the classroom. This blog should help with inspiration for your lessons this month, but follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for additional updates on daily free topics and other teaching inspiration on what to teach this April!
April 12 – The Civil War Began (1861)
During this week in 1861, the United States officially entered into The Civil War. In this Unit students will read about A Nation Divided, the Road to War, some Civil War Notables, and what life was like on The Home Front. (Available in Print, too!)
April 15 – The Titanic Sinks (1912)
Even though the Titanic sank over 100 years ago, its dramatic demise still grips the imagination. In April, 1912, when it began its fatal voyage, it was the largest moving object on Earth. It symbolized the height and the might of the Industrial Revolution. In our online unit on the Titanic kids will learn about how this colossus was constructed. As well as the lives of the passengers on board, and what happened on the cold night she sank. Get it in Print, too!
April 15 – Tax Day
If there’s one thing most Americans have in common, it’s that they need to file their taxes with the government on or before this date. Topics like State and Local Governments and Rights and Responsibilities touch on why citizens are required to pay taxes and what the money goes towards.
April 18 – Earthquake hits San Francisco (1906)
On April 18, 1906 San Francisco, California experienced an earthquake that broke all the city’s water pipes, which caused the fire that followed the quake to burn for days. Check out our Topic Famous Earthquakes to see other well-known ones. Or, view our Unit on Earthquakes to learn everything about these powerful and unpredictable upheavals!
April 22 – Earth Day
The first Earth Day in 1970 marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Start a conversation with your students about protecting the environment by reading our unit on Conservation. Topics include Sustainability, Our Carbon Footprint, and Landfills and Recycling. Kids can also explore our Earth Science Discover Map, which highlights units like Wetlands, Oceans, and Geology. Or, check out our Themed Earth-Science Set of Print Titles!
April 23 – Shakespeare’s Birthday (1564)
William Shakespeare has been called the greatest writer in the English language. From about 1590 to 1613, he wrote 36 plays, including tragedies (Hamlet), comedies (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), and histories (Henry V). And he wrote all of his thousands of words with a quill pen made from birds’ feathers! Today, his plays are performed all over the world and in dozens of different languages. Use our unit on Shakespeare to teach about the Printed Word in His Time, Elizabethan England, and the History of Plays and Sonnets. (Available in Print, too!)
April 29 – Arbor Day
Amazingly, Trees cover over 30 percent of the world’s land area, and they work hard every day producing oxygen and providing shelter for animals. Arbor Day celebrates the role of trees in our lives and environment. Plant a tree in your community today, and let students read about how trees make energy, pollination and reproduction, and our special relationship with trees in this FREE mini-unit.
Questions or Comments?
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