Curriculum
Curriculum
Hemispheres works with educators, school districts, and state officials to “fill in the gaps” between teacher knowledge and the set goals of curricular mandates. As part of our efforts, we have created classroom-ready curriculum units utilizing primary source documents, area studies content, and classroom activities for middle and high school students.
Texas’ mandated content standards, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), are closely aligned to national standards in the social studies. However, you should feel free to adapt the activities to fit your classroom and your state standards.
Photo by Greg Rosenke
Curriculum by Subject
Economic, Cultural, and Political Effects of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
- This four-week unit is a multi-genre approach to teaching the economic, cultural, and political effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The skills embedded in the lessons are designed to culminate into a final, synthesis essay. However, lessons can be parceled out to address specific topics or skills. Though each lesson is inherent to English Language Arts, there is ample crossover for lessons to likewise be taught in a Social Studies class or in conjunction as an interdisciplinary unit.
Learning Literature through History and Mapping: The Worlds of Cervantes and Shakespeare
- This unit offers a study of how the political, historical, and religious cultures of the Renaissance allowed Shakespeare and Cervantes to produce timeless literature. Teaching strategies include the creation of literary maps that will illustrate the geographical and historical influences on the works of Shakespeare and Cervantes and historical elements that connect them.
- Explore topics such as secret police, attacks on intelligentsia, gulags, collectivism, and industrialization.
- This unit on World War I contains four different activities: (1) Can You Stop the War? (Decision Making Activity); (2) "Over the Top!" (Trench Warfare Simulation); (3) World War One Poetry Analysis Activity; and (4) Selections from "A White Man's War? World War One and the West Indies" (Document Analysis Activity).
- This unit will review the end of World War I and the impact of the Treaty of Versailles. It includes an overview of the treaty and its provisions as well as an analysis exercise sing photographs and political cartoons. Includes a PowerPoint presentation that can be used in class and a cartoon exercise.
Learning Literature Through History and Mapping: The Worlds of Cervantes and Shakespeare
- This unit offers a study of how the political, historical, and religious cultures of the Renaissance allowed Shakespeare and Cervantes to produce timeless literature. Teaching strategies include the creation of literary maps that will illustrate the geographical and historical influences on the works of Shakespeare and Cervantes and historical elements that connect them.
Triangle Waistshirt Factory Fire and Working Conditions of the Early 20th Century
- Students will read several 1st person accounts concerning the Triangle Waistshirt Factory fire and complete SOAPS document analysis of them. They will then roleplay a Town Hall Forum and take on roles from people associated with the incident. Each group will be assigned a different primary or secondary source from the time period to read to help them represent their character. Students will then take turns participating in the town hall forum to discuss the working conditions prevalent at the time and what reforms were necessary.
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Economic, Cultural, and Political Effects of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
- This four-week unit is a multi-genre approach to teaching the economic, cultural, and political effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The skills embedded in the lessons are designed to culminate into a final, synthesis essay. However, lessons can be parceled out to address specific topics or skills. Though each lesson is inherent to English Language Arts, there is ample crossover for lessons to likewise be taught in a Social Studies class or in conjunction as an interdisciplinary unit.
Triangle Waistshirt Factory Fire and Working Conditions of the Early 20th Century
- Students will read several 1st person accounts concerning the Triangle Waistshirt Factory fire and complete SOAPS document analysis of them. They will then roleplay a Town Hall Forum and take on roles from people associated with the incident. Each group will be assigned a different primary or secondary source from the time period to read to help them represent their character. Students will then take turns participating in the town hall forum to discuss the working conditions prevalent at the time and what reforms were necessary.
- This unit explores our cousin, Brazil. Although we have have different parents (England and Portugal) that shaped our development for good or bad, our grandparent, Europe, continues to influence the lives of its grandchildren. From Columbus to coffee, students will learn about Brazilian history, culture, and communities.
In the Footsteps of the Mayan and Inca Peoples: The Indigenous Inheritance of Mexico and Peru
- Curriculum units developed by educators who participated in the 2008 Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad program in Mexico and Peru.
Cairo: Living Past, Living Future
- An interactive web unit designed specifically with K-12 students and educators in mind. This unit will allow you to explore this history, culture, society, geography, and environment of this fascinating city that sits at the crossroads between ancient and modern, east and west, tradition and innovation.
Case Study: Living in Arid Climates
- This Story Map offers an in depth look at how climate and geography affect construction and agriculture in Morocco and offers comparisons between Morocco and the United States. Includes various images, videos and activities for use in the geography classroom.
- An interactive web unit designed specifically with 9-12 social studies students and educators in mind. This unit provides extensive, easy to use online resources to explore Moroccan geography, Berber culture, art and cultural symbols, UNESCO World Heritage sites, Moroccan food, and Ibn Battuta's travels.
- This five-part lesson about Egypt is designed to help young students explore the similarities between themselves and the other humans who inhabit our planet. Each lesson includes background information for the teacher, suggested activities, worksheets, audiovisuals, etc. A bibliography and resource list is enclosed.
- This unit contains three lesson plans intended to introduce middle school students to the region of Central Asia. The countries which define the region of Central Asia include: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Each lesson is designed to broaden students' understanding and appreciation of Central Asia through topics broadly related to geography, social studies and culture. Lessons begin with the understanding that in order to best understand another region, country or society, it is important to first understand your own.
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