Teacher's Curriculum Institute

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re sharing this free lesson that challenges students to uncover the identity of some famous women throughout U.S. history. Students work in small groups identifying individuals and analyzing their impact on Americans. This lesson is also a great way to bring primary sources into class. Women’s History Lesson

Our latest lesson is a fusion of skill development, technology, and good old fashioned American democracy! Inspired from the greatest treasures of American speeches, symbols, and songs, this lesson challenges students to pretend to be archivists sorting primary sources for an upcoming public display on the topic, “Ideas that Unite Us as Americans.”  Try this [...]

Irish eyes are smiling, and so are we at TCI.  For a little holiday fun in advance of March 17th, I have written a lesson to help students learn about Ireland’s most famous name.  This skill builder lesson utilizes an emerging tech trend as well, QR codes.  Now, have no fear if you’re not familiar [...]

With this being an election year, it’d be a shame to pass up an opportunity to highten students awareness of how presidential elections are waged.  We have created a new game for you to play with your secondary students that we think you’ll love.  Everything y0u need to play the game including a lesson is [...]

Don’t miss out on your opportunity for students to learn more about George Washington and our other presidents with this fun lesson suitable for elementary or secondary classrooms. Everything you need to build the game along with a lesson is included. By George! It’s a Presidents Day Lesson –

Many social studies teachers ask their students to watch the State of the Union address. It is an important civic function that, unfortunately, many do not exercise. TCI would like to encourage students to become active listeners during President Obama’s speech to the nation on January 24th. To help, teachers can use this activity sheet.  [...]

To what extent do the media influence your political views? In this free lesson by @TeachTCI (www.teachtci.com), students work in groups to analyze persuasive techniques and then create and evaluate campaign commercials for presidential candidates. Take advantage of this free lesson, especially during this election year. You can learn more about Government Alive! Power, Politics, [...]

In this free lesson from TCI, students watch/listen to Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and answer questions. In a Social Studies Skill Builder, students are assigned an excerpt from the speech. Pairs work together to find an image to showcase that depicts progress (or lack of) towards that dream. Pairs then travel to see [...]

Scarcity?  Opportunity Cost?  Goods and Services?  Natural and capital resources?  Teaching financial literacy to elementary students is a “Where do I begin?” situation.  It’s a vocabulary nightmare, but I found a way to make it less painful for me and the students.  I use literature to help me discuss these terms – the students love [...]

Would you like to take advantage of the upcoming Black Friday as a way to get your students to be financially literate? Use this two-day lesson with students to explore comparison shopping and credit card use. Groups of students prepare for a fictional news conference where they release resources both in print and digital formats [...]