Teach Big History
History didn’t start with humans, and your course doesn’t have to either. Big History combines science and history in one bold social studies course, taking students from the Big Bang, through the modern world, and into the future. Students think big—connecting ideas across time, disciplines, and the world around them.
Big History is:
- Always free.
- Adaptable for grades 6–9.
- Flexible for full-course or supplemental use.
- Used by thousands of teachers worldwide.
Your Big History Teaching Toolkit
Understand the basics of teaching Big History with these resources.
Big History Lesson Plans
Big History teaches the story of everything, one step at a time. Each lesson is packed with articles, activities, videos, and more to build critical thinking in ways students can sustain and retain.
Here’s a peek at some of our teachers’ favorite lessons:
Lesson 1.1
Welcome to Big History
Start with a thought-provoking opener on what history is. Then, use the Unit Notebook, articles, and a 3-2-1 activity to explore what makes Big History “big,” and to connect the thresholds of increasing complexity to students’ own lives.
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Lesson 2.1
Big Bang to Earth
Launch students into the beginnings of the Universe with a graphics-rich article that brings the Big Bang, stars, and the Solar System to life. Guide them through the first four thresholds with a listening activity, and wrap with a creative closer that turns cosmic history into a jingle.
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Lesson 4.2
Human Ancestors
How did life transform from a simple single-celled organism to our own species, one that creates, communicates, loves, and hates? Explore humanity’s place in the great history of life.
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Lesson 6.3
Industrial Revolution
Investigate the forces behind industrialization through a causation opener, test its impact in the urbanization game, and use articles to understand how it reshaped the world.
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Teach Big History