Historical Figures Teaching Resources
Expand your students' knowledge of famous historical figures from United States history and from around the world with biographical teaching resources created by teachers for teachers.
Explore the real-life experiences of politicians, Civil Rights leaders, explorers, and other famous people from history with writing activities about influential figures, biographical worksheets, constructed responses, crossword puzzles and more explorations into the lives of some of history's best-known figures.
Is this your first year incorporating historical figures into a lesson plan? Or maybe you're just looking for a refresher? Take a peek at a primer from our teacher team, including a list of some of the many important historical figures featured in this collection.
Why Is It Important to Learn About Historical Figures?
When students learn about the various historical figures who have made a mark in the nation's and world's history, they develop a better understanding of the relationships between individual people and society as a whole. Learning about famous people from throughout history also helps them to connect to the past as they look at history through the lens of real-life experiences.
Famous Historical Figures in This Collection
This collection of teaching resources includes activities, instructional slide decks, and more educational resources to help students learn about important figures from the days of the 13 colonies to more modern times, including:
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark
- Ruby Bridges
- Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall
- Various US presidents
- Jane Addams
- Sojourner Truth
- Alexander Hamilton
- The Navajo Code Talkers
- Amelia Earhart
- Neil Armstrong
- Sally Ride
- Sir Edmund Hillary
- And many, many more
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Eleanor Roosevelt - Reading Comprehension Activity
Discover the life and contributions of Eleanor Roosevelt with a printable reading passage and comprehension worksheet pack.
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Who was Marie Maynard Daly? Women in History Activity Pack
Learn about the life and contributions of Marie Maynard Daly with a comprehensive pack of inspirational women worksheets.
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Who is Anna May Wong? – Shared Reading and Activity
Teach about Anna May Wong with a 14-slide PowerPoint that can be used as a shared reading activity.
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International Women's Day - Influential Women Worksheet
Identify six different inspirational women in history using this cut and paste worksheet for Internatioanal Women’s Day.
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg Worksheet Pack
Learn about the life and contributions of Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a comprehensive pack of inspirational women worksheets.
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Scientists and Inventors Who Changed the World Brochure
Introduce your students to the groundbreaking work of five famous scientists and inventors with a no-prep brochure project.
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Famous Colonists Cut and Paste Worksheet
Show what you know about famous American colonists with a cut-and-paste Colonial Americans worksheet.
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Sojourner Truth Worksheet Pack
Learn about the life and contributions of Sojourner Truth with a comprehensive pack of Women’s History Month worksheets.
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Historical Heroes - Harriet Tubman Worksheets
Learn about the life and contributions of Harriet Tubman with a comprehensive pack of Women’s History Month worksheets.
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Influential Black Leaders - Research Project
Help your students learn about and recognize some of the most influential Black leaders in history with Black History Month Research Project.
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Thurgood Marshall Activity Pack
Learn about the life and contributions of Thurgood Marshall with a comprehensive pack of informational worksheets.
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Black History Leader Puzzles
Help your students learn about and recognize some of the most influential Black leaders in history with a set of printable puzzles.
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Black Leaders in History - Cut and Paste Worksheet
Dive into learning about influential black history leaders with a cut-and-paste worksheet.
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Harriet Tubman Mini Book
Uncover facts about Harriet Tubman with a printable book for early readers.
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Barack Obama Mini Book
Learn about the life and contributions of Barack Obama with a printable mini-book filled with facts and details for early readers.
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Katherine Johnson Activity Pack
Learn about the life and contributions of Katherine Johnson with a comprehensive pack of informational worksheets.
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Thurgood Marshall Mini Book
Discover the accomplishments of Thurgood Marshall with a printable mini-book.
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President's Day Crafts - Biography Writing Template
Encourage students to dive into writing a biography Abraham Lincoln or George Washington with a printable Presidents’ Day Craft template.
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Sojourner Truth - Printable Book for Kids
Discover the accomplishments and influence that Sojourner Truth had on America with a printable mini-book.
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Who Was George Washington Carver? Printable Mini Book
Learn about the life and contributions of George Washington Carver with a printable mini-book filled with facts and activities for early readers.
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Facts About Katherine Johnson - Printable Mini Book
Discover the accomplishments and influence that Katherine Johnson had on America with a printable mini-book.
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Barack Obama - Biography Activity Pack
Learn about the life and contributions of Barack Obama with a comprehensive pack of Presidents’ Day Worksheets.
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Presidents' Day Sorting Activity
Engage your learners in Presidents’ Day activities with a printable sorting center about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
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Abraham Lincoln - 3rd Grade Reading Comprehension Pack
Celebrate Presidents' Day and discover the accomplishments of Abraham Lincoln with a printable reading comprehension activity pack for 3rd grade and up.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Coloring Pages
Celebrate MLK Day in the classroom and engage your students in thoughtful discussion with a Martin Luther King, Jr. Coloring Page!
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Activity Book
Celebrate MLK Day in the classroom and engage your students with a booklet of MLK Day activities.
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Franklin D. Roosevelt Facts and Details Comprehension Pack
Read and learn about Franklin Delano Roosevelt with a reading passage and comprehension questions.
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Dwight D. Eisenhower Comprehension Pack
Read and learn about Dwight D. Eisenhower with a reading passage and comprehension questions.
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Christopher Columbus Reading Passage - Lower Elementary
Learn about Christopher Columbus and his worldly explorations with a printable reading passage and comprehension questions for first and second grade.
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Stephen F. Austin Mini Book
Make a book with your primary-grade students to learn about the contributions of Stephen F. Austin.
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Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca - Reading Worksheet
Learn about Cabeza de Vaca’s accomplishments and explorations with a printable reading passage and comprehension questions.
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Early Explorers - Robert de La Salle Reading Passage
Learn about Robert de la Salle and his worldly explorations with a printable reading passage and comprehension questions.