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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Henry Ford Mini Book
Provide students with cross-curricular social studies and reading instruction with a printable Henry Ford for Kids mini book.
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Henry Ford for Kids - Entrepreneurship Slide Deck
Promote entrepreneurship and discover the contributions of Henry Ford to the American automobile with an instructional slide deck.
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Influential Black Leaders - Instagram Post Template
Demonstrate learning about the most influential Black leaders in history with an engaging social media template.
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Women's Rights Leaders - InstaFan Post Template
Demonstrate learning about the most influential female leaders during the Women’s Rights movement with an engaging social media template.
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Leaders of the Women's Suffrage Movement - Instructional Slide Deck
Learn about the most influential female leaders during the Women’s Rights movement with an engaging instructional slide deck.
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Henry Ford Graphic Organizer
Organize learning about Henry Ford’s contribution to the American automobile industry with a graphic organizer worksheet.
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The Women's Suffrage Movement Slide Deck
Provide your students with a look into the women’s suffrage movement with an instructional slide deck.
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Influential Black Leaders Research Organizers
Dive into a research project on influential Black leaders with a set of Historical Figure graphic organizers.
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Elizabeth Cady Stanton - Differentiated Comprehension Worksheets
Learn fun facts about Elizabeth Cady Stanton with a differentiated comprehension passage and assessment.
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Who's Who - Barack Obama
Get to know President Barack Obama with this primary-level cut and paste activity.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Mini Book
Learn about Martin Luther King, Jr. with a printable book for kindergarten and first-grade students.
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Benjamin Franklin - Constructed Response Worksheet
Learn facts about Benjamin Franklin with an informational reading and writing activity focusing on the constructed response format.
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Theodore Roosevelt Constructed Response Worksheet
Teach your students about Theodore Roosevelt with this printable biographical constructed response worksheet.
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Sojourner Truth Constructed Response Worksheet
Learn facts about Sojourner Truth with an informational reading passage and writing activity for third grade and up.
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Navajo Code Talkers Constructed Response Worksheet
Discover the impact of the Navajo Code Talkers on the outcome of World War II with a cross-curricular constructed response worksheet.
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Jane Addams Biography - Worksheet
Use this biographical constructed response worksheet to teach your students about Jane Addams.
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Daniel Boone Constructed Response Worksheet
Integrate reading, writing, and American history with a constructed response worksheet about Daniel Boone and American Westward Expansion.
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Famous Historical Figures - Biography Graphic Organizer Packs
Dive into a research project on key figures in history with a set of Important Historical Figure graphic organizers.
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Benjamin Franklin Social Studies Reader and Activity Booklet
Read and learn about Benjamin Franklin with an informational reader and activity booklet.
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The Lewis and Clark Expedition - Interactive Research Templates
Use these three templates to record notes or research project content on the life and contributions of Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and Sacagawea
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Alexander Hamilton Printable Mini Book
A mini-book about a Founding Father is the perfect tool for your students to use when learning about Alexander Hamilton.
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Marshall vs. Tubman Differentiated Paired Passage Worksheets
Combine reading and history content with differentiated reading comprehension worksheets.
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg Biography Planner Flip Book
Conduct and organize research about the life of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with this 8-page flipbook template.
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Black History Profile: Barack Obama - Comprehension Worksheet
Review our profile on the first African American President of the United States, and answer questions to reinforce understanding.
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Read Along Pocket Chart Cards - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Use this set of 12 MLK text and image pocket chart cards for reading and sight word practice.
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Shirley Chisholm and Carol Moseley Braun Cut and Sort Worksheet
Compare and contrast the lives of two influential Black American lawmakers in this cut-and-sort activity.
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Who Is Martin Luther King, Jr? - Shared Reading and Activity
Use this 13-slide PowerPoint as a collaborative reading exercise about Martin Luther King, Jr.
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My Little MLK Activity Book
Teach about Martin Luther King, Jr. with 5 mini activities for kindergarten and 1st grade. This printable mini book is teacher-created to bring MLK to life for your students!
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MLK Character Traits Graphic Organizer
Use our graphic organizer with your students when studying Martin Luther King, Jr.’s notable mental and moral qualities.
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MLK Cut and Color Worksheet
Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. and the ideals he fought for with this cut and color MLK worksheet for early elementary students.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. - Comprehension Task
Apply a range of reading comprehension strategies to learn about Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Timeline
Craft an illustrated timeline for students to visually explore the major events in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life.