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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Abraham Lincoln Activity Pack
Learn about the life and contributions of Abraham Lincoln with a comprehensive pack of Presidents’ Day Worksheets.
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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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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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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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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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Presidents' Day Activities - George Washington Worksheet Pack
Learn about the life and contributions of George Washington with a comprehensive pack of Presidents’ Day Worksheets.
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Who was Abraham Lincoln? Book
Learn about the life and contributions of Abraham Lincoln with a printable mini-book filled with facts and activities for early readers.
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George Washington Mini-Book
Learn about the life and contributions of George Washington with a printable mini-book filled with facts and activities for early readers.
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Read Along Pocket Chart Cards - Rosa Parks
Read and learn about Rosa Parks with printable pocket chart cards.
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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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Jose Antonio Navarro Mini Book
Make a book with your primary-grade students to learn about the contributions of Jose Antonio Navarro.
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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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Who Is Ruby Bridges? – Shared Reading and Activity
Read along to learn about Ruby Bridges and her role in desegregation with this 14-slide PowerPoint presentation.
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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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Rosa Parks Timeline Activity
Craft an illustrated timeline for students to visually explore 6 events in Rosa Parks’s life.
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Who Is Charity Adams Earley? – Shared Reading and Activity
Read along to learn about soldier & activist Charity Adams Earley with this 13-slide PowerPoint presentation.
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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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Who Is Harriet Tubman? – Shared Reading and Activity
Learn about Harriet Tubman and her work in the abolitionist movement with this 15-slide read-along PowerPoint presentation.