Activities & Lesson Plans

Flesh Eating Beetles

Learn more about dermestid, or flesh-eating beetles, from our curator Dave, and see how these insects help clean animal bones for display or study.

Historic Cemeteries and Gravestones

Join archaeologist Krista to learn about Ohio’s historic cemeteries and gravestones! Learn how to read a gravestone for information about the person buried there, and find out where you can visit a historic cemetery near you. Interested in checking out a cemetery near you? Pay close attention to Krista’s instructions on using the “mirror effect” to read the carvings on a worn or weathered stone. Then find an historic cemetery near you to investigate some headstones!

History and Chemistry in the Kitchen- Soda Bread

Learn about the history and chemistry of Soda Bread!

History Happened Here

Ohio has a rich history stretching back thousands of years, and it is all in your backyard! Pick an Ohio Historical Marker about a historical person, place or event in your county and be ready to learn more about what makes Ohio so historic!

How Museums Tell Stories: Diorama Make-a-long

Learn about the variety of ways museums tell stories through exhibits. Discover the different tools exhibit designers use to tell stories as you visit a few exhibits at the Ohio History Center. Then check out the activity Using Dioramas to Tell Stories to guide you as you make your own diorama.

Ice Age Animals

Join Dave, a natural history curator, and learn all about the giant animals that roamed Ohio during the Ice Age. Discover how these animals lived, and hear about a few ways our natural history curators learn information about these extinct animals, like from the fossils they left behind!

John Glenn Crossword

This crossword is all about John Glenn’s space travels. Once you complete it, check the Answer Key.

John Parker in His Own Words

Learn the captivating story of John Parker. Parker, a former enslaved person, bought his freedom and settled in Ripley, Ohio, where he was a business owner, as well as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. Join Mr. Parker as he shares stories of his time in slavery as well as his clandestine adventures.

LGBTQ+ History Research Guidelines

LGBTQ+ history is a key part of Ohio’s story but is often underrepresented in scholarship and research. Ohio History Day and the Ohio History Connection are committed to sharing the colorful histories, viewpoints, and stories of the LGBTQ+ community.  We invite you to join us in elevating the stories and history of the LBGTQ+ community in Ohio and beyond.

Make a Constitution

The “Make a Constitution” activity transforms each of your students into a fledgling nation-state. Students begin by creating their own countries—complete with flags! Using interactive flowcharts, students make real choices about their government’s structure and craft their country’s constitution.

Students must then test their carefully crafted constitutions against real world scenarios. Can their constitutions survive early crises of government? There’s only one way to find out! Download the complete “Make a Constitution” activity and watch your students transform from middle school students into civic leaders.