Death Teacher Resources

They say nothing in life is guaranteed except death and taxes. But, are taxes the only one sure thing? Pupils ponder the possibility of eternal life with the ageless examples of the mole rat and jellyfish. The narrator discusses why our...

As we get older, we age, our bodies and minds deteriorate, but this isn't true of all species. The video begins with why we age and what biological processes cause aging. Then it covers research on worms, mice, and other animals that...

Ninth graders examine religious rituals and ceremonies surrounding death and dying.  In this Ethics lesson plan, 9th graders explore end-of-life care in the United States and consider ways it might be improved.  Students discuss common...

Exploring the ranges and applications of humor in the aging process, this presentation provides numerous examples and statistics about how aging is seen in modern society. The slides explore how the elderly regard themselves versus how...

Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980, devastating plant and animal life for miles around. Two activities are included in this lesson plan. In one, learners evaluate tree rings to determine the age of a tree and the year of a volcano....

Students explore various state laws concerning capital punishment and conduct a mock meeting of the United States Congress to set standards for the death penalty.

Ninth graders examine religious rituals and ceremonies surrounding death and dying.  In this cultural studies instructional activity, 9th graders explore end-of-life care in the United States and consider ways it might be improved.

For this English idioms about death worksheet, students interpret sayings about death and complete sentences using them correctly.

Students analyze poems about death. In this poetry analysis instructional activity, students read poems from both Dylan Thomas and A.E. Housman and analyze them in groups for common poetic devices. Students present their analysis and...

In this Diophantus' age problem, students read clues concerning the age of Diophantus.  They write an algebraic equation for the given situation.  Students solve the equation to determine the age of Diophantus when he died.  This...

Students research death records in order to contrast causes of death in the past with those of today and compare the ages of death of males and females in the 1800s.

If you've ever felt angest, also known as angst, you can thank Soren Kierkegaard for coining a world to define an anxiety-ridden situation in his book The Concept of Anxiety. An educational video teaches high schoolers about...

How do scientists determine the age of a dinosaur when it died? Viewers earn how scientists make slides of dinosaur fossils and how they use these images to determine age at death. Part of a larger Eons series from PBS, these beautiful...

Considering using Julia Alvarez's In the Time of the Butterflies? Here's a resource designed to be used before and during a reading of her powerful story of the murder of the Mirabal sisters. Included in the packet is a vocabulary list,...

Which of the following can you survive without for the longest time: water, food, or a positive mental attitude? The answer may surprise you. Guide learners of all ages through games, activities, and discussions about surviving in the...

When it comes to William Shakespeare, there seem to be more questions than answers! Using the fact sheet, pupils uncover information about the Bard's home and family life, as well as his schooling and career. Readers also learn about his...

When sparks ignited a fire at the Iroquois Theatre in Chicago in 1903, it was one of the greatest public safety tragedies of the twentieth century. Even though the theater did not take basic safety precautions, no one was held...

Fourth graders discuss the Civil War and the fact that many soldiers died during the war as a result of sickness. They discuss germs and participate in an activity that shows them how germs are spread and how they can be stopped from...

Students read assigned text about the World War II. In this Holocaust survival lesson, students identify the mass murders associated with Adolf Hitler's Nazi party and read stories of young men who narrowly avoided the death camps....

In this age of a tree activity, learners use "Tree Cookies" and count the number of rings in each, they determine the age of the tree and they identify any special features and what they may indicate.

Students explore World History by researching the Holocaust. In this Nazi Germany lesson plan, students identify the ghettos and death camps that many Jewish civilians were sent to in order to be controlled and later killed. Students...

Students read a paragraph describing various insects and decomposition rates, then fill in the table indicating when the three insects arrived or left the body. They write paragraphs explaining when the person died, and how they know.

In this epitaph worksheet, learners read a poem and write an algebraic equation from the given riddle.  Students solve the equation to determine the age of Diophantus at his death.  This one-page worksheet contains one riddle. A link to...

Students are able to convert large numbers into meaningful ratios. They are able to conceptualize 1 million. Students grapple with the concept of a million. They use this activity to convey the idea of millions by converting war death...