"Through using these lessons, my students learned about the dangers of ISIS, but also,
how they could be part of the worldwide solution to stop it."  Brooke, World History Teacher, Pennsylvania
Understanding and Responding to ISIS
Teachers: Help your students understand the threat of the Islamic State by using any of these zero-prep, ready-to-go activities that were made by fellow educators, choosing the option that is the best fit for your classroom situation and needs.
We do all the heavy-lifting content-wise, allowing you to engage your class tomorrow in the foreign policy issue of our time.
(To refresh the basic facts of the situation, we recommend that you read this article and watch this video from vox.com.)
If you only have one class:  Go inside the Situation Room of the White House
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Have your class get engaged about the human rights situation in Iraq and Syria by becoming the national security team in the Situation Room of the White House. Choose a President, analyze an intelligence video on the dangers of ISIS,  then decide a course of action by using this ready-to-be printed Student Guide that has up-to-date policy options, capable of being used in one classroom period. You'll give each student the Student Guide, then become the Chief of Staff, playing the video and guiding its discussion.   After, get involved with outreach activities to assist Syrian refugees. 
If you have a second day:    Complete this self-guided Video Tour on American responses to ISIS
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Interested in teaching about the American responses but aren't sure where to start? This one-period, teacher-vetted Video Tour allows your students to have an understanding of how the United States has responded to ISIS.  Perfect for the computer lab or to assign for homework, it comes ready with a printable Video Guide that is ready for class tomorrow. (Teachers, please note: Due to the seriousness of the subject matter, we recommend that you preview these clips beforehand, all of which are available on the video tour webpage that you can share with your students on your website.) For advanced students, be sure to show them Confronting ISIS, a PBS Frontline that airs October 11th, 2016.
If you have additional time:  Inspire your students to get involved with Outreach Activities
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One of the dangers of modern media is that students may think that the world is a horrible place that is too big to do anything about. It is important that you teach them not to "admire the problem" of ISIS, but become part of the solution. Given this, we encourage you to involve your class in one of several outreach activities that will empower them to be agents of change and hope. Likewise, it is also crucial that they become inspired by the stories of upstanders like Nadia Murad who have fought back against ISIS. Play her inspiring story to spark a discussion and next steps.
Groups that assist the victims of ISIS:
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While humanitarian assistance is almost always a good thing, seeing that ISIS still controls large segments of territory,  at times, they have been known to co-opt aid that is sent in from outside groups. Given that, the following organizations do wonderful things without any unintended drawbacks and are worthy of your classroom's support:
For Addtional Study:  What is Islam and why is Islamophobia dangerous to our democracy?
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While ISIS and other forms of radical Islamic Terrorism are undeniably a major threat to the world, it is important to balance your students perspectives by teaching about the basics of Islam and what it means to be a Muslim. Given that, we recommend checking out the module made by our colleagues at the American Federation of Teachers,  Replacing Fear with Facts: Teaching Islam in the Classroom, which has everything you need for a one-period lesson or pull-out resources on these important topics.
What you do matters.