Welcome to Best Practices
Spotlight on Elementary Education
Example of Historical Thinking
Jefferson, surprised by the Louisiana Purchase? Maybe not. Historian Leah [...] »
Take a look at artifacts from the past—what might they be? Teachers model [...] »
Written primary sources only tell you so much. To learn about history that [...] »
Watch Suzannah Niepold of the Smithsonian American Art Museum guide teachers [...] »
What was it like being a small farmer in the 1700s? Follow a tour group [...] »
Teaching in Action
Teacher Bill Kendrat demonstrates the techniques he uses to draw students in [...] »
A 3rd-grade teacher leads her students through analysis of child labor [...] »
Using Primary Sources
Source and approach letters and diaries with historical thinking.
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Transform film from a source of entertainment to a piece of historical [...] »
Teaching with Textbooks
Turn your textbook into a conversation by scanning its language for biases [...] »
The language of history textbooks challenges English language learners and [...] »
Turn your students into 'master chefs' by using learning menus that allow [...] »
Show your students how to challenge the authority gap between the textbook [...] »
Class discussion and personal inquiry builds an interactive relationship [...] »