Teachinghistory.org Wins 2013 AASLH Award of Merit
Teachinghistory.org Wins a 2013 Award of Merit from the American Association of State and Local History.
History Hitting Home: Children's History, Local History, and Digital Storytelling
Children’s history, local history, and digital media—combine the three to give your students ownership of the past!
Turning Students into Historians
How do you engage students with primary sources and their community? Jasmine Alinder shares a success story!
Lincoln on the Big Screen
How do historians think about films like Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln? Take a look with Teachinghistory.org!
Resources for Teacher Educators and History/Social Studies Methods Classes
Teacher educator? Here’s a guide to Teachinghistory.org resources for you.
Resources for Hispanic Heritage Month
How do you teach Hispanic Heritage Month? With resources from Teachinghistory.org and across the web, you have plenty of approaches to explore!
Teaching with Food
Teach with all five senses, including taste!
Constitution Day 2012: Founding Documents
The Constitution and the Bill of Rights inspired many other important documents in U.S. history. This Constitution Day, trace its influence through primary sources.
Teaching Work: Resources for Labor Day
Labor Day means more than the beginning of the school year. Bring the holiday into the classroom with Teachinghistory.org’s resources!
Teaching the Emancipation Proclamation on Constitution Day
This Constitution Day, the National Endowment for the Humanities asks, how is the Emancipation Proclamation like the U.S. Constitution?
Fee Free Days for National Parks
Encourage your students to visit historical sites for free on National Park Service Fee Free Days!
Plan Ahead for Professional Development in Spring 2013
Spring will be here before you know it! Plan ahead to take advantage of spring professional development opportunities.
Historical Thinking Interactive Poster!
So how do we top the popularity of our historical thinking poster? We make a good thing even better!
“A Push” in the Right Direction
AP U.S. History teacher Scott Campbell and his students use Twitter to reach out to other AP U.S. History classes.
Jeremiah McCall on Group Discussions
Can students engage in thoughtful discussion without a teacher present? Yes, says Jeremiah McCall.
Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter?
Students reading over-the-top fiction? Remind them to read historical fiction and secondary sources with critical eyes.
The History of America(ns)
Where do Americans come from? Many places! Use these resources to teach immigration history.
Film Review: Prohibition
Historian Tona Hangen takes a look at Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s three-part documentary on Prohibition.
Film Review: Amelia
What is the cultural terrain staked out by Amelia, the Hollywood biopic about the intrepid flyer Amelia Earhart?
The History of (American) Health
Health is both a public and a private concern. Get your students considering the history of health with these resources!
Introducing Teachinghistory.org Mobile
Have you ever wanted to access Teachinghistory.org on the go? Now you can!
Jennifer Orr Wins ISTE Kay L. Bitter Vision Award
Congratulations to Teachinghistory.org writer Jennifer Orr, winner of the 2012 Kay L. Bitter Vision Award for Excellence in Technology-Based PK-12 Education!
Family History and the 1940 Census
Search the 1940 census for a personal link to history, with these guidelines from educator Alex Stein.
Olympic Spirit: Teaching with the Olympics
Summer or winter, the Olympics bring together countries worldwide—including the U.S. How can you teach with Olympic history?
Jeremiah McCall on Historical Problem Spaces
Students solve “problem spaces” when they play video games. Apply “problem space” thinking to studying history!
Resources for Independence Day
Why do we celebrate the Fourth of July instead of the Second of July? Teach the context of the Declaration of Independence with these resources!
Teaching History with Archaeology
Teach your students to “think archaeologically” as well as historically!
Resources for Flag Day
Flag Day may not fall during the school year for many, but Flag Day resources are valuable all year long.
Resources for Memorial Day
How do you observe Memorial Day? Teachinghistory.org shares teaching resources for the holiday.
Jennifer Orr on Experiencing History: A Visit to the Parson Weems House
First-grade teacher Jennifer Orr asks her own history questions when she visits a historic house.
Resources for the Titanic's Centennial
One hundred years later, we’re still talking about the sinking of the Titanic. Let these resources ground your lessons!
Jeremiah McCall on Evaluative Activities and Assessments for Simulation Games
Want to use digital games in your class? Jeremiah McCall shares five guidelines for evaluating games.
Jennifer Orr on Teaching Failure
Use the lives of historical figures to teach students that failure isn’t a bad word.
Molly Myers on Tweeting Towards Success
Do you tweet? With social media, you can turn to the wired world for teaching advice and support.
Preparing for the Days of Remembrance
How do people talk about and understand the Holocaust today in the U.S. and around the world?
Lessons Online: TED-Ed
Nominate teachers and lesson ideas to share with teachers Internet-wide.
Visiting History: A Guide for Professional Development
Summer’s around the corner . . . time to go visiting history!
Joe Jelen on Creating E-books
Create e-books yourself, have your students create e-books, or draw on already existing e-books. All you need is Internet access!
Resources for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Explore our spotlight page and discover resources for teaching about Asian Pacific American experience in May or any time.
Resources for Earth Day
Earth Day gives students a chance to consider how human relationships with the natural environment have changed over time.
Film Review: Iron Jawed Angels
How does modern television portray early 20th-century suffragists? Through very modern eyes, says Historian Carla Bittel.
Resources for Women's History Month
Teach women’s history in March and all year long with these resources.
Jeremiah McCall on Activities and Assessments for Simulation Games
Thinking about using digital games in your classroom? In Part Four of his six-part series, teacher Jeremiah McCall shows you how to form lesson plans around critically evaluating U.S. history games.
National History Day Wins 2011 National Humanities Medal
Congratulations to National History Day for winning the 2011 National Humanities Medal!
Resources for Teaching the War of 1812
Earlier this year, we looked at what historic sites were doing to celebrate the bicentennial of the War of 1812. But how can you teach the bicentennial in your classroom?
Jennifer Orr on Making History Books
Integrate history and literacy in early elementary by making history books!
Michael Yell on Writing as Thinking
Practicing writing practices good habits of thought, says Mike Yell. Two strategies can get your students writing every day.
Resources for Presidents Day
February 20 marks Presidents Day, 2012. What does this holiday mean to you?
Joe Jelen on Political Cartoons 2.0
Find, analyze, and create political cartoons that address any issue in U.S. history!
Report on State of History Education Released!
Learn about Teachinghistory.org’s free Report on the State of History Education, recently updated!
Teachinghistory.org’s AHA Workshop: Teaching the Past in a Digital World
Missed our workshop at the American Historical Association in Chicago? Catch a recap here.
Resources for African American History Month
How do you incorporate African American history in your teaching? African American History Month is one among many opportunities.
Resources for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Do you use Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a teachable moment? Our spotlight page and other resources can help!
Joe Jelen on Discovering History Through Student Genealogy Research
Is it hard for your students to see how history affects them? Have them research their own pasts! Teacher Joe Jelen looks at student genealogy.
The Bicentennial of 1812
How much do your students know about the War of 1812? Find resources on the bicentennial of this often-overlooked war.
Social Studies Education "Down South"
Listen in on a conversation about curriculum, technology, and commonalities in history education between the United States and Argentina with curriculum specialist Mabel Scaltritti.
Jennifer Orr on Data Retrieval Charts
Young students absorb information fast. Help them make sense of everything they learn with data retrieval charts!
Start Planning Now for Summer Professional Development
It’s never too early to start planning for summer professional development.
Jeremiah McCall on Structuring Lesson Plans Using Simulation Games
What can you learn from analyzing a history-based game? How to critique models of systems and presentations of history, says teacher Jeremiah McCall.
Michael Yell Uses National History Day for Classroom Differentiation
Searching for advanced projects for your eager learners? Teacher Mike Yell recommends National History Day.
Remembering Pearl Harbor: Resources for the 70th Anniversary
December 7, 2011 will mark the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Discover resources for teaching the day.
Film Review: Pearl Harbor and U-571
When does a historical film go from “based on historical events” to total fiction? Historian Lawrence Suid critiques two war movies.
Teaching Thanksgiving 2011
Prepare for Thanksgiving with our spotlight page on the holiday!
Trickle or Tsunami?: Getting Involved with the Common Core Standards
Is everybody talking about the Common Core standards in your district?
Meg Griffin on Google Docs
What can you do with Google Docs?
Resources for Veterans Day
How do your students celebrate Veterans Day?
Michael Yell on Making Every History Lecture Engaging
Is “lecture” a bad word? Or can you make a lecture an active learning experience for your students? Mike Yell says you can.
Mark Smith on Nonverbal Williamsburg
Help your students with special needs build historical understanding with five tips from Mark Smith.
Teachinghistory.org Teacher Representative Wins 2011 National History Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to Stacy Hoeflich, the 2011 National History Teacher of the Year!
Jennifer Orr on Teaching Heroes
How do you teach cultural heroes without simplifying history? First-grade teacher Jennifer Orr takes care to make historical figures three-dimensional.
Jeremiah McCall on Evaluating Simulation Games for Classroom Use
So you want to use digital games in your teaching. How do you decide which games suit your needs? Jeremiah McCall gives tips for evaluating games.
Joe Jelen Makes Students' Thinking Visible with Backchannel Discussion
Can you turn classroom chatter to constructive ends? Joe Jelen says digital tools can help.
Resources for Columbus Day
Is Columbus Day just another school day (or day off), or a teachable moment?
Mark Smith on Using Constructivist Video Production
Do you use video creation as a culminating activity? Teacher Mark Smith suggests trying it at the beginning of a unit.
Amy Burvall's Life as a TechnoTroubadour
Can you use music and creativity to help students structure what they know? Yes, says Hawaiian teacher Amy Burvall.
The Connection Between Literacy and History
Even if you’re not an English teacher, you’re still a literacy teacher.
Film Review: The Alamo
Remember the Alamo! But what does the U.S. remember? Historical fact or historical mythology? Historian Stanley Corkin looks at the film The Alamo.
Joe Jelen: Old Newspapers Find a Home in New Technology
Newspapers are alive and well in the U.S. history classroom.
Elizabeth Glynn on Personal Tablet Computers
Personal tablet computers are everywhere, but what role do personal tablet computers have in the classroom?
Jennifer Orr Starts the Year
How do you introduce history and social studies to early elementary students?
Jeremiah McCall on Using Simulation Games in the History Classroom
How can you teach—not just distract—with digital games?
Valerie Tripp on the Power of Everyday Objects in Teaching History
The meaning of an object is its story.
Civil War Poster!
What can a quilt, a map, some photographs, a haversack, and a receipt tell you about the past?
In Remembrance: September 11, 2001
September 11, 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. When does the recent past become history?
Film Review: Gods and Generals
What view of the Civil War does Gods and Generals present? Historian Steven E. Woodworth critiques the film.
Film Review: The Tenth Inning
Can one subject—say, baseball—tell a larger story of historical change? Historian Daniel Nathan says it can.
Film Review: John Adams
Does John Adams depart too far from history to be useful in the classroom? Historian James Kloppenberg reviews the film.
Film Review: The Aviator
Historical films like The Aviator sacrifice historical context to create character portraits, says historian David Courtwright.
Elizabeth Schaefer on a New Approach to President Lincoln
Summer is the time for professional development! Eighth-grade teacher Elizabeth Schaefer reports on her professional development experiences at DC’s Lincoln’s Cottage.
Michael Yell on Using DVDs/Video Segments in the History Classroom
What student doesn’t love a “movie day”? The question is, how much are they learning from it?
Valerie Tripp: Salty Ham: Using the Senses in Historical Research
Have you tasted pioneer foods like apple butter? Listened to old records on a phonograph?
Ron Gorr on Imagining the Great Depression: Mixing Primary Documents and Student Creativity
Use primary sources to tell stories and discover what the stories you create say about historical bias.
Elizabeth Glynn on Using Art to Create Interdisciplinary Classrooms
Use art to teach both history and how disciplines are interconnected, suggests TAH project director Elizabeth Glynn.
Elizabeth Glynn's Student-Led Monuments and Memorials Tour
Let your students go out on a limb, and they might just exceed your expectations.
Valerie Tripp's Looking Backward, Looping Forward: How to Make a Period of History Matter to Your Students
Start with memoirs or historical fiction and small issues children can relate to, and build from there!
Michael Yell on Critical Thinking and Teaching History
Don’t think once. Think twice. Demand concise, thought-provoking work from students.
The Nation's Report Card: U.S. History, 2010
On June 14th, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) released the Nation’s Report Card: U.S. History 2010, Grades 4, 8, and 12. But what is the Report Card?
Amy Trenkle on Glogging Class Greats
Posterboard and rubber cement may work for some projects, but students can also avoid the mess—and incorporate audiovisuals—by making glogs (virtual posters) online.
Film Review: Ken Burns's Jazz
Documentaries can be critiqued on many levels, says Professor Frank Tirro. Here, he looks at Ken Burns’s Jazz from four angles.
An Ear for the Past: The National Jukebox
Catchy primary sources? You bet! With the Library of Congress’s National Jukebox, get your students humming history.
Jennifer Orr on Primary Sources in Primary Classrooms
Many primary sources are text-heavy. Jennifer Orr asks where do you find sources appropriate for pre-literate students? Try art, photos, and other visual sources!
Diana Laufenberg on the Power of Visuals
Modern U.S. history instruction relies on reading and writing. Teacher Diana Laufenberg argues that students need more than text to engage their minds.
Elizabeth Schaefer on Facebook in the Classroom
8th-grade teacher Elizabeth Schaefer tackles the challenge of using Facebook with her students. What can Facebook do for teachers, and how can you make using it safe, easy, and fun?
Anthony Pellegrino on Teaching Segregated History
Anthony Pellegrino explores the history of one segregated school, and complicates his understanding of a traditional textbook narrative.
Ron Gorr on Socratic Seminars with Primary Documents
Anchor Socratic seminars in primary sources and watch your students work together to arrive at historical understanding.
Questioning History Using the Census
Historian Alex Stein poses questions about population shift in Detroit, and models using census data and other sources to answer his question.
Comic Books in the History Classroom
Comic books as primary sources? Bring superheroes into the classroom with these six historical themes.
Joe Jelen's Ads as Primary Sources: The Ad Council's Historic Campaigns
Advertisements don’t always use ideas to sell products—sometimes they use ideas to sell ideas. Explore the ideas the Ad Council’s PSAs have sold, Joe Jelen suggests.
Amy Trenkle on National History Day—It's More than Just a Day…and It's More than Just History
National History Day’s categories encourage students to develop 21st-century skills—but 8th-grade teacher Amy Trenkle says make sure they don’t neglect the history!
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2011
Scratch the surface of Asian Pacific American history this May, and keep digging.
Vitamins in Chocolate Cake: Why Use Historical Fiction in the Classroom?
What’s one way of bringing delight to learning history? Historical fiction, says American Girl author Valerie Tripp.
Michael Yell on a Strategy for the Use of Textbooks in the History Classroom
Students aren’t always working with primary sources. Seventh-grade history teacher Mike Yell leads students in getting the GIST of secondary sources.
Anthony Pellegrino's Teaching with Class in Mind
How can you make history relevant to your students? Social studies/history education professor Anthony Pellegrino suggests teaching thematically—in this case, with class and labor.
Joe Jelen on Pocket Camcorders
With pocket camcorders, you can direct a class full of filmmakers. Joe Jelen takes a look at these tiny tools.
Cintia Cabib's Interdisciplinary Gardening
Walk through the history of student gardening with documentarian Cintia Cabib, and see how you can use gardens in the classroom.
Jennifer Orr on Integrating History into 1st-grade Instruction
U.S. history doesn’t usually have its own place in 1st-grade curriculum. How can you integrate it with other subjects?
Michael Yell's Strategies for Using Primary Sources in Your Classroom
Combine strategies to create new techniques! Mike Yell combines DBQs and Response Groups.
Ron Gorr on Go to the Source (GTTS) Activities
Primary sources are crucial for historical study. AP history teacher Ron Gorr suggests ways to better incorporate them into lesson plans.
Jennifer Orr on VoiceThread
VoiceThread enables young learners to express their ideas without struggling to write them down, says 1st-grade teacher Jennifer Orr.
The Conspirator in the Classroom
With the new film, The Conspirator, out in theaters, here are a few resources to help you explore the story of Mary Surratt and America’s first presidential assassination.
Searching for Sesquicentennial Sources
Teaching the Civil War? With the sesquicentennial kicking off, resources are popping up left and right!
Anthony Pellegrino's Classroom Simulations: Begin with Paris
Re-enact the Paris Peace Conference with your students, and let them experience dissatisfaction (or satisfaction) with the results themselves.
Joe Jelen on the New York Public Library Digital Gallery
This digitized photographs contained in this collection can be incorporated into lesson plans in a variety of exciting ways.
Copyright: Finding Images to Tell the Story of History
Fair use? Public domain? Creative Commons? Find images of history that you can use to tell its story, without worrying about fees and fines.
Amy Trenkle on Interactive Whiteboards
New technology in the classroom means new techniques and challenges. Eighth-grade teacher Amy Trenkle’s new whiteboard is no exception.
Diana Laufenberg on Teaching History Thematically
Teaching chronologically is not always effective. Check out these tips to create a more unique learning experience.
International Aid: How and When the U.S. Helps
With the Mar. 11 earthquake in Japan, your students may be asking about international aid. Here are some places to start learning about when and why the U.S. helps.
Film Review: Titanic
Are historical films like James Cameron’s Titanic most useful as ways to interest students in history—or as primary sources for the present day?
Joe Jelen on Google's Art Project
Budget cuts mean field trip cuts, right? Wrong! Check out high school teacher Joe Jelen’s summary of this impressive new tool from Google.
Women Taking History: Women's History Month 2011
This Women’s History Month, remind your students that women have made history in more ways then one—by recording it, as well as being recorded.
Anthony Pellegrino's Into the Weeds: Harnessing the Power of Music to Teach Social Studies
Present the context first, or later? Teaching with music can be valuable both ways, says teacher educator Anthony Pellegrino.
Presidents in the Library
Happy Presidents Day! What better place to turn to for presidential history resources than libraries dedicated to the presidents?
Teaching and Learning History in the Digital Age (AHA 2011)
Rwany Sibaja recaps our presentation at the 2011 American Historical Association conference in Boston.
Teaching American History Program Invites 2011 Applications
The Department of Education invites applications for its Teaching American History Program in 2011.
Jennifer Orr on Making Technology Work for Primary Students: Part Two
Conventional applications of Web 2.0 tools expect students to read and write confidently. How can you adapt these tools to primary students who are still learning to do both?
Elizabeth Schaefer's Vocabulary in Motion!
As spring weather approaches, are your students getting antsy? Eighth-grade teacher Elizabeth Schaefer gets students out of their seats with American Expansionism.
African American History Month 2011
For African American History Month, don’t just focus on the heroes—use primary sources to explore the lives of ordinary people.
Michael Yell Motivates Students with the Mystery Strategy
Piece together history from a handful of clues with 7th-grade teacher Michael Yell’s Mystery strategy.
Conference-going for the Educational Professional
Considered attending a conference for professional development? Here are some suggestions on where to look and what to look for!
150 Years Ago Today...
April 12th will mark the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War. How is your state celebrating?
Upcoming Deadlines for Professional Development
February and March mark deadlines for several national professional development opportunities.
A Day On, Not a Day Off
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Celebrate this holiday as a day of public service.
Jennifer Orr on Making Technology Work for Primary Students: Part One
Conventional applications of Web 2.0 tools expect students to read and write confidently. First-grade teacher Jennifer Orr asks, how can you adapt these tools to primary students who are still learning to do both?
Anthony Pellegrino: Reexamining Pre-service Field Experience
How can pre-service experience better serve new U.S. history teachers? Universities and K–12 institutions need to form better links, says assistant professor of social studies/history education Anthony Pellegrino
Nominations Open for Gilder Lehrman Teacher of the Year Award!
Know a K-6 educator who goes above and beyond in teaching U.S. history? Nominate them for Gilder Lehrman’s state and national awards!
Elizabeth Schaefer on Mental Maps in American History
Understanding geography is essential to understanding history. By drawing their own maps, students can create multipurpose tools for visualizing and remembering history, says eighth-grade teacher Elizabeth Schaefer.
Amy Trenkle's Be the Blogger!
Chances are, you can use blogging in your classroom. Maybe you’re convinced you have too few computers, or too many students in your class. Eighth-grade teacher Amy Trenkle shows that blogs may be more flexible than you think!
What is Historical Thinking?
You can use a number of frameworks to help you understand and teach historical thinking. Teachinghistory.org’s Daisy Martin starts you off.
Ron Gorr's Trifecta: Primary Sources, Technology, and Student Interaction in One Activity!
How can you bring 21st-century teaching into curriculum you’ve already developed and use? AP U.S. History teacher Ron Gorr substituted online and in-person research and discussion for a quiz and a lecture.
Joe Jelen on Digital Timelines
Tired of using up rolls of butcher paper on making timelines? High-school teacher Joe Jelen recommends flexible online timeline-building tools, instead.
Michael Yell on Developing a Climate of Engagement
Former NCSS president and 7th-grade teacher Michael Yell shares his first-day teaching strategies for upper elementary and secondary.
Jennifer Orr on Teaching Thanksgiving
How do you broach the complicated issues surrounding Thanksgiving with early primary students? First-grade teacher Jennifer Orr doesn’t have all of the answers, but she has some suggestions.
Anthony Pellegrino: Let the Music Play!...in Our Classrooms
Teach with punk, hip hop, and classic rock with these suggestions from teacher educator Anthony Pellegrino.
Finding Professional Development
It’s never too early to start considering professional development. What opportunities are available to you?
Joe Jelen on Document Cameras
You don’t have a smartboard, but overheard projectors aren’t quite flexible enough for you. What to do? High-school teacher Joe Jelen introduces the document camera.
Elizabeth Schaefer on the Interactive Declaration of Independence
Eighth-grade U.S. history teacher Elizabeth Schaefer “warps” the Declaration of Independence into the future with interactives from the Library of Congress.
Memorializing Veterans: Teaching with Place
What do memorials say about history and how it’s remembered? On Veterans Day, take a look at national and local veterans memorials.
Amy Trenkle's Columbus in the Capital
Come Columbus Day, DC 8th-grade teacher Amy Trenkle introduces her class to the man himself—or, at least, one of the nation’s many memorials to him.
Jennifer Orr on Questioning Columbus
First-grade teacher Jennifer Orr answers the question, how do you teach when you don’t have the answers to all the questions? Answer: Be honest! Here, she suggests sources for opening up the story of Christopher Columbus.
National Archives Launches DocsTeach
Choose from more than 3,000 primary sources and seven activity modules to make your own interactive online lessons.
Elizabeth Schaefer on the Impact of 9/11 in the Classroom
Eighth-grade U.S. history teacher Elizabeth Schaefer introduces students to interview techniques and historical thinking with a lesson on 9/11.
Amy Trenkle on Experiencing the First Amendment
For Constitution Day, DC teacher Amy Trenkle’s 8th-grade class carved out their thoughts on the First Amendment.
Our Weekly Quizzes Return!
Every week during the school year, Teachinghistory.org offers a new quiz. Test your history knowledge and, if you score high enough, you could win a prize!
Constitution Day 2010
Explore these online Constitution Day resources for September 17 and throughout the year.
Patents as Primary Sources
Patents as primary sources? These documents can give your students clues to development of U.S. science, technology, business, and social concerns.
History Education News 06: Analyzing Images
Our 6th issue of History Education News tells you where to go to find resources and ideas for engaging your students with visual primary sources.
Historical Thinking Poster!
Looking for ways to promote thoughtful, critical reading of primary and secondary sources in the classroom?
Teaching American History Grants Awarded
Education Secretary Duncan Announces $115.3 Million for 124 Grants to Improve Teaching of American History
The Smithsonian Commons: Vast, Findable, Shareable, Free
Chime in on the development of the Smithsonian’s newest resource.
Teachinghistory.org at ISTE
More than 17,500 educators and exhibitors attended ISTE 2010 in Denver at the end of June.
Picturing America
Visit Picturing America from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Top Tens, or "Best Sites for..."
Are lists of Bests valuable?
Bookmark This! Teachers, Teens, and Technology
Who does what with technology?
Bookmark This! America, the Story of Us on History Channel
America, the Story of Us: not your typical history documentary.
Welcome to Our Redesign, and Thank You
New content, new graphic interface, and streamlined search and save tools get you where you need to go.
Left, Right, and Center: Teaching about Conservatism
Making American conservatism a part of how we teach twentieth-century United States history.
Teaching about Vietnam
The topic is broad and multifaceted; online materials abound.
Stand Up and Be Counted: Teaching with the Census
What do all those fact and figures mean, and how can we teach students to use them?
Bringing Primary Sources into the Classroom
H.S.I: Historical Themes Investigation guides students and teachers through document analysis.
Maps: They're Not Just for Geography Any More
Primary sources and lesson plans help decode the mysteries of maps as historical evidence.
Maps: They're Not Just for Geography Any More
Maps tell stories. Not simply representations of objective spatial realities, they are texts, created by individuals and groups who decide the subject …
Teaching African American History: Do We Still Need a Black History Month?
Black History Month is as important now as when Carter Woodson first thought of it.
From the Atlantic Monthly: What Makes a Great Teacher?
Surprisingly, it isn’t always job-related experience that does the trick.
Howard Zinn, the People's Historian, Dies at 87
Howard Zinn, the people’s historian, passed away on January 27, 2010.
National History Day 2010
Kudos to National History Day for the website makeover and tons of new resources for students and teachers.
Teaching About Haiti
Why is the history of Haiti and of America’s relationship with that country important today?
Teaching American History (TAH) Grant Application Deadlines
TAH applications now available for FY 2010.
Looking Forward in 2010
Is it ever too late to send best wishes for a happy new year?
Update! Martin Luther King Documentary Airs on History Channel
History Channel debuts a two-hour documentary on the life and legacy of Martin Luther King.
Teaching About Dr. Martin Luther King
A day of service, commemoration, and evaluation.
Bookmark This! Contests for Students and Teachers
Spring deadlines for teacher and student competitions based on pedagogical and academic excellence.
The People Speak: To Zinn or Not to Zinn
Howard Zinn is controversial and he makes students think.
A National Plan for Educational Technology
No technology for technology’s sake.
Primary Sources, Historical Reenactments, and Twitter
A new approach to leading your students through primary sources.
Bookmark This! World War II Interactive Collection: Free From Footnote (December only)
Digitized primary resources on World War II—free access during December!
236 Years Since the Boston Tea Party
The 1773 Boston Tea Party resonates in today’s politics.
A Roundup of Resources
What’s new at AHA, NEH, LOC and Gilder Lehrman?
Thanksgiving: The Real Backstory
Historians dispute the date of the first Thanksgiving. Is there a definite time and place?
Bookmark This! Google Scholar: Finding the Laws that Govern Us
Search for federal and state district, appellate and supreme court opinions—full-text and related cases.
Bookmark This! History and Headlines
This online magazine brings the perspective of history to today’s events.
Teaching Native American History: I is for Inclusion
How can I tell good books about Indians from bad ones?
Teaching the Cuban Missile Crisis
Teaching about the Cuban Missile Crisis generally begins with the political and diplomatic perspective.
Veterans, Oral History, and the Library of Congress
Veteran oral history projects relate the classroom to real people and real life.
Bring "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" into the Classroom
The new PBS film series talks about fascinating people and places we often don’t pay attention to.
Bookmark This! Virtual Fieldtrips
As good as the real thing?
Teaching about Columbus Day: Mythbusters
Will the REAL Cristoforo Colombo please stand up.
Primary Sources: 100 Milestone Documents
Consolidated access to pivotal diplomatic, legal, and political primary source documents.
Bookmark This! Free Maps!
If all you need are basic maps for classroom exercises, this may be the place!
Especially for Secondary School Teachers: American History on Facebook
History and art museums, archives, and libraries share information and resources via Facebook.
Bookmark This! Gilder Lehrman's History Now
It’s all about the American Revolution.
Online Professional Development through the Library of Congress
Library of Congress professional development for teachers emphasizes a self-paced look at resources and methodologies.
Teaching the Constitution
Teach the Constitution on Constitution Day (or all year ‘round)!
Bookmark This! Teaching Mexican American History with the Bracero Program
A resource for bilingual (Spanish-English) materials for teaching 20th century American history.
ROTFLOL?* President John Quincy Adams Twittered?
Media change, but do the messages?
Watch It Live! President Barack Obama Addresses America's Students on September 8
President Obama speaks directly to the nation’s children and youth about persisting and succeeding in school.
Especially for Teachers: Annenberg Media's Online U.S. History Textbook
Here’s a digital textbook for teachers packed with resources.
Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 marks the independence day for five Latin American countries and the start of Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States.
Teaching Our Students to Evaluate Websites
If it’s from Google, does it got to be good?
Third Graders and Local History
Third graders explore civil rights history in their own hometown.
Bookmark This! Our Courts Especially for Middle School Students
Is it possible to excite and engage your students in learning about the judicial system?
Summer Reading: Clearinghouse Staff Recommendations, Part III
Just a few more recommendations for the waning days of summer.
Teaching without Textbooks?
Can’t live with them; can’t live without them?
Bookmark This! New and Improved Websites and Lesson Plans
Don’t miss this new website on the the aftermath of emancipation and new materials on EDSITEment.
August 1945: Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The age of nuclear warfare began on August 6, 64 years ago.
Bookmark This! Blogs for History Teachers Worth a Visit
Useful blogs for materials, ideas and examples of teaching.
What's New on the Clearinghouse Site? Lessons Learned on Video
Don’t miss new videos on effective TAH programs!
Department of Education Announces TAH Grant Awards
Thirty-eight states receive $116 million to improve American history instruction as Congress advocates TAH budget cuts.
Summer Reading: Clearinghouse Staff Recommendations, Part II
A graphic novel, maritime history, film, and a political thriller top the list!
National History Club: Having Fun AND Doing History
The 375 chapters of the National History Club make history come alive.
Forty Years Ago: One Giant Leap for Mankind
It’s been 40 years since man first landed on the moon.
School Internet Firewalls: Hindrance or Help?
Co-director of EdTechTeacher.org and former high school teacher Justin Reich thinks firewalls keep students from thinking critically about internet use and teachers from exploiting massive amounts of web-based resources.
National Council for Social Studies: Building Community with Ning
NCSS joins the world of social networking.
When Did July 4 Become the Fourth of July?
Even Thomas Jefferson got his dates mixed up.
Bookmark This! Teacher Resources at the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress expedites educator access to primary sources and professional development.
John Brown, Harpers Ferry, Students, History and Technology
Middle school students interpret history at Harpers Ferry.
Summer Reading: Clearinghouse Staff Recommendations, Part I
Clearinghouse staff recommend books for summer reading.
The Supreme Court: Connections Between Past and Present
The judicial system is perhaps the least understood and most complicated among the three branches of U.S. government to explain and to teach.
Bookmark This! Beneath the Surface of Wikipedia
A tool for teaching analytical thinking or classroom pariah?
Resources: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
The term Asian Pacific American covers millions of people, thousands of cultures, and dozens of countries.
Interactive Exhibit from the American Art Museum
Against the backdrop of the Great Depression, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s administration created the Public Works of Art Program.
New Visitor's Center Opens at Monticello
What would Thomas Jefferson Say?
Tonight's the Night: PBS Broadcasts We Shall Remain
Television well-worth watching.
Bookmark This! History Sites on YouTube
History and art museums and archives join the YouTube communications field.
Bookmark This! Resources for Movie Friday
Internet sites with films for historical analysis and classroom presentation.
John Hope Franklin, 1915-2009
African American historian, professor, and civil rights activist John Hope Franklin wrote history and made history for almost a century.
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Get instant updates and share your comments on the Clearinghouse!
American Experience: We Shall Remain
Coming soon to your local PBS station: a new look at the Native American experience.
Omnibus Spending Bill, FY '09 Passes: Good News for History
A winning outcome for public history, research, and history education.
Recession, Depression, Hard Times, New Deal: Classroom Resources (updated April 7)
The internet is full of classroom resources for teaching about the New Deal—arguably, perhaps more than for any other era.
IF . . . the Omnibus Spending Bill
What’s in your wallet?
Another Kind of American Idol
Explore the history of America’s most iconic image—the American flag. But remember: lip-syncing is not allowed!
Happy Presidents Day
What exactly is Presidents Day?
The Electronic Schoolhouse/LaEscuela Electronica: A Bilingual History Education Resource
New York State Archives offers lesson plans and materials about Hispanic history and culture in two languages.
Remember the Ladies—But Not Just in March
Women’s history should be integral to the total narrative of American history.
Lincoln Bicentennial: A Teachable Moment (updated February 24)
An ongoing reference to exhibits, events, lectures, reenactments, ceremonies, and other tributes commemorating the significance of Lincoln’s life and his presidency during this 200th-year anniversary.
2009 Horizon Report: Emerging Technologies in Higher Education
A discussion of six emerging technologies and their role in education.
Register for Your Virtual Seat: Smithsonian Education Online Lincoln Conference
If you missed this two-day online event, watch the videos from the Abraham Lincoln: a Smithsonian Education Online Conference on the website.
Save the Date! National Teach-In on Lincoln!
Register now for this program with expert historians geared for middle and high schoolers.
Classroom Resources: Presidential Inaugurals
Inaugural parades and balls are as integral to the nation’s history as the solemnity of the presidential oath of office and the inaugural address.
Department of Education Publishes 2009 Teaching American History Grant Notice
Application process opens for 2009 Teaching American History Grants.
News from the Bill of Rights Institute: For Educators and High School Students
Bill of Rights Institute publishes Property Rights in America: Yours, Mine, or Ours?
Teaching American History Project Directors Conference: Registration Information and Agenda
2009 Annual Teaching American History Project Directors Conference follows annual meeting of American Historical Association.
Comment Period Begins on Changes to Selection Criteria for Teaching American History Grants
The Office of Innovation and Improvement in the U.S. Department of Education proposes to change the final selection criteria of the Teaching American History (TAH) grant program.
Laura Bush Presents 2008 Preserve America History Teacher of the Year Award
Massachusetts teacher receives award.
Sessions Especially for Teachers at the 123rd American Historical Association Annual Meeting
Twenty-one of the more than 200 sessions at the AHA are especially geared toward history and social studies teachers.
A New Look at Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln turned to the developing field of photography to broaden his public presence.
Visit Clearinghouse Lesson Plan Reviews!
Historians, experienced teachers, and education scholars evaluate Clearinghouse lesson plans.
Snips and Shoes and Sealing Wax: New Publications and Websites
Websites and publications to supplement curriculum.
Students and Historic Preservation
The American Planning Association (APA) encourages high school juniors and seniors to explore historic preservation.
National Council for History Education (NCHE) Presents Award to Senator Robert Byrd
Byrd award intended for policymakers and public figures advocating history in education.
Tech Tips for Everybody from David Pogue at The New York Times
More than 1,200 readers share tips on this New York Times technology column.
The Great Depression and Today
Does the current financial crisis echo the Great Depression?
Black Americans in Congress
Since 1870, a total of 123 African Americans have served as U.S. Representatives or Senators.
Flickr Update: The Commons
The Commons encourages public response to museum collections.
Preserve America Announces 44 Grant Awards
More than $4.3 million distributed to 24 states.
Lincoln Bicentennial
Media presentations and events are underway for the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, February 12, 2009.
Presidential Campaign Commercials 1952-2008
Take a look at the political arguments intrinsic to 20th-century campaign commercials.
Civil Rights History Project: A New Initiative
Proposal for endeavor encompasses two phases.
Showcasing Student Work on the U.S. Constitution
Five students from Woodbridge High School in California took an in-depth look at the U.S. Constitution
Learn About Mexican American History
This website weaves the voices of Mexican Americans into the history curriculum.
Teaching 9/11
The Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) will sponsor two webcasts on what students should know about 9/11.
National Museum of American History
On November 21, 2008, the Smithsonian Museum of American History (NMAH) reopens its doors.
Objects and Memory: Making Sense of Catastrophe
What is it about a piece of paper, an ID card, or a teddy bear that evokes powerful memories?
Bringing National Parks into the Classroom
The National Park Service offers traveling exhibits, media-on-loan, and in-class speakers.
Picturing America: Round Two
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) recently announced that a second round of applications for Picturing America would be accepted online through October 31, 2008.
Teaching about Presidential Elections
A wealth of historical material exists on the web to support teaching about presidential elections.
More Resources for Teaching about Elections
Online resources help integrate elections into history and social studies curriculum.
Teaching Resources for Constitution Day
Constitution Day is September 17.
Organization of American Historians: Highlights of the August Newsletter
A report from the Third Annual Teaching American History (TAH) Symposium and a discussion of how donors shape museum exhibits are among newsletter highlights.
From Medieval Europe to Colonial America
What did Colonial America and Medieval Europe have in common?
Schools and Social Networking Tools
Schools are beginning to treat social networking tools as an essential part of preparing students for the 21st century.
Thinking Like a Historian: Rethinking History Instruction
Are students ever too young to start learning to think like historians?
Dozens of Distinctive Destinations
Vacation with living history outside the classroom.
Journal of the Association for History and Computing
The current online issue of Journal of the Association for History and Computing (April 2008) highlights the use of digitized primary source documents in the classroom and in the archives.
Preserve America Presidential Awards
First Lady Laura Bush presented the 2008 Preserve America Presidential Awards, the highest national award for historic preservation achievement, in a White House ceremony May 12.
A History Institute for Teachers
What do our students need to know about the Civil War? Join this webcast from the Foreign Policy Research Institute.
Summer Surfing
Summer is a great time to wile away some hours on the internet. Here are some starting points we recommend.
Especially for New Teachers
Alarmed by the large dropout rate among new teachers, public and private educational institutions increasingly reach out to provide support to newcomers to the classroom.
Highlights from the American Historical Association
The May issue of Perspectives from the American Historical Association examines technology in the classroom.
Teaching about Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a day of remembrance. Materials for all classroom levels are plentiful.
U.S. Department of Education Announces Teaching American History Grant Awards
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings has announced the award of $114.7 million for 121 new grants to improve the quality of American history education. School districts in 40 states nationwide are recipients.
Adams Family Papers: Letters Behind an HBO Miniseries
The Massachusetts Historical Society home of the Adams Family Papers for more than a century, launched a website and an exhibit displaying the documents behind the HBO miniseries, John Adams.
Chronicling America Newspaper Site Adds More Pages, Features
More than 79,000 newly digitized newspaper pages, along with several new site features, have recently been added to the Chronicling America Web site of the Library of Congress.
American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar Launches Education Web Companion
The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar in Richmond, Virginia, recently launched an educational web companion helpful both to visitors to the Center and as a standalone teaching guide.
Architecture as a Primary Source in the Classroom
Lesson plans from Colonial Williamsburg demonstrate how buildings, like documents, can yield information about how people in the past lived and what they valued.
We're Listening To
Podcasts in the classroom can bring the voices, sound, and even the documents and material culture of history alive.
Public Broadcasting Reports on Education
The Public Broadcasting System (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR) recently aired special reports on issues, problems, and solutions in American education.
Women's History Month: Historians in the News
Some historians who are women sometimes make history themselves. Follow these stories on Drew Gilpin Faust and Laura Thatcher Ulrich.
Technology in the Classroom: Wikis
Wiki Wisdom: Lessons for Educators (EdWeek, September 12, 2007) by instructional-technology coach Kristin Hokason offers an overview on using wikis in the classroom.
National History Day: Exhibiting Excellence
How does National History Day influence teaching and learning history?
March is Women's History Month
March is Women’s History Month and classroom resources and lesson plans abound.
Learn Outloud: Podcasts for Teachers and Students
Learn Out Loud is an extensive site of more than 15,000 educational audio books, MP3 downloads, podcasts, and videos.
History and Art: George Washington Goes Back to School
Celebrate President’s Day with a framed, replica of Rembrandt Peale’s Porthole Portrait of George Washington and accompanying lesson plans free from the Mount Vernon historic site.
Picturing America Program Unveiled at White House
Bring some of America’s greatest works of art into your classroom as teaching tools to foster historical thinking and analysis.
Secrets of the U.S. History Advanced Placement Exam
Answers to free response questions constitute almost one-third of a final grade on the Advanced Placement (AP) United States history examination.
My Friend Flickr: A Match Made in Photo Heaven
Treasures of the Library of Congress are now available on Flickr.
PBS Television Specials Celebrate African American Lives
During Black History Month in February, Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. returns to PBS with African-American Lives 2.