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Photographic print, Johnie William Bumgarden and his family, May 1912, Lewis Wic

Students get more out of historical photographs when they take the time to explore who took them, where, and why.

Stop and Source!
In Ask a Master Teacher
Photo, Toga, November 10, 2007, Olga Díez (Caliope), Flickr, creative commons

To most students, "histories" are entirely separate—different civilizations, taught at different grade levels.

Bridging the Gap Between Ancient and Modern Democracies
In Ask a Master Teacher
Photo, Flowers for soldier in a tank, 1945, Nationaal Archief, Flickr Commons

Whichever lesson you pick, make sure it meets your learning goals.

Setting the Tone: Introducing Students to World War II
In Ask a Master Teacher

Spotlight on Elementary Education

History is made by those who are unafraid to push the envelope and redefine the society in which they live. Encourage your students to examine the men and women who worked to make America what it is today with this creative activity. FIND OUT MORE »

Lesson Plan Reviews

Evaluate key elements of effective teaching Watch the INTRODUCTORY VIDEO
Civil War Photos: What Do You See?

Analysis of photographs of Civil War artillery broadens students [...] »

The Debate in the United States over the League of Nations

Documents and audio files explain the range of early political viewpoints on [...] »

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English Language Learners

Instructional strategies and resources for ELL
Bracero History Archive
Bracero History Archive

Explore resources on the Bracero guest worker program from the mid-20th [...] »

Targeting Content and English Language Objectives
Photo, English club First meeting Dover Library, Sept. 13, 2010, RTLibrary

Build your students' language skills and historical understanding by using [...] »

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Teaching Guides

Explore new teaching methods and approaches
Stating Your Case: Writing Thesis Statements Effectively

Thesis statements form the backbone of history essays and DBQs.

[...] »
Applying KWL Guides to Sources with Elementary Students

To engage with a source, ask, "What do I know, what do I want [...] »

Adapting Documents for the Classroom: Equity and Access

Documents are riddled with difficult vocabulary. Don't be afraid to adapt [...] »

9/11 and Commemoration: A Guide for Pre-Service Teachers

Help students understand the events of 9/11 and how such events are [...] »

Mormons and Westward Expansion: A Guide for Pre-Service Teachers

Teachers guide students to create interactive digital maps detailing the [...] »

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Ask a Master Teacher

Stop and Source!
Photographic print, Johnie William Bumgarden and his family, May 1912, Lewis Wic

Students get more out of historical photographs when they take the time to [...] »

Browse Questions »