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Through the lens of documents concerning the Iran-Contra Affair, this lesson enables students to examine how audience and purpose affect a document’s contents.

Decoding U.S. Foreign Policy: The Iran-Contra Affair

In Lesson Plan Reviews

Photography, Tug of War, 17 May 2009, Tom Blackwell, Flickr CC

Are you caught between academic advisors and classroom teachers? Feel like you're being pulled in opposite directions? We're here to help.

Advice for the Student Teacher

In Ask a Master Teacher

Discover alternatives to writing based student activities. Why not encourage your students to make a graphic organizer or physical model to demonstrate understanding?

Using Non-Linguistic Representations to Strengthen Historical Thinking

In English Language Learners

Spotlight on Elementary Education

In this Lesson Plan Review, students analyze primary and secondary sources describing an encounter between the Lewis and Clark expedition and a Native American tribe. The lesson overall is a great way to encourage students to work collaboratively to analyze this important historical interaction from multiple perspectives.

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Lesson Plan Reviews

Evaluate key elements of effective teaching Watch the INTRODUCTORY VIDEO

Roads to Antietam

You're a Union general on the eve of Antietam. You know Lee's plans. What [...] »

Civilian Conservation Corps

Examine the role of African Americans in the Civilian Conservation Corps [...] »

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English Language Learners

Instructional strategies and resources for ELL

Talking History

Students shy or hesitant to speak up? Check out these tips to get students [...] »

Reframing English Language Development

Discover how to teach English learners history and historical thinking.

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Teaching Guides

Explore new teaching methods and approaches

Webquest, Inquiry, and Lincoln’s Views on Technology

Searching for new, exciting ways to engage your students in the classroom? [...] »

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 [...] »

Document-Based Whole-Class Discussion

Classroom discussions need not be argumentative and unproductive. Discover a [...] »

Using Old Maps as Tools to Explore Our World

Maps show far more than how to go from point A to point B! Discover how to [...] »