Welcome to Teaching Materials
Tenement Life
In Lesson Plan Reviews
The Multiple Dilemmas of Abraham Lincoln
In Lesson Plan Reviews
Life, Liberty and Property: What’s the Big Idea?
In English Language Learners
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
Prequel to Independence 
Teach your students about causality with this useful activity.
[...] »Causation: The War of 1812 and the Star-Spangled Banner 
A great way for students to learn more about the War of 1812 and our nation' [...] »
English Language Learners
Instructional strategies and resources for ELL
World Digital Library 
Use this tool to translate primary source material!
[...] »Using Visuals to Build Interest and Understanding 
Using primary source images to help English Language Learners build [...] »
Teaching Guides
Explore new teaching methods and approaches
Stop Action and Assess Alternatives 
Teach students to explore contingency with this great lesson plan idea.
[...] »What Is an "Inquiry Lesson"? 
Hypothesize, test, and acknowledge how sources form different "pictures of [...] »
Structured Academic Controversy (SAC) 
Are classroom discussions about winning the argument or about understanding [...] »
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 [...] »
Incorporating 20th Century US Environmental History in the 6-12 Classroom 
This guide consists of curated primary and secondary sources to help [...] »
Ask a Master Teacher
Tackling Tough Topics 
Race, ethics, stereotyping—all are thorny issues integral to our history. [...] »