US history Archives - A Lesson Plan for Teachers

Finding Everything You Need for Teaching U.S. History

Posted on December 11, 2023November 26, 2023 by Michele Luck

The Teaching Challenge Teaching today is a challenge. Your biggest challenge is finding the time to get everything done. That's what I hope to help with in this series of posts. Each will address the best websites, strategies, and resources...Read More

Teaching to Foster Inclusivity (Truth in Social Studies Part I)

Posted on January 25, 2021June 22, 2021 by Michele Luck

Teaching History seems relatively straight forward. You have facts xyz and you present them in an unbiased fashion. Students absorb the factual information. Mission complete. Unfortunately, teaching to foster inclusivity is a whole new ballgame. While factual teaching (from reliable,...Read More

Teamwork and Collaboration in the Classroom: An Exercise to Assess Direction Following

Posted on December 2, 2019July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

How do you feel when a hundred different directions are thrown your way? Maybe your principal comes into your classroom after a stressful class period, listing off five things to-do within the next week? Or a student asks questions about...Read More

5 Tips for Teaching Presidential Contributions on Presidents’ Day

Posted on February 13, 2019July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

Though a small percentage of your students may learn well from rote memorization, many need a more engaging lesson to help them retain facts, specific information, and comparisons among our American Presidents. Teaching Presidential Contributions to your middle school and...Read More

Dig Up the American Colonies to Review US History

Posted on November 28, 2018July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

Though your middle school and high school US History students may have a vague understanding of who founded America, they've likely let go of the intimate knowledge of when, how, and why. Reintroducing the American Colonies will help to reinforce...Read More

5 Strategies for Teaching Primary Sources

Posted on November 7, 2018July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

The Library of Congress appropriately categorizes primary sources as the "raw materials of history," emphasizing the importance of analyzing, studying, and understanding these basic building blocks of any historical fact. By connecting students with firsthand facts and experiences, primary sources...Read More